Hatch Chile Festival
Posted by Billy on July 31st, 2007
If you want to jump in, roll around, and otherwise immerse yourself in all things chile, the annual Hatch Chile Festival is a great place to start. It’s held every year over the Labor Day weekend in the village of Hatch, New Mexico which is…about 40 miles north of Las Cruces NM on I-25. The usual events include a parade, a Chile Queen coronation, chile pod contests and the like.
A lot of people bring along coolers or bags and or buy green chile by burlap sack. You can get it roasted or get it home and roast it yourself. The chile has just been harvested and you won’t get it much fresher.
Depending on the weather, the Hatch Chile Festival can draw crowds up to 30,000 for the weekend. Motels are few in Hatch, New Mexico so you might have better luck finding rooms in Las Cruces or Deming.
If the weather forecast is calling for sunny skies be sure to take a hat and sunscreen. You won’t be able to buy a piece of shade. But rubbing elbows with your fellow New Mexico chile lovers, smelling the roasting chile, visiting with chile growers and packers, well, it just turns Hatch into a little piece of chile heaven.