Hatch, N.M., may be the nation’s chile capital, but it’s a quiet farming community for most of the year. That changes on Labor Day weekend, when the two-day Hatch Chile Festival draws more than 20,000 visitors for fire-roasted peppers, music and — caution here — chile-eating contests. This year’s festival will be held Sept. 1-2 at the Hatch Municipal Airport, a mile outside town on Highway 26. With little in the way of local lodging, visitors are best served by hotels in Truth or Consequences or Las Cruces, which flank the town on Interstate 25. Both towns are roughly 40 minutes from Hatch.
Getting there: Coloradans should take I-25 south to the Hatch exit, which is about 200 miles south of Albuquerque. Cross the Rio Grande and you’re there. The trip takes about 9-10 hours.
The festival: Cost is $10 a carload, and folks with military IDs admitted free. The fun starts at 10 a.m. Saturday Sept. 1 with a parade, and noon Sunday. More info:
Restaurants: The Pepper Pot, 207 W. Hall St. 575-267-3822; Sparky’s Burgers & BBQ, 106 Franklin St., 575-267-4222; Fidencios Mexican Food, 501 W. Hall St. 575-267-4950; El Mexicano Restaurant, 360 W. Hall St. 505-267-4853
Chile shops: Hatch Chile Express, 657 N. Franklin St. 575-267-3226; Hatch Green Chile Store, 32705 New Mexico 185 575-635-4680 William Porter, The Denver Post
Hatch, N.M., may be the nation’s chile capital, but it’s a quiet farming community for most of the year.
That changes on Labor Day weekend, when the two-day Hatch Chile Festival draws more than 20,000 visitors for fire-roasted peppers, music and — caution here — chile-eating contests.
This year’s festival will be held Sept. 1-2 at the Hatch Municipal Airport, a mile outside town on Highway 26.
With little in the way of local lodging, visitors are best served by hotels in Truth or Consequences or Las Cruces, which flank the town on Interstate 25. Both towns are roughly 40 minutes from Hatch.
Getting there
Coloradans should take I-25 south to the Hatch exit, which is about 200 miles south of Albuquerque. Cross the Rio Grande and you’re there. The trip takes about 9-10 hours.
The festival
Cost is $10 a carload, and folks with military IDs admitted free. The fun starts at 10 a.m. Saturday Sept. 1 with a parade, and noon Sunday. More info:
Restaurants
The Pepper Pot
207 W. Hall St. 575-267-3822
Sparky’s Burgers & BBQ
106 Franklin St., 575-267-4222
Fidencios Mexican Food
501 W. Hall St. 575-267-4950
El Mexicano Restaurant
360 W. Hall St.
505-267-4853
Chile shops
Hatch Chile Express
657 N. Franklin St.
575-267-3226
Hatch Green Chile Store
32705 New Mexico 185
575-635-4680
William Porter: 303-954-1877 or wporter@denverpost.com
Get there: Coloradans should take Interstate 25 south to the Hatch exit, which is about 200 miles south of Albuquerque. Cross the Rio Grande, and you’re there. The trip takes about 9-10 hours.
The festival: Hatch, N.M., may be the nation’s chile capital, but it’s a quiet farming community for most of the year. That changes on Labor Day weekend, when the two-day Hatch Chile Festival draws more than 20,000 visitors for fire-roasted peppers, music and — caution here — chile-eating contests. This year’s festival is slated for Sept. 1 and 2 at the Hatch Municipal Airport, a mile outside town on New Mexico 26. Cost is $10 a carload, and folks with military IDs are admitted free. The fun starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, with a parade, and noon on Sunday. More info:
Stay: With little in the way of local lodging, visitors are best served by hotels in Truth or Consequences or Las Cruces, which flank the town on Interstate 25. Both towns are roughly 40 minutes from Hatch.
Shopping: Hatch Chile Express, 57 N. Franklin St., 575-267-3226 Hatch Green Chile Store, 32705 New Mexico 185, 575-635-4680
Dine/Drink: The Pepper Pot, 207 W. Hall St. 575-267-3822; Sparky’s Burgers & BBQ, 106 Franklin St., 575-267-4222; Fidencios Mexican Food, 501 W. Hall St. 575-267-4950 El Mexicano Restaurant, 360 W. Hall St., 505-267-4853
Hatch insider’s guide
