Here comes the heat: Bosque Chile Fest expands to Expo New Mexico to celebrate NM heritage

Red or green?

It’s a question that represents New Mexico to its core.

For nine years, Bernalillo County has been the driving force behind the Bosque Chile Fest.

What began as a small community event in 2014 in the South Valley has grown into a two-day festival being held at Villa Hispana at Expo New Mexico.

“It all started as an idea to promote some of the economic roots here in New Mexico,” says Catherine Lopez, manager for BernCo Cultural Affairs and Marketing. “It still highlights the culture around chile in Bernalillo County.”

This is the first year the event will be held at Villa Hispana at Expo New Mexico and takes place on Saturday, Aug. 19, and Sunday, Aug. 20. Tickets are available at eventbrite.com, and there won’t be in-person tickets available at the venue.

“The tickets have to be purchased digitally,” Lopez says. “Eventbrite.com is the only place to purchase them, so I’d remind New Mexicans to only purchase tickets from there and not get scammed by any other place claiming to sell tickets.”

In 2020, like many other events, the festival didn’t happen. This will be the first in-person event in three years.

Lopez says there will be all types of family-friendly things to do – most with a chile flair.

“In terms of education, we will have some ristra making,” she says. “We want to make it an immersive experience. The smell of roasting green chile will fill the air as we will have demonstrations on how to roast chile.”

Although fall is a month away, Lopez says the festival is a kickoff to the fall festival season.

“The sights and colors all celebrate the traditions we have,” she says. “We’re hoping that family and friends come. We want it to be Coachella with chile.”

On Saturday, Aug. 19, the festival will have live music from the likes of DJ Pancho Quinones, Baracutanga and Son Como Son.

Lopez says organizers wanted to offer a night out of salsa dancing for those who are looking to get out of the house.

“There will be salsa dancing all night,” she says. “This is a perfect date night for that couple who wants to have a sitter at home and enjoy themselves.”

On Sunday, Aug. 20, performances by Nathaniel Krantz, Nosotros, Tylor Brandon, Hooks and The Huckleberries, and Darren Cordova are slated to take place throughout the day.

Lopez says it was important to keep a wide variety of music for the event.

She is also hoping to grab some of the Indian Market crowds from Santa Fe, which is also held on the same weekend.

“We’re always looking for new ideas to draw the community in,” she says.

Kent Swanson, BernCo Public Art Project coordinator, says this year’s event will also have a chalk art component.

In early July, the county held a call for artists to create chalk art.

The selected artist is given $1,000 to create two, 4 feet tall by 8 feet wide, double-sided chalk murals to welcome guests as they arrive and thank them as they leave the event.

“Historically at this event, there have been temporary public art pieces,” Swanson says. “Since we’re rebooting the event this year, we’re excited about having chalk art. People can also grab some chalk and fill in spaces.”

Prior to the pandemic, Lopez says the festival drew in about 5,000 people.

With the change to a larger venue, which is more family-friendly and made for large events, she’s hoping to see those numbers grow again.

“The venue is centrally located and still in Bernalillo County,” Lopez says. “The event is a celebration of our culture and community.”