Chile Festival • Rillito Park

With Tucson’s temperatures sizzling, Heirloom Farmers Markets is celebrating the heat with their 13th Annual Chile Festival! Attracting thousands of visitors, the Chile Festival weekend kicks off at Trail Dust Town (Home of Pinnacle Peak) on Friday, September 23rd, continues at the Oro Valley Farmer’s Market on Saturday, September 24th, and culminates with the Grande Chile Fiesta at the Rillito Park Farmers Market on Sunday, September 25th.

Vendors will be offering delectable chile-themed food, including freshly roasted green chiles, chile spices, zesty tamales and salsas, and an abundance of chile specialties. On Sunday, the weekend crescendos with the Grande Chile Fiesta at the Rillito Park Farmers Market Pavilion featuring a Chef demonstration by 2-time Tucson Iron Chef, Danny Perez, from Primo Tucson at JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa using fresh market ingredients. There will also be live music from master Spanish guitarist, Gabriel Francisco.

“The annual Chile Festival is something we look forward to all year. This year will be the 2nd held at the Rillito Park Farmers Market Pavilion and we are excited to make full use of the space. It’s amazing to see all the ways the vendors incorporate chiles into their products,” says Roxanne Garcia, co-director of Heirloom Farmers Markets.

And if all of that is not enough, you can preorder your fresh roasted Hatch chiles from Kris Young of Red’s Roasters to be picked up at any of the 3 locations by calling 520-409-3406. The deadline for orders is Monday, September 19th! For all other festival and market related questions, please call 520-882-2157.