Pueblo Chile and Frijoles Festival prepares for big weekend
Preparations for one of Pueblo’s biggest events of the year is gearing up for more than 140,000 people to attend.
The 24th Annual Pueblo Chile and Frijoles Festival brings in people from across the country to try the famous chilies grown in the county.
There are more than 20 roasters, over 100 vendors and plenty of people who are willing to test their taste buds.
Richard Bregar with Di Tomaso Farms says Pueblo’s chiles are often compared to New Mexico’s chile but they don’t compare. “Our peppers and chiles are thicker than the hatch green chile and humidity and our heat and the mountain water from Colorado makes it different and better than the Hatch chile,” Brager says.
The festival also brings in hundreds of vendors, some of the same ones come back every year. Cathy Johnson and her husband who sell tie-dye shirts say, “we love the festival and it’s just a wonderful town and everyone is so friendly.”
Rod Slyhoff with Pueblo’s Chamber of Commerce explained this festival leaves lasting effects on the city because of how much money it brings in. “About three and three and a half to four million dollars impact. All of our hotels are sold out and they have been for months,” Slyhoff says.
The festival kicks off Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. and goes until 12 a.m. On Saturday, 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p. m.
