Explore Food & Wine Festivals in New Mexico
No place in the universe has a more beloved, and specific, local cuisine than New Mexico. It’s a land whose state question is “red or green (chile)?” New Mexicans take their eating seriously. There is also nothing quite like digging into a buffalo burger served with lip-smacking salsa and tortilla chips; or grilled veggies, like corn on the cob sprinkled with Hatch red-chile mix, and must-have frijoles ranchero-style, served with crisp apples harvested from the upper Mimbres Valley. Homegrown New Mexico cuisine is a mosaic of all cultures. Only this kind of delightfully unpredictable, distinct cuisine could possibly keep pace with the relaxed pace, romantic charm, boundless blue skies, breathtaking sunsets, and endless starry nights found only in the Land of Enchantment.
Annual Food & Wine Festivals
Hatch Chile Festival
As summer cools down, the Village of Hatch heats up with the annual two-day Hatch Chile Festival celebration of its world-famous crop, attracting more than 30,000 visitors from all over the United States. Festival goers can sample famed chile recipes, watch the crowning of the chile festival queen, join in a chile ristra contest or just sit back and enjoy artisans, parades, food, carnivals, contest, music and much more. Brought to you by the Hatch Valley Chamber of Commerce, the event takes place at the Hatch Municipal Airport, one mile east of town on State Road 26. Admission is $10 per car.
Every Labor Day Weekend
8750′ Music & BBQ Festival
The 8750′ Festival, replacing “Hot Chili Days, Cool Mountain Nights” will fill the town with live music by regional singer-songwriters including Hayes Carll, Jason Boland, Dave Beck’s Tejano Weekend and more to come at several venues. There will be multiple cook-offs in Brandenburg Park: CASI “Red River Red” cook-off, New Mexico State Green Chile Championship & Lone Star BBQ Society cook-off. Don’t miss this great event!
National Fiery Foods & Barbecue Show
The National Fiery Foods & Barbecue Show returns to the Sandia Resort and Casino Events Center every March.
This unique show attracts attendees and buyers from around the globe and more than 10,000 general public attendance. Exhibitors in the show can take advantage of this opportunity to meet and greet new buyers, introduce their line of products or services, and reaffirm their commitments to their current customers who will be attending the show.
If you like warmth on your palate and have never experienced the Fiery Foods Show you should put it on your short list of places to go and thing to do. Great books, clothing, and decorator items – anything related to chili peppers – you’ll find at this hot annual show.
Las Cruces Harvest Wine Festival
Celebrate the rich history of New Mexico Wines with the Las Cruces Harvest Wine Festival. Samples wines from wineries around the state, shop vendors from all over the southwest, eat, listen to live music and attend sessions at the University of Wine to learn more about food and wine pairing. The event is open all three days - Saturday, Sunday, and Monday from noon - 6:00 pm. Ticket purchased is good for any one of those three days. Attendees must be 21 years old or accompanied by parent or legal guardian. Please bring valid photo ID.
Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta
The Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta is an annual five-day weekend of events featuring the culinary artistry found in Santa Fe, New Mexico’s many excellent restaurants coupled with the sophistication and wines of national wineries.
By bringing 90 national wineries to Santa Fe to partner with 75 of Santa Fe’s best restaurants, a five day schedule of food and wine events is created featuring cooking demos, wine seminars, winery luncheons and dinners. The weekend culminates with the Grand Tasting at the Santa Fe Opera where all 75 participating Santa Fe restaurants and all 90 wineries serve samples of their best food and wine.
One event, The SFWC Fiesta Live Auction raises money to sponsor Santa Fe restaurant community events. Proceeds from the live auction help sponsor culinary classes such as restaurant service classes, wine and cooking classes. As well the Live Auction helps sponsor other community events involving our restaurants and chefs such as Santa Fe’s Cooking with Kids program and Santa Fe Restaurant Week.
Southwest Chocolate & Coffee Festival
With over 120 vendors showcasing, sampling and selling chocolates, candies, fresh roasted coffee, cakes, teas, beer, wine and much more, this is the largest chocolate and coffee consumer marketplace in the nation. Over 17,000 chocolate & coffee lovers come to eat, drink, shop, discover, dance and learn. Professional cooking demos, coffee seminars, live music, chocolate eating contests, cow milking demonstrations, and baking contests (open to all), provide plenty of non-stop entertainment. Free bouncers and face painting for kids and something to satisfy the chocolate and coffee lover in us all.
Chocolate Fantasia
Celebrate Valentine’s Day each February in Silver City. Stroll galleries, shops, and greet old friends while sampling delicious, gourmet chocolate confections - handmade and beautifully displayed in local galleries in and around the town’s historic district. Other events include games, a Cosmic Parade, and live music at several locations around town.
