Hatch Chile Festival

Hatch Chile Festival

September, Labor Day weekendThis event pays tribute to the green chili (as it is more commonly spelled outside of New Mexico), New Mexico's state vegetable. The small town of Hatch is the center of the chili-growing industry in the southwestern part of the state. At festival time, the aroma of freshly harvested chilis permeates the town, and a marvelous variety of chilis in all forms can be purchased: fresh green chilis—from the mildest to the hottest, dried red chilis in ornamental braids called ristras, red chili powder, chili bread, chili salsa, chili jelly, chili wine, and chili con carne. Besides food, the festival features the crowning of a Green Chile Queen, a skeet shoot, a fiddling contest, a cook-off, and a ristra-making contest.
CONTACTS:
Hatch Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 38
Hatch, NM 87937
505-267-5050
www.hatchchilefest.com