The 21th Annual Bowers Chile Pepper Food Festival celebrates the chile pepper on Friday and Saturday Sept. 9 and 10 at Bill DeLong Memorial Park in Bowers.
“The festival features items that strictly relate to Chile peppers. To attend a vender has to specialize in chiles,” said Christopher Markey. “We will have more venders than ever before.”
Highlights of the festival include the Salsa Contest on Friday at 2 p.m. and the Jalapeno Eating Contest on Saturday at 4 p.m.
Markey estimates that the festival attracts about 10,000 to 12,000 people to Bowers every year.
What brings people back every year?
“The variety Chile Pepper venders in one location,” he said.
According to the event release, James Weaver of Meadow View Farm in Bowers began planting peppers on his farm in 1994 for himself and his friend Chris Markey. This led to the “Hot Pepper Field Day” for locals to come and pick their own. Two years later in 1996, Markey and Bixler created the Bowers Chile Pepper Food Festival in coordination with the field excursions.
“Since that time, the festival has grown consistently by providing a good time with good music and most importantly good spicy food,” according to the release.
Musical entertainment will be provided by Acoustic Road Show which showcases local musicians, on both Friday and Saturday.
“It’s all about chile peppers, featuring some of the tastiest and most interesting chile pepper inspired dishes anywhere, from sauces to smoked stuffed jalapenos with crab and cream cheese. Vendors will be selling everything from clothing and crafts to freshly picked chiles and smoked peppers,” according to the release.
Horse drawn wagons will provide transport between the festival and the farm, donations always appreciated.
A donation of $2 per person is requested. Parking is free in the park. Family friendly, no pets and no alcohol permitted. For more information visit www.pepperfestival.com.
