by Bianca L. Granado

Chile, apples and wine all have one thing in common Labor Day weekend in and around Las Cruces: they all have festivals in their honor.

Whether you’re looking for good wine, some of the hottest Chile west of the Mississippi, a plethora of apples for that great pie, all you have to do is take a trip to one of many Labor Day festivals around Las Cruces.

Frequently featured on Food Network and other documentaries around the world, the Hatch Chile Festival was started 36 years ago by local Chile farmers as a big party to celebrate the Chile harvest.

“People from all over the country wait all year to come to Hatch during the festival to get their fresh green Chile supply for winter,” said Marcia Nordyke, festival coordinator. “The chamber receives calls daily making sure when the festival is so they can make the pilgrimage here to get that fresh roasted drug.”

Events include a parade, queen coronation, musical entertainment and contests among other activities.

Nordyke said Hatch is know as the Chile Capital of the World for many years and grows the best Chile around because of the soil and temperatures in the valley.

During the festival, it is estimated that the small municipality of 1,700 people grows to about 15,000 to 20,000 people.

Not even harsh rains or floods can stop this festival from happening as was the case in 2006.

“The Placitas Arroyo flood hit us August 15 and we went ahead with the festival Sept. 2,” Nordyke said. “It rained all weekend. We told people we were up to our ankles in mud but we would be there as long as they were.”

The festival begins Saturday, Sept. 1 with a parade at 10 a.m.

Apples, apples and more apples can be found at the annual Hillsboro Apple Festival located 60 miles north of Las Cruces on Interstate 25.

“We started off as a street sale 43 years ago and evolved into a full blown festival,” said Maree Westland, festival coordinator.

Westland said there would be many vendors offering different games, a variety of food, and arts and crafts.

“We usually get a very large crowd and the vendors play a big part in the events that take place at the festival,” Westland said.

Tradition and longevity are two things that follow this apple festival.

“One of the sweetest moments was when a grandfather introduced his grandchildren to me and said, ‘I brought my kids to this festival and now I’m bringing my grandchildren.”

The festival will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday.

A glass of wine and you’ll be fine at the Eighth Annual Harvest Wine Festival that was started in the tradition of celebrating the grape harvest.

“The wine festival is a great place for people to sample a large assortment of different wines and learn more about the types of wines grown all over New Mexico,” said Dawn Starostka, event planner.

Starostka said there will be 12 wineries to sample over 70 wines from, wine education classes, 45 arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, live music all day, and hourly grape stomps. About 11,000 people attend every year and more are expected this year, she said.

For more information, contact the Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau at 505-541-2444, or by email at cvb@lascrucescvb.org.

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