Hot Times in Lakewood

Comments (0) By Lori Midson Thursday, Aug 26 2010

The crack of spitting chiles and the scent of their hypnotic char perfuming the early autumn air is something we look forward to every year in Denver.

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But before the parking lots along Federal Boulevard turn into orgies of chile-heads and chile roasters, there’s the Chile Harvest Festival at Lakewood’s Heritage Center. The two-day event trumpeting traditional Spanish Colonial contemporary and folk art, music, food from several local restaurants, beer from Del Norte Brewing and, most important, chiles, begins at 10:30 a.m. today at 801 South Yarrow Street in Belmar Park.

The festivities, which continue through 5 p.m. tomorrow, also include traditional chile ristra demonstrations, kids' activities and two chile cook-offs. “The comment we received the most during the 2009 festival was for us to have a chile cook-off, so for the first time, we’re adding two green chile cook-offs for the public to show off their culinary skills,” says Rhetta Shead, marketing and promotions supervisor for the City of Lakewood. The battles – one traditional, and one deemed “Think Outside the Pepper” – offer $400 in prizes to the winners. If you think you’ve got what it takes to hatch a kick-ass green chile, go to www.lakewood.org/comres/page.cfm?ID=441. Tickets to the festival are $5 for adults and $2 for children ages three to twelve; a portion of the proceeds supports the Chicano Humanities & Arts Council. To purchase tickets, or to find out more about the festival, call 303-987-7859.
Aug. 28-29, 2010