Businesses prepare for Chile & Frijoles Festival rush

Business owners in downtown Pueblo are preparing for the festival rush this weekend.

The 21st Chile & Frijoles Festival is expected to bring in more than 100,000 people and more than $3 million for the city of Pueblo according to the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce.

Angelo’s Pizza is in downtown Pueblo. Manager Racine Cordova said this is the restaurant’s busiest weekend of the year.

“It is non-stop, from the moment we open to the moment we close,” she said.

She also said Angelo’s is overstocking on its products.

“We have everything, we have double on what we normally order,” she said.

The farmers are also bringing extra chiles just in case.

“We bring a semi-load. There are 800 bushels in a semi-load and that’s just two varieties,” farmer Carl Musso said.

If Angelo’s does run out of green chiles, Cordova said she is just down the street from the nearest chile stand to get more.

The festival is set to start at 3 p.m. on Union Avenue.