Are you a fan of spicy food? Then you’re in luck because the USA hosts some of the hottest and spiciest chili festivals in the world! From chili cook-offs to live music and entertainment, these festivals have something for everyone. In this blog, we’ll take a look at some of the best chili festivals across the USA. So grab a cold beverage and let’s get spicy!

Scorching 🔥🥵🌶️

The Scorching Chili Fest in Anniston, Alabama, is a two-day festival that celebrates all things spicy. The festival features a chili cook-off, live music, and a pepper eating contest. If you’re up for the challenge, you can test your heat tolerance by sampling some of the spiciest chili peppers, like the Carolina Reaper or Ghost Pepper. But beware, they’re not for the faint of heart!

A colorful image of chili peppers with a person in the background holding up a pepper

Hatch Chile Festival 🌶️🎉🙌

Every Labor Day weekend, the small town of Hatch, New Mexico, puts on one of the biggest chili festivals in the country. The Hatch Chile Festival celebrates the town’s world-famous chili peppers, which are grown in the surrounding fields. Visitors can sample various dishes made with the spicy peppers, like chili burgers, enchiladas, and even ice cream. The festival also features live music, a carnival, and a parade.

A panoramic view of a chili festival with a stage, people, and booths

Habanero Festival 🎉🌶️🔥

The Habanero Festival in Lousiana is a two-day event that features all things spicy. Visitors can browse the vendor booths, listen to live music, and sample some of the hottest sauces on the market. The festival also features a pepper eating contest and a “Mr. and Mrs. Hot Stuff” contest, where contestants show off their best spicy costumes.

A group of people wearing habanero pepper hats and posing for a picture

Fiery Foods Festival 🔥🌶️🎉

The Fiery Foods Festival in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is one of the largest spicy food festivals in the world. The festival features over 1,000 different types of hot sauces, salsas, and other spicy foods. Visitors can sample the products, watch live cooking demonstrations, and attend seminars on spicy food. There’s also a hot pepper eating contest, where contestants try to eat as many fiery peppers as they can without giving up.

A close-up of a person holding a spoonful of hot sauce in front of a booth with hot sauce bottles

ZestFest 🌶️🧀🍺

The ZestFest in Irving, Texas, celebrates all things spicy, savory, and zesty. The festival features over 100 exhibitors showcasing their hottest sauces, spicy snacks, and unique dishes. Visitors can also attend cooking demos, hear live music, and sample some of the festival’s signature spicy cheese and beer.

A person holding up a spicy cheese sample in front of a booth

Tips 👍

  • Bring a water bottle: You’ll need it to cool off after trying all the spicy food.
  • Wear comfortable shoes: You’ll be doing a lot of walking and standing.
  • Bring cash: Some vendors might not accept credit cards.
  • Don’t forget sunscreen: Most of the festivals take place outdoors, so protect your skin from the sun.

So what are you waiting for? Grab your friends and family and head to one of these spicy festivals for a weekend of fun and deliciously spicy food!

A collage of all the festivals featured in the blog, with images of chili peppers and festival activities