The public is invited to a spring open house from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at the Oak Park Arms Retirement Community, 408 S. Oak Park Ave. A Chili Cook Off will be featured at this fun-filled event, and the public is invited.

Attention all chili enthusiasts! For the first time at the Arms, a Chili Cook Off will take place at the open house from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Homemade chili will be on display and available for the public to sample. Judging, based on taste and presentation, will begin at 11:30 a.m.

The cook-off will be judged in two categories: People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice. Chili will be judged on factors such as: aroma, consistency, color, taste and after taste.

In addition to Best Tasting Chili, participants will also be judged on Most Creative Chili, Booth Decoration and Crowd Favorite. The first prize winner for best chili will be awarded $75. For an entry form and a complete list of rules, go to: http://www.oakparkarms.com.

In addition, a Shakespeare presentation will be presented for the public by the Reader’s Theatre at 1 p.m.

The open house will offer tours of the grounds and the apartments, piano lounge music, a performance by the Lance Brown Quartet and raffles. The public will get the chance to learn more about the Oak Park Arms and its many amenities.

Tours include meeting the Chef of the Georgian Room Restaurant, meeting the on-site health care team and viewing community spaces and meeting rooms.

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The day’s events are free and open to the public. Call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040.