Moosehaven is inviting the public back to its riverfront campus in Orange Park for the 16th annual Chili Cook-Off, a free-admission fundraiser packed with classic cars, live music, crafters, bounce houses and plenty of chili. The event is set for Saturday, November 14, 2026, running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1701 Park Ave., according to the seed report from WJXT News4JAX.
Moosehaven describes itself as a private membership retirement community on the banks of the St. Johns River that has served members of The Moose fraternal organization since 1922, offering seniors 65 and older what it calls a comfortable and secure retirement option. That description comes from a 2025 segment reported by News4JAX, which covered last year's edition of the cook-off in detail. According to Moosehaven's own event page, admission and parking are free, and the day includes live entertainment, a classic car show, food trucks, a kids zone and craft vendors.
What's Cooking and Who Benefits
Chili tasting kits will run $5 apiece, with proceeds benefiting Operation Lifeline, Inc., per Moosehaven's event listing. Sodas and water will be sold on site, and attendees are welcome to bring their own beverages in coolers, the same page notes. Operation Lifeline is a nonprofit veterans organization.
Bounce houses for children are also part of the lineup this year, according to the seed story, rounding out a day built as much for families as for chili enthusiasts. Crafters and classic show cars will line the grounds alongside the cooking competition, giving visitors plenty to browse between tastings.
Competing in the Chili Showdown
For teams looking to compete rather than just taste, Moosehaven's rules outline how teams can compete in the official ICS category, which is limited to registered International Chili Society cook teams.
Last year's installment, held November 8, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., featured live performances from David Herin, Gina Herrin Bell and A Blast of Grass, along with a classic car show, food trucks and craft vendors, according to the News4JAX River City Live segment. River City Live host Rance Adams served as one of the celebrity judges at that 2025 cook-off, the same report said.
The format featured last November — free entry, classic cars and a charitable chili showdown — appears largely intact for 2026.
