Hatch celebrates the 50th Annual Chile festival

HATCH, New Mexico -- A spicy day in New Mexico. Hatch celebrated their 50th Annual Chile festival. Festivities included a Chile parade, Chile Queens, and Chile eating contests were all part of the three-day celebration.

There were crowds of chile lovers tons of food, fun, and excitement and of course, the smell of green chile filled the air.

"This is one of the best Chile festivals that Ive ever been to and I've been to it my entire life," said Garett Franzoy a Chile farmer.

Fresh and roasted green and red chiles were sold. Vendors got in on the fun, selling unique chile-flavored items including chile popcorn and green chile lemonade. Vendors also sold clothes and jewelry including chile-shaped earrings.

The festival brought out many chile enthusiasts to celebrate this labor day weekend. Some even traveled to attend the festival for the first time.

"Came out, this is the first time being at the festival. Came out here to get some roasted green chile and hang out with the family," said Micheal Ortaleza a chile enthusiast. "The green chile lemonade is really good".

"A lot of out of town people, a lot of local people. We have a lot of people from Arizona, Texas. El Paso comes up and supports us," said Chuck Watkins a Hatch local.

Chile farmers especially excited for the festival.

"I love it because it shows off what we can do and produce and everything. It makes us look better it brings in more business and people who want to bring their money here to the hatch valley and I love it," said Franzoy.

"I think our Chile is better we have a better index for heat and for temperature and soil our waters better,' said Watkins.

The festival ends Sunday but is set to return labor day weekend next year.