Classic cars were expected on the grounds of the Palm Springs Air Museum for the 17th annual Chili Cook-Off and Car Show, which was set to pair vintage automobiles with bowls of homemade chili and Halloween costumes for the whole family. The event was set to combine car-show spectacle with a chili tasting contest, all against the museum's aviation backdrop.
According to KESQ, the Palm Springs Air Museum planned to host the 17th annual Chili Cook-Off and Car Show with support from the Palm Springs Cruisin' Association, bringing together car enthusiasts and the community for an afternoon of food, fun and classic cars. Per the Palm Springs Air Museum, car-show activities were set to begin at 10 a.m., with chili tastings starting at 11 a.m., and the chili itself came from the museum volunteers' own secret recipes.
Museum admission was to cover entry to the car show, while chili tastings were priced at $1 per taste or $5 for six tasting tickets, the museum's event page notes. Kids 12 and under could get in free and were encouraged to wear Halloween costumes, giving the planned afternoon a trick-or-treat flavor alongside the engines and chili pots.
A Fundraiser Rooted In Aviation History
A Fundraiser Rooted In Aviation History The cook-off doubles as more than a car show. Palm Springs Life reports that the event is a fundraiser for the museum's docents, devoted to chili, classic cars and aviation history all at once. The outlet adds that visitors were expected to sample 10 to 14 chili recipes submitted by docents and staff, prepared by the team from Lulu Catering & Events.
Palm Springs Life also reported the event was expected to feature about 200 classic cars, a sizable showing for the museum's grounds. The Palm Springs Cruisin' Association, which the museum credits with supporting the day, supplies the automotive side of the event, according to iDriveSoCal.
Event Timing And Location
The museum's event page scheduled the Chili Cook-Off and Car Show for October 31, 2026, with car-show activities beginning at 10 a.m. and chili tastings at 11 a.m.
The venue's street address is similarly disputed across listings. The museum's website lists the location as 745 North Gene Autry Trail in Palm Springs, while iDriveSoCal lists it as 645 North Gene Autry Trail. Neither discrepancy has been resolved in available materials.
Despite the differing logistics, the event was set to bring families together for chili, classic cars and a Halloween-season tradition. The museum describes the cook-off as one of its most popular annual events, a reputation built over 17 years of chili pots, hot rods and costumed kids on the tarmac.
