The Chiles, Chocolate & Day of the Dead Festival arrives from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31 through Saturday, Nov. 1 at Tohono Chul Botanical Gardens at 7366 N. Paseo Del Norte. Guests can immerse in a vibrant festival blending bold flavors, desert-garden ambience and borderland cultural traditions.
Kickoff: Wild Chile Botanical Area 25th Anniversary
Before the festival begins, Tohono Chul will host a special anniversary event from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 29.
The Wild Chile Botanical Area 25th Anniversary salon celebrates the legacy of one of the region’s most important ecological projects. Guests from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, New York Botanical Garden, Borderlands Restoration, and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum will discuss the past, present, and future of the Wild Chile Botanical Area.
Tickets: $10 for members, $15 for the general public
Location: Tohono Chul Botanical Gardens
Time: 6-8 p.m.
This engaging evening opens the festival week with insight into desert biodiversity and the wild chile’s cultural heritage.
Culinary & Shopping Highlights
Visitors will find dozens of food vendors offering spicy chiles, crafted chocolates and local specialties. A curated market of handmade goods and artisan gifts by local craftspeople.
Furthermore, the onsite restaurant will also offer a full menu:
Garden Bistro Menu
Sonoran Hot Dog: Bacon-wrapped with house charro beans, pico de gallo, jalapeño sauce, mayo, mustard, on Mexican style bun.
Quesadilla: Mexican cheeses in griddled flour tortilla; choice of red chile chicken, pork carnitas or calabacitas; served with arbol chile salsa; vegan cheese available.
Chicken Mole Enchiladas: Three-chile & chocolate braised chicken enchiladas topped with mole, cilantro, Mexican cremas and queso fresco.
Chiles, Chocolate & Day of the Dead Festival (Photo courtesy of Tohono Chul)
Culture & Family Activities
Furthermore, the festival includes:
Free kids craft activities and complimentary Day of the Dead face painting from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Artist-crafted altars of remembrance by local artists and students; visitors may leave memories which will join the All Souls Procession-Burning of the Urn ceremony on Sunday, Nov. 9.
Adult craft stations such as DIY paper flowers, sugar skull masks and still-life painting.
Featured botanicals and plants for purchase, including chiltepins and ochoa chiles at the Desert Corner Nursery.
Ticket Information & Logistics
Ticket options per day:
General admission $25
Members $10
Children ages 4-12 $7
Children under 4 free Guests must purchase separate tickets for each day. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable between days. Overflow parking is available at nearby Lifepoint Church and St. Andrew’s Church.
Festival Finale: XIXA at the CHUL
The celebration concludes with XIXA at the CHUL from 6-10 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1.
XIXA will perform an exclusive, after-hours concert that merges mystical rock and cumbia with Day of the Dead tradition. Expect a sensory blend of rhythm, storytelling, and cultural homage beneath the desert sky.
Tickets: $60 for members, $70 for the general public
Location: Tohono Chul Botanical Gardens
Time: 6-10 p.m.
This finale honors Tucson’s cross-border music scene while closing the weekend with energy and soul.
Why Attend
Overall, this festival offers a unique intersection of Sonoran Desert ambiance, Latin culinary heritage and festive artistry. For Tucson food enthusiasts, it provides a rich sensory experience blending chiles, chocolate and tradition.
