Chile Pepper Fest turns up the heat

Festival features chile pepper inspired dishes, Salsa Contest, Jalapeno Pepper Eating Contest

The 21st Annual Bowers Chile Pepper Food Festival turned up the heat for about 9,500 visitors to Bill DeLong Memorial Park in Bowers.

Spotlighting the chile pepper with chile pepper inspired dishes, sauces, and salsas, highlights of the festival were the Salsa Contest on Sept. 9 with Al Buddah and his watermelon salsa winning and the Jalapeno Pepper Eating Contest on Sept. 10, which was won by Amanda Conzolcz against about a dozen other competitors.

“Attendance was pretty good considering the heat,” said event co-founder John Bixler. “A little more this year than last year. This may be one of our best years.”

There were 95 stands this year, serving bacon jelly, peanut brittle, vinegar shots, hot sauces, hot egg roll, fire fries and salsas, to name a few.

“This year’s festival, we have some new vendors. We have Crab Crazy and we have a falafel vendor and a lot of return vendors,” said Bixler.

In addition to the spicy food, musical entertainment was provided by Acoustic Road Show which showcases local musicians, on both Friday and Saturday.

Horse drawn wagons provided transport between the festival and Meadow View Farm.

The festival began with Bowers farmer James Weaver of Meadow View Farm planting peppers on his farm in 1994 for himself and his friend Chris Markey. This led to the “Hot Pepper Field Day” for locals to come and pick their own. Two years later in 1996, Chris Markey and John Bixler created the Bowers Chile Pepper Food Festival in coordination with the field excursions, according to the event release.

“There are two of many reasons that make the festival a success. And two who get very little credit in the media. First John Mertz, John is the grounds keeper. He mows the grass and keeps the park looking great for our event,” said Bixler. “Second is the Topton and New Jerusalem Boy Scout Troops. The scouts keep the park clean during the festival. And also deliver Ice to the venders as they need it. It is very important to keep the barrels from overflowing during the event.”

“Without these two key players we would not be a safe and successful event,” he said.

LISA MITCHELL - DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA The 21st annual Chile Pepper Food Festival in Bowers features a Jalapeno Pepper Eating Contest on Saturday.

LISA MITCHELL - DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Crab Crazy was one of the new vendors at the 21st annual Chile Pepper Food Festival in Bowers Sept. 9 and 10. There were a total of 95 vendors this year.

LISA MITCHELL - DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA The 21st annual Chile Pepper Food Festival in Bowers was held Sept. 9 and 10.