Valley temperatures may finally be on the decline, but an upcoming Chile Pepper Festival is going to heat things up on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014! If you love the savory, hot and spicy flavors of chile peppers, don't skip next weekend's festival at Phoenix Public Market. Free to enter and full of fun chile-themed activities, the annual event will offer free salsa dancing lessons, a Chiles & Tchotchkes Market, live music, kid's activities, a wild Ghost Pepper Talent Show and much, much more.
For foodies, the highlight of the festival will be the chile-pepper inspired dishes served by numerous local restaurants who will be taking part in the Chile Pepper Challenge. Participating eateries include AZ Food Crafters, Aside of Heart, Carly's Bistro, Gadzooks, Gallo Blanco and other local favorites. Last year's judge's pick, Phoenix Public Market Café, will also be back to defend their title. Tasting tickets for the competition are only $2 each or 12 for $20, while beer and margarita tokens will be available for $5 each or five for $20. Several bundle discounts are also offered, including a package that comes with 24 food tickets, so you can try a dish from every challenge team.
If you have children, make sure you stop by the kid's zone, which will include take-home chile pepper crafts (necklaces, greeting cards, etc.) and a collective painting project, among other activities.
While the Chile Pepper Festival is free to enter, attendees are encouraged to RSVP online to ensure entry, no matter event capacity. For complete details and to RSVP online, please click here to visit the official Chile Pepper Fest website.
