How to Enjoy the Hatch Chile Festival
- 1). Arrive early, set up your lawn chair and watch the Chile Fest parade. Don’t miss the coronation ceremony, when the new Hatch Chile Queen and her court are crowned.
- 2). Take a walk through town to see what Hatch has to offer–it’s a small town and the residents are very friendly. Check out the chiles in local shops and restaurants.
- 3). Drive out to Hatch Municipal Airport, a mile west of town on Highway 26, site of the chile festival. A small fee is charged for each car, so take a crowd.
- 4). Do a little bit of everything. Pitch horseshoes, dance to live music or learn to tie a ristra, a wreath or bunch of dried chiles. Participate in the chile-eating contest or the watermelon-eating contest, or both. Make a bid at the auction.
- 5
Hatch Chiles
Purchase a bag or a pile of hatch chiles to take home. This is the big payoff from the Hatch Chile Festival. They come in a number of types and heats, from mild to extra hot, and they're easy to freeze. Get enough to last until next year's festival.
