7 Delectable New Mexico Food Festivals
New Mexico’s food festivals run the gamut from sweet to hot and smoky to spicy. Savor barbecued ribs one week and nibble on gourmet chocolate the next. But no matter what your culinary weakness might be, you’ll find something to satisfy your cravings among these seven stellar celebrations of food in the Land of Enchantment.
See more: A Taste of New Mexico
Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta
Santa Fe
The festival organizers call the Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta a “five-day weekend.” Nearly 100 wineries from around the country join 75 local restaurants to create what feels like a nonstop culinary feast in late September. Guests can enjoy tasting classes, watch cooking demos and take part in paired meals over the course of the fiesta. The event culminates with the Grand Tasting at the Santa Fe Opera, where all participating restaurants and wineries serve samples of their best food and wine. There’s also a bike ride, a golf classic and a film fiesta at this premier food and wine event.
See more: 6 Under-the-Radar Wine Regions Around the U.S.
Pork and Brew BBQ State Championship
Rio Rancho
What better way to savor the summertime than to enjoy a meal fresh from the barbecue? At the Pork and Brew BBQ State Championship, 20 different vendors serve up all kinds of barbecue goodness alongside some of the top carnival foods in the state.
Highlights of this delectable festival (which has even been featured on Food Network) include the largest inflatable waterslide in New Mexico, kids’ watermelon and adult pie-eating contests twice daily, face painting, an arts and crafts fair, a battle of the bands, live music, a petting zoo, and an indoor/outdoor setting that can help you beat the heat or stay dry no matter the weather.
Hatch Valley Chile Festival
Hatch
The Chile Capital of the World invites guests to celebrate its famous crop on Labor Day weekend every year at the Hatch Valley Chile Festival. Try the fresh green chile with a slightly sweet, tangy and smoky flavor. Or try the red hatch chiles, which have been aged and ripened for a rich, earthy flavor.
No matter how you prefer your chilies, you’ll find something to love at this gala of flavor. Two stages of live entertainment add to the festivities, as do a carnival, beer garden and market. Take the time to learn how to make your own ristra – the hanging arrangement of drying or dried chiles, and enjoy a long-lasting souvenir of this iconic city and its namesake chile pepper.
See more: The Future of Chile in New Mexico is Looking Especially Hot
Southwest Chocolate & Coffee Fest
Albuquerque
Two of the very best tastes are paired together at Southwest Chocolate & Coffee Fest, America’s largest festival for coffee, chocolate and gourmet food. In late March, follow the delectable aromas to the New Mexico State Fairgrounds for a truly dreamy weekend of sampling, demonstrations, cake decorating, live music, baking contests, and even coffee and chocolate portrait painting classes. Guests are guaranteed to find something delicious among the 140 vendors of chocolates, coffees, teas, gourmet foods, wine and beer.
Pie Town Festival
Pie Town
Way up at 8,000 feet near the Continental Divide, this town that was once on a major cattle drive route earned its name as a place to stop for dried fruit pies in the early 20th century. The cowboys no longer have to go out of their way for Pie Town, however; On the second Saturday in September, you can join the decades-old tradition of stopping for pies in Pie Town at the annual Pie Town Festival.
Participate in the pie-baking contest – or for a bit less work, sign up for the pie-eating contest. There’s also a horseshoes tournament, horned toad contest and a fun run. Pie Town says it’s one of the few places in the U.S. where you can still see the Milky Way, so they say to come for the pie, but stay for the stars. You won’t regret it.
See more: How Field’s Pies Became a Pecan Pie Powerhouse
National Fiery Foods & Barbecue Show
Albuquerque
The National Fiery Foods & Barbecue Show bills itself as the “Hottest Show on Earth.” Part food festival, part industry food show, this event in late February brings the heat, featuring the fieriest items in the world among the nearly 200 exhibitors and 1,000 different products available for tasting and purchase at the show. You’ll find everything from taste bud-burning hot sauces to sweet and spicy desserts, plus salsas, marinades, rubs and more. The event also features cooking and barbecue demonstrations and the 505 Food Fights contests where local chefs face off in head-to-head competitions with mystery ingredients.
See more: Green Chile Cheeseburgers are a New Mexico Staple
Las Cruces Harvest Wine Festival
Las Cruces
Labor Day weekend brings a celebration of all things vino in New Mexico at the Las Cruces Harvest Wine Festival. Festivalgoers can sample red, white and sparkling wines over the course of three days or purchase bottles to take home.
The event also includes food trucks, live music, and artists and artisans. They bring the popular sip-and-paint concept outdoors and offer horse-drawn cart rides, as well. But the biggest draw might be the timed grape-stomping races. This fun festival combines art, music, dancing and wine to make for the perfect way to spend the holiday weekend.