The Details

All you need to know before joining us for an epic weekend dedicated to all things chile in Pueblo, CO!

EVENT TIME & LOCATION

Historic Downtown Pueblo on Union Ave. Between B St. & City Center Dr.

→ Friday, September 20^th – 3:00pm-Midnight
→ Saturday, September 21^st – 10:00am-Midnight
→ Sunday, September 22^nd – 10:00am-6:00pm

PRICES

→ $5.00 General Admission
→ Children 12 & Under FREE
→ Active Duty Military FREE with Valid ID

FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE

Beat the parking hassle with our FREE shuttle service! Park at the Midtown Shopping Center (1000 W. 6th Street) or Runyan Field Parking Lot and catch the shuttle to the festival. The shuttle will drop riders in the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) parking lot from Midtown and on Central Main Street by the Pueblo Convention Center from Runyon Field.

The shuttle will run:
→ Friday the 20th from 3:00pm-12:00am
→ Saturday the 21st from 10:00am-12:00am
→ Sunday the 22nd from 10:00am-6:00pm.

PARKING

FREE Parking Garages
S. Main St Parking Garage
Grand & City Center Dr

Pay to Park
Main Street Parking Garage - $10.00 per Day

Handicap Parking
Professional Bull Riders Parking Lot, back entrance off Victoria St

CONCEALED CARRY

Conceal Carry accepted with Colorado credentials, no out of state.
Open Carry is forbidden.

DOGS

Dogs are allowed at the event; they must be on a leash.

EVENT INFORMATION

Continuous Live Entertainment

The 25th Annual Chile & Frijoles Festival Presented by Black Hills Energy will feature continuous live entertainment throughout the 3-day festival. Six entertainments tents will be filled with local dance groups and local bands. Music aficionados can expect to sample genres including rock, folk, R&B, blues, Tejano, original, pop and more in the lineup that will feature more than 50 local bands.

The six entertainment tents include:
→ Pueblo Toyota (Victoria & D St)
→ Triple Crown Casinos (Grand & Union)
→ Pueblo Dodge, Chrysler Jeep RAM (D Street & Union)
→ Colorado State University-Pueblo (Alan Hamel)
→ Credit Union of Colorado (Angelo’s Pizza Parking Lot)
→ TBK Bank (C Street & Union)

An additional Entertainment Stage will be located in the 300 block of Union Ave. on Saturday and Sunday of the festival featuring the Magic of Mr. E and Kyle Groves and musical performances by the Ortega Brothers.

Rusler Produce Frijoles Farmers Market

(SRDA Parking lot off Alan Hamel)

In the fields east of Pueblo Hwy. 50, you can find every kind of pepper imaginable - from bell peppers to yellow wax peppers, sweet and hot Anaheim to jalapenos. But the most flavorful of them all is the Mira Sol Chile or Pueblo Chile as the locals refer to it. The festival is the perfect place to experience the flavor of these award-winning peppers as the farmers fire-roast their Chile and sample their products. While the Pueblo Chile is the star of the farmers’ market you can also purchase a wide variety of farm fresh produce while taking in the sights and sounds of Southern Colorado’s premier fall festival. The Farmers Market is sponsored by Rusler Produce, Inc.

Don’t Forget the Frijoles Bean Spitting Competition

Show off your bean spitting skills at the “Don’t forget the Frijoles Bean Competitions” will be held at 2:00 and 6:00 on Saturday and 1:00 and 3:00 on Sunday. The Farmers Market and bean spitting competition is sponsored by Rusler Produce, Inc.

Chili & Salsa Showdown Sponsored By: Franklin D. Azar & Associates, THE STRONG ARM

The festival will heat things up with the Chile & Salsa Showdown Sponsored by Franklin D. Azar & Associates, THE STRONG ARM. The food competition will be held at the Pueblo Convention Center.

Commercial Competition

Saturday, September 21^st, 2019 at the Pueblo Convention Center
Winners of each category for the commercial entries will receive $500 along with bragging rights and will be announced at Saturday 2:00pm in the Credit Union of Colorado entertainment tent.

Non-commercial Competition

Sunday, September 22^nd, 2019 at the Pueblo Convention Center
Entries will be awarded prizes for the top three places; first place will receive $100, second place will receive $50 and third place will receive $25. Winners will be announced Sunday at 2:00pm in the Credit Union of Colorado entertainment tent.

Both commercial and non-commercial have three categories that will be judged including the best red chili, green chili and salsa. For more information please visit festival.pueblochamber.org or contact the Chamber at 719.542.1704.

Jalapeno Eating Contest Sponsored By: Colorado Lottery

HOT! HOT! HOT! That is what participants of last year’s annual Jalapeno Eating Contest are saying.  This year during the 25th Annual Chile & Frijoles Festival Presented by Black Hills Energy things are sure to be just as hot.  Individuals interested in competing in the Jalapeno Eating Contest can pick up entry forms at the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce booth (located on Union & Grand Ave.) at the festival.

Sunday, September 22^nd
Pueblo Toyota Tent at 4:00pm
$1 entry fee per person and must be 18 years old to enter
1st place wins a $100, second place wins $50 and Judges Choice wins $50

Chihuahuas on Parade

Enter your cute, wiggly, and wild pooch in the Chihuahua Parade to be held at the TBK Bank Entertainment Tent on Saturday, September 21st at 3:00pm. Categories include Best Costume, Best Shaker, Channel Your Inner Chihuahua (all breeds encouraged, give us your best Chihuahua), and Most Macho! Prizes provided by Animal Kingdom Pet Shop & Grooming Salon, Pet Paradise, Sit Means Sit, and Petco. $5 entry fee.

Enjoy Live Cooking Demos & Free Samples from PCC’s Culinary Arts Department

Watch and enjoy live as Pueblo Community College’s culinary arts masters show you how to prepare some unique dishes inspired by Pueblo Chile and other farm-fresh produce!

Demos will take place in the Credit Union of Colorado Entertainment Tent (Angelo’s Parking Lot) on Saturday, September 22st at 11:00am, 12:00pm, and 1:00pm and Sunday, September 22^nd at 11:00am, 12:00pm, and 1:00pm.

Walter’s Brewery Cornhole Tournament

Friday (5:00pm-Midnight), Saturday (11:00am-Midnight), and Sunday (11:00am-5:00pm) in the El Pueblo lot:

There will be three corn hole play areas (each area having two corn-hole boards for play).  Two corn hole play areas will be free for the public to play (any age) and the third area will be a 21 or older designated area eligible for prizes with $5 per turn.

In the 21 or older area prizes are as follows with 4 bags for each turn:
→ Sink one bag in the hole = two $1 off coupons at Walter's Brewery
→ Sink two bags in the hole = a 12 oz Beer* at Walter's Brewery
→ Sink three bags in the hole = a 16 oz Beer* at Walter's Brewery
→ Sink four bags in the hole = either: two 16 oz Beers*, or a Walter's Basic T-Shirt, or a Commemorative 22 oz. Walter's Chile Mug with a fill* at Walter's Brewery

Fireworks at 9:40 pm on Friday and Saturday Nights

Be sure to look to the sky toward the Vail Hotel on Friday and Saturday nights at 9:40 pm for the fireworks display in celebration of the 25^th Chile Festival.