Can you take just a little more heat this summer?

The 11th Annual Chile Festival kicks off at the Oro Valley Farmers Market on Saturday, August 23rd and continues at the Rillito Park Farmers Market on Sunday, August 24th.

Vendors will be offering freshly roasted green chiles, fresh chile spices, zesty tamales and salsas, and an abundance of chile specialties. Admission is free to this fiery event, where guests can watch chef demonstrations and enjoy live music.

While New Mexico may be the largest U.S. chile producer, Arizona is a vital part of the “Chile Belt,” growing approximately 6,000 acres of chiles valued at close to $10 million.

“The Annual Chile Festival is an event close to our region’s heritage,” said Roxanne Garcia, co-director of Heirloom Farmers Markets. “We showcase the abundance of chile varieties and share fun and creative ways to cook with chile and chile products.”

Heirloom Farmers Markets’ Annual Chile Festival will salute the region’s rich chile heritage while supporting a vibrant spectrum of local food producers and proprietors.

For more info check out the Heirloom Farmers Market Chile Festival Facebook page. Come out and test your spice endurance!