Get ready to eat, dance, taste and cha cha. The Mountain Chile Cha Cha will celebrate 20 years of tradition on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Yamaguchi Park with an afternoon of green chile, Latin music, margaritas, salsa and plenty of reasons to celebrate.
Back by popular demand, Sangre Joven and Str8 Shot will return to the Cha Cha stage, bringing the sounds of Northern New Mexico and an afternoon of Latin music made for dancing. Music has always been a big part of the Cha Cha, and this year’s lineup keeps that tradition going throughout the afternoon.
Of course, you can’t have a Chile Cha Cha without plenty of green chile.
The 18th Annual Patty Aragon Green Chile Classic will get underway at 12:30 p.m. Chile tasting trays are $15 and include 12 tastes and a tortilla. Festival-goers can sample entries from home cooks and restaurants and cast their votes for the People’s Choice winner.
And there is still time to be on the other side of the tasting table. Home cooks and restaurants are encouraged to enter the Green Chile Classic. Entry is $15 for home cooks and $35 for commercial entries, with cash prizes, trophies, medals and bragging rights on the line. Register at ilovegreenchile.com.
Local restaurants will also join the fun with two separate competitions. Salsa tasting is $5 and includes chips and salsa from participating restaurants, while two judges select the Salsa Competition winners. The always-popular Margarita Tasting lets guests purchase individual tasting tickets and vote for their favorite margarita. Salsa and margarita tastings are sold separately from festival admission.
Fresh green chile will also be roasted on-site, with several heat levels available for purchase by the bag or bushel. Food vendors, a beer garden, kids’ activities and Rugby’s Rescue with dogs available for adoption round out the afternoon at Yamaguchi Park.
The gates will open at noon. General admission is $10, with children 12 and under admitted free. All tastings are sold separately and available while supplies last, with chile and margarita tastings traditionally selling out.
Come hungry, bring your dancing shoes and help celebrate 20 years of tradition at the Mountain Chile Cha Cha on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Yamaguchi Park, rain or shine.
For cook-off registration and complete event information, visit ilovegreenchile.com.
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