Hatch Chile Festival 2024 set for Aug. 31-Sept. 1 in New Mexico
The Chile Capital of the World is gearing up for its annual Hatch Valley Chile Festival Saturday, Aug. 31 and Sunday, Sept. 1.
Organizers expect about 30,000 people to come to Hatch, 83 miles north of El Paso off Interstate 25, to enjoy the festivities, which include arts and craft vendors, a parade and entertainment. There will also be cooking demonstrations and eating contests at 2 p.m. each day.
The festival's vendors will be mainly located near Hatch Valley High School, at 170 Herrera St. However, many businesses in the town will also participate.
The Hatch Chile Festival was founded in 1971 to celebrate the annual chile harvest from the Hatch Valley farms and promote their world-famous chile.
Here is a closer look at Hatch Chile Festival festivities and what to know.
Hatch Valley Chile Festival hours
The Hatch Valley Chile Festival will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31 - Sunday, Sept. 1. The parade will kick off the festivities at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 31. Music will start at 11 a.m. both days on the Main Stage.
Hatch Chile Festival features carnival and parade
There will be a carnival with rides behind the Village Market, 418 W Hall St. Advance tickets for unlimited rides are $25 and available at the Hatch Public Library, 522 E. Hall St. Tickets will be $35 at the gate.
The Parade, which will have a theme of Keeping It Spicy Since 1972, will start at 9 a.m. Saturday on Franklin and Hall streets. The parade route will be Canal Street, continuing to Hatch on Franklin to Hall, and circling back on Archer Street to Canal Street and back to the Hatch Middle School at 901 Herrera St.
Hatch Chile Festival Main Stage entertainment
The opening ceremony will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, with the national anthem and the Farmer of the Year and Hall of Fame inductees. The Main Stage will be at Hatch Valley High School Pecan Orchard, 170 Herrera St.
Entertainment lineup:
Saturday, Aug. 31
11:30 a.m.: Chris Baker
2 p.m.: AWF
4 p.m.: Jamie O'Hara
5 p.m.: Southern Blend
Sunday, Sept. 1
11 a.m.: DJ Music
12:30 p.m.: Ballet Folklorico
1 p.m.: Mariachi Aguilas
2 p.m.: Ballet Folklorico
2:30 p.m.: Jamie O'Hara
3 p.m. Jessica Flores
Hatch Chile Festival to have rock hunt
The festival will have its first Hatch Valley Chile Festival Rock Hunt. Organizers have hidden painted rocks throughout the village of Hatch.
Guests who find a rock can turn it into the Official Chile Festival Booth to enter a drawing for a basket of local and HVCF merchandise. The booth will be in the vendor area at Hatch Valley High School Pecan Orchard, 170 Herrera St., near the Main entertainment stage.
There will be three drawings on Saturday and Sunday. Winners must be present to win.
If people find a rock advertising a Hatch business, they can bring the rock to the booth to be entered into the raffle for a prize.
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María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; [email protected], @EPTMaria on Twitter; eptmariacg on Tiktok.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Hatch Chile Festival 2024 festivities include vendors, parade, carnival