Dan and I so enjoyed the sights and smells of roasting chile in the streets of Hatch, New Mexico, last year for the annual Hatch Chile Festival. We won’t forget all our fun times packed into one Labor Day weekend. Read on for the reasons you shouldn’t miss the 50th Hatch Chile Festival happening soon.
Table of Contents

Hatch, New Mexico—the Chile Capital of the World

I can’t recommend enough the fun and laughter at the 50th Hatch Chile Festival in the Village of Hatch, NM—the Chile Capital of the World. It’s a chance for you to dig into the unique culture of this special region. It’s a large agricultural area, and festival time provides opportunities for the hard-working farmers and their families to come out and celebrate the harvest. It’s exciting to catch their energy!
Here's how to make memories at Hatch Chile Festival

Festivities get underway on Friday, September 2, 2022, at 5 pm with music at the Ice Box Beer Garden and the wild and wacky carnival right downtown. The charming hometown Hatch Chile parade gets the show on the road around 9 am Saturday. We loved the parade with the horses, fire engines and dozens of floats decorated in surprising Hatch chile motifs.
RELATED: How to Roast Green Chiles
Hatch Chile Festival Parade

Throughout the day, you can laugh at the competitive shenanigans of the contestants at the Chile Eating Contests. If a contestant reaches for that pint of milk, they lose.
The kids in the ice cream eating contest are precious. And the watermelon munchers were very competitive, too. Of course, everywhere vendors roasted green chiles and the aroma filled the air.
Hatch chile-eating contest

Live music and performances throughout the weekend

Then eat fair food while watching traditional dancers or listening to live music under the shade of a pecan orchard. How cool is that? It’s all a heck of a lot of fun that lasts through Sunday of Labor Day weekend. (Schedule below.)
Of course, I had to buy a ristra (a string of red or green chiles) to dry at home. Dan opted for the 50-lb gunnysack full of ‘medium hot’ Hatch green chiles and 10 lbs of onions. He also couldn’t resist the sombrero.
RELATED: New Mexico Hatch Chiles Recipes

Other plans for Labor Day?
If you can’t make it to New Mexico for the festivities, then order your Hatch Green chiles online at Melissa’s Produce. Melissa gets her chiles directly from the growers around Hatch.
About the 2022 Hatch Chile Festival
The Hatch Chile Festival takes place over Labor Day weekend on September 2, 3 and 4, 2022. Music at the Ice Box Beer Garden and the carnival launch the festivities at 5 pm on Friday night in Hatch, New Mexico.
It rained last year, so bring a rain jacket just in case, a sunhat, water and sunscreen. Be prepared to do a lot of walking around all the restaurants, events, music and chile, food and craft vendors. Shuttle service is provided, too.
Watch for signage directing you to park at Hatch High School as you drive into the event. Organizers ask for a $10 contribution as a parking fee to support the festival. There is no additional fee beyond the parking contribution.
2022 Hatch Chile Festival Schedule
Village Market
Saturday:
10 am – 1 pm Chile, Ice Cream, Watermelon eating contests
Noon-10 pm Live Music, Food and Brewery
Sunday:
10 am – 1 pm Chile, Ice Cream, Watermelon eating contests
Noon-10 pm Live Music, Food and Brewery
Entertainment-Pecan Orchard-Vendor Area
Saturday:
12 pm Opening Ceremonies
1 pm – Chile Queen Auction
2-3 pm Ballet Folklorico Korimi
3–4 pm Jamie O’Hara Magic
3-4 Ballet Folklorico Korimi
3–4 pm Hatch Chile Hat Competition
5–6 pm Jamie O’Hara Magic
6–8 pm DJ Music
Sunday:
11-12 noon – Jamie O’Hara Magic
12 Noon – 1 pm – DJ Music
1–3 pm Mariachi Aguilas
3–4 pm – Jamie O’Hara Magic
4–6 pm – DJ Music



Shop UNSTOPPABLE Stacey's guidebooks:
Where to stay for Hatch Chile Festival
Wondering where to stay at Hatch Chile festival? We stayed in Truth or Consequences, which is just up the interstate from Hatch. There are plenty of rooms there or in Las Cruces.
Did you like my story? Then please leave a comment below. If I left something out, please let me know in a comment. I really appreciate your feedback.

Hi, I’m Stacey
UNSTOPPABLE Stacey Travel is a travel blog focused on immersive travel that highlights food, wine and the spirituality of place. I also occasionally write about life as a Camino de Santiago pilgrim. I hope you enjoy what I post here. Feel free to leave comments! Read more…
JOIN MY FREE NEWSLETTER
Enjoy this story? Then never miss the latest travel news, tips and inspiring finds by signing up for free:
As is common in the travel industry, UNSTOPPABLE Stacey was provided with accommodations, meals, and other compensation for the purpose of review. While it has not influenced this review, the author believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest.
In addition, this blog, UNSTOPPABLE Stacey Travel, contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, Stacey earns a commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help reduce the costs of keeping this travel blog active.
“As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks for reading,” UNSTOPPABLE Stacey Wittig
Enjoy this article? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below. Please share this article with the red- and blue-colored social media buttons.
To get more FREE travel tips and inspiration, simply subscribe below and updates will be delivered directly to your email inbox.

5 Reasons To Consider a Dreamy Maldives Holiday
If you’re looking for a dreamy escape, there’s no better place than the Maldives, so here are 5 reasons why you should consider a Maldives holiday Table of Contents Are you struggling to decide where to head for your next holiday? If you’re looking for the trip of a lifetime, a Maldives holiday should be

Unconventional Cajun Traiteurs and Catholic Healing Prayers in the Bayou
Cajun traiteurs, or traditional Cajun healers, who use Catholic healing prayers, have long been an essential part of Louisiana’s cultural heritage. These healers use a combination of natural remedies, touch and prayer to help people heal from physical and spiritual ailments. One of the unique aspects of Cajun traiteurs is their close association with the

Insider Tips for Grand Canyon Shuttle and Spring Break Travel
With limited parking and strict traffic regulations, exploring the Grand Canyon can be a challenging experience for many visitors. To alleviate this issue, Grand Canyon shuttle services have become popular among visitors, offering an efficient and eco-friendly way to navigate the park’s vast expanse. In this article, we discuss tips for using shuttle services when