Chile & Frijoles Fest

What: Chile & Frijoles Festival
Where: Downtown Pueblo – 1st and Union
When: 3rd or 4th Weekend in September
    Friday, 3:00 PM –11:00 PM
    Saturday, 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM
    Sunday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Ahhh, the incredible aroma of roasting chilies turning over hot flames! Sample a variety of salsas made by local farmers as you admire colorful Ristras – chilies tied on a string. Unfortunately, the displays of frijoles – that’s “beans” in case you didn’t know – aren’t quite as exciting to the nose and eyes. Not to worry! Kids can participate in The Art of the Bean, where they compete in age groups for the best sculpture constructed completely using beans (and mostly Pinto beans at that). Or check out the Great Bean Spit Off. Both bean-spitting accuracy and power will be judged. If the kids are still looking for something to do after all that excitement, send them over to the Piñata breaking area where they can let off a little steam.

Both commercial and non-commercial competitions are held for best Red Chili, Green Chili, and salsa recipes. The “Holy Frijoles” Cooking contest features cooked beans (again, Pintos must be the predominant ingredient). The public can help judge the Best Bean Dip in Pueblo by stopping at participating shops along Union Avenue for a sample and to place their votes. We suggest you try to schedule sampling the bean dips before you participate in the Jalapeño Eating contest.

If you’ve had your fill of chile and frijoles for a while, check out the farmer’s market, the fine art show, live entertainment, and our favorite, the “Salsa & Cerveza” Brew Fest. Sorry, the brews aren’t free. 

Another special feature of the Festival is the reenactment of a Mercado (market) in the style of the 1840’s, complete with costumed historical interpreters. El Pueblo was a Fort and trading post founded at this site in the early 1840’s. Trappers, settlers, and Indians traded, farmed, and lived here intermittently for about 12 years. However, tensions rose between Native Americans and occupying military and civilians, and on Christmas in 1854, a party of Ute and Jicarilla Apaches attacked El Pueblo, killing or capturing most of the people there. The trading post was abandoned, and eventually faded within the growth of the city of Pueblo, which began being settled after the Colorado Gold Rush. You can learn more about the history by visiting El Pueblo History Museum, which had its grand opening at the Chile & Frijoles Festival in 2003. There is a small fee to tour the museum.

Finally, for you car-buffs out there, the Festival often includes one or more car shows to participate, so watch for Corvettes or other cool cars at the festival.

¡Arriba!

For more information, contact:
Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce
800-233-3446