This event pays tribute to the green chili (as it is more commonly spelled outside of New Mexico), New Mexico’s state vegetable. The small town of Hatch is the center of the chili-growing industry. At festival time, the aroma of chilis permeates the town, and a marvelous variety of chilis in all forms can be purchased: dried red chilis in ornamental braids called ristras, chili salsa, chili jelly, chili wine, and chili con carne. Besides food, the festival features the crowning of a Green Chile Queen, a skeet shoot, a fiddling contest, a cook-off, and a ristra-making contest. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary