The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office is bringing something coastal Louisiana almost never sees to its biggest fall fundraiser: an ice skating rink. The addition arrives at this year's C.O.P.S. for Christmas Chili Cook-Off, set for Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Aycock Barn in Arabi, and it's meant to draw bigger crowds to an event that quietly funds one of the parish's most visible holiday traditions.
C.O.P.S. stands for Caring Officers Provide Smiles, and the program has run for more than 16 years, according to the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office. What began as a toy drive has grown into a broader effort that now delivers clothing, household appliances and furniture to families across the parish. Because snow and ice are rare in this part of Louisiana, the sheriff's office is billing the new $10 all-day ice skating pass as a novel way to pull in more foot traffic, and with it, more donations, per the same office.
How the Cook-Off Funds December's Deliveries
Entry to the cook-off itself costs $20 for anyone 13 and older, with kids 12 and under admitted free, according to a flyer shared by the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office on Facebook. That admission covers all-you-can-eat chili, hot dogs, water, soft drinks and face painting, while the ice skating pass is sold separately for unlimited trips around the rink throughout the event. Chili teams will compete for bragging rights and the title of best chili, and organizers are inviting local vendors to set up booths for $20 each, plus admission for anyone working the table.
The day is also expected to include music, refreshments, local vendors, raffles and alcohol available for purchase, based on the sheriff's office announcement. Teams and vendors interested in joining can reach organizers at [email protected]. Annual program funding comes from the chili cook-off itself, items collected from local businesses, and donations from deputies, the sheriff's office says.
A Parish Where the Need Is Real
The stakes behind the fundraiser are significant. An estimated 18% to 23% of St. Bernard Parish residents live below the federal poverty line, representing roughly 10,000 people who may need economic assistance, according to U.S. Census Bureau data compiled by USAFacts in 2026. That backdrop helps explain why C.O.P.S. for Christmas has expanded well beyond toys, now helping provide parish families with food, clothing, household necessities and toiletries alongside gifts.
Corporate partners have played a role for decades. Marine terminal operator Associated Terminals has donated bicycles to the program every year since 2003, with employee contributions and support from local businesses like Mike's Electric helping fund the effort, per the sheriff's office.
Last Year's Turnout and What Comes Next
Last year's cook-off, held October 18, 2025, at the same Aycock Barn venue, raised enough to allow deputies to deliver holiday gifts and goods to 10 to 13 parish families, according to The St. Bernard News. That delivery day has become a parish spectacle in its own right: Sheriff James Pohlmann leads a parish-wide motorcade featuring Santa Claus riding in a decorated S.W.A.T. truck, joined by deputies costumed as motorcycle-riding reindeer, elves and even The Grinch, per the sheriff's office. Last December, New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson, team mascot Gumbo and Saints cheerleaders joined Pohlmann to send off the convoy.
Behind the scenes, the program is run by a board that includes Communications Division 9-1-1 Center leaders Major Angela Huff and Captain Lacye Lulei, along with Special Operations Division administrative assistant Lauryn Armand, according to the St. Bernard Voice. Aycock Barn, an open-air pavilion at 409 Aycock St. managed by the St. Bernard Parish Office of Tourism, hosts several other community events throughout the year, including the Old Arabi Sugar Fest and the Jackson Day Race, a 9K run through the Chalmette Battlefield.
Team spots for this year's chili competition cost $150, and organizers are hoping the new ice rink helps push turnout past last year's numbers ahead of the October 24 event.
