Listed below is a schedule of most of the major national and regional fiery foods trade shows, conventions, hot sauce events and chile pepper festivals in North America. This originally appeared on my online chilehead events calendar. If you know of any industry shows and events that aren’t listed below, please contact Buddah or myself and we’ll try to get them up here ASAP.
ZestFest 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012 11:00-3:00 (TRADE ONLY)
Friday, January 27, 2012 3:00-7:00
Saturday, January 28, 2012 10:00-5:00
Sunday, January 29, 2012 10:00-4:00
Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas.
Contact: Gregory Bagarozy 845-661-3616 or pducerp@earthlink.net
Annual spicy food show hosted by Chile Pepper Magazine featuring cooking demos, live music and more. For more information on booth reservations for Zestfest 2012 or entries into the Fiery Food Challenge, contact Judy Magouirk at 817-306-4386 or judymagouirk@att.net.
www.zestfest2011.com If the website changes it should take you to the new one.
North Market Fiery Food Show
February 18-19, 2012 This little, but growing show is expanding to 2 days for 2011. There will also be an open house at CaJohn’s Fiery Foods on the Friday before the event.
North Market
59 Spruce St.
Columbus, OH 43215
phone: (614) 463-9664; email: info@northmarket.com
website: www.northmarket.com
23rd Annual National Fiery Foods & Barbecue Show
March 2, 2012 to March 4, 2012 hosted by Sandia Resort and Casino, I-25 and Tramway NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
For more information, call Emily DeWitt-Cisneros at 505-873-8680.
Website: CLICK HERE
Gunther’s Gourmet Gala
May 5, 2012 hosted by Michael Lampros of Gunther’s Gourmet in Richmond, VA. It is a small gathering by invite only with retail and wholesale buyers for East Coast vendors of various products. It is going on it’s 3rd year and has a nominal fee of $35 which includes food and drink as chicken wings and other simple finger foods will be sampled and reviewed on site by chile bloggers. Contact Mike @ M66L66@aol.com or 804-240-1796 for information on how to attend.
Company Website Only: http://gunthersgourmet.com/
Peppers at the Beach
May 18-20, 2012 hosted by Peppers, one of the largest hot sauce stores in the country.
Event is FREE, so all you have to do is show up and set up a strong tent and table to fight up the strong beach winds. The show is held at the Parking lot in front of Peppers, and word has it there will be a food show crew on hand this year. Interested vendors should contact Luther Hearn at 302-645-0812.
Location: 18701 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach, DE, 19971
New Website: www.hotsauceatthebeach.com
Facebook Page: CLICK HERE
www.peppers.com
6th Annual Pinella’s Pepper Fest
June 2, 2012 10-4pm & June 3, 2012 11am-4pm
Held at the England Brothers Band Shell Park
5010 81st Avenue
Pinellas Park, FL 33780
Phone: 727-423-8433
Hosting an amateur salsa competition and Intensity Academy’s Lick-a-Thon Lollipop licking contest. Plus live music and other fun.
Website: www.pinellaspepperfest.com
Oxnard Salsa Festival
July 28 & 29, 2012 (11am-7pm) – Plaza Park, Oxnard, CA
The 17th annual event of everything “salsa” – the food, the music and the dance. Spicy food, contests, and lots of entertainment.
website: www.oxnardsalsafestival.com
Contact: Email vendorapps@oxnardsalsafestival.com or leave a message at 805-247-0197.
22nd Annual Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival
Saturday Aug 26, 2012 – Waterloo Park, Austin, TX
Popular regional festival, featuring vendors, contests, music and more.
Website: CLICK HERE
Toronto Hot & Spicy Food Festival
Sept 5, 2011 – Sept 5, 2011 – Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, ON
Entertainment, cooking competitions, and of course spicy food.
Website: CLICK HERE
Hatch Chile Festival
Sept 1, 2012 – Sept 2, 2012 – Hatch, NM
The large spicy foods festival which boasts over 30,000 annual visitors from all over the United States.
Website: www.hatchchilefest.com
National Buffalo Chicken Wing Festival
Sept. 1, 2012 (12pm-9pm) – Sept. 2, 2012(12pm-7pm)- Coca Cola Field, 275 Washington St, Buffalo, NY 14203.
This is the biggest wing event in the world, and filled with a lot of events throughout the weekend. www.buffalowing.com
18th Annual Chile Pepper Food Festival
Sept 7, 2012 – Sept 8, 2012 – William Delong Park, 233 Bowers Rd, Bowers PA
Large festival in eastern Pennsylvania featuring eating contests and more.
Website: www.pepperfestival.com for details.
North Carolina Hot Sauce Festival
Sept 8, 2012 – Main Street, College Street and Hillsboro Street in Oxford, NC.
Regional hot sauce festival occurring in downtown historic Oxford, NC, taking place on Main St., College St. and Hillsboro St.
Website: www.nchotsaucecontest.com
2nd Annual I Like it Hot Festival & BBQ
September 8 & 9, 2012 – Minnreg Hall, Largo, FL
Regional event with hot sauces, chile peppers, contests and more.
Website: www.ilikeithotfestival.com
12th Annual Houston Hot Sauce Festival
Saturday, September 15, 2012 to Sunday, September 16, 2012 at the Stafford Centre, 10505 Cash Rd, Stafford, TX. For Details contact Carol Bourge at (281) 558 – 3518 or carol@houstonhotsauce.com
Website: www.houstonhotsauce.com
The popular hot sauce/spicy foods show for the Houston, TX area, and one of the biggest spicy events in the country.
22nd Annual Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta
Sept 26, 2012 – Sept 30, 2012- 551 W. Cordova Road #723,
Santa Fe, NM 87505.
Phone: (505) 438-8060
Email: info@santafewineandchile.org
Website: www.santafewineandchile.org
Jungle Jim’s 6th Annual Weekend of Fire
October 6, 2012 – October 7, 2012 – Oscar Event Center at Jungle Jim’s International Market in Fairfield, OH.
Website: CLICK ME
The popular hot sauce/spicy foods show for the Cincinnati, OH area. Also features Defcon’s Deathmatch National Hot Wing Eating Championship on Saturday night, Patter Fam’s Spicy PB & J Sammich Stackdown, and Heartbreaking Dawns’ Brownie Brawl Buster.
NOLA Hot Sauce and Gourmet Show
Future Date should be coming (best guess Oct 27-28, 2012) – New Orleans, LA
This is a new and growing fiery & gourmet food show going into it’s 3rd year for the New Orleans, LA area. Details are coming soon. www.nolahotsauce.com
