US festival guide
Chase the heat across America.
Hot sauce and spicy food festivals from January through October — competitions, vendor floors, eating contests, and the best excuse to plan a road trip.
Coming up soon
Already happened this year
Annual festivals that have already run this year. They'll be back next year — plan ahead.
South
Back next JanuaryZestFest
Irving, TX · Late January
Where Texas heat culture starts every year.
See the guide for next year →
Southwest
Back next FebruaryNational Fiery Foods & BBQ Show
Albuquerque, NM · Late February – Early March
The Scovie Awards stage. The biggest name in fiery food.
See the guide for next year →
Northeast
Back next AprilNYC Hot Sauce Expo
Brooklyn, NY · Late April
New York's heat scene, distilled into one Brooklyn weekend.
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Northeast
Back next AprilBoston Hot Sauce Festival
Boston, MA · Late April – Early May
Caribbean heat meets New England appetite.
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Northeast
Back next MayPhiladelphia Hot Sauce Festival
Philadelphia, PA · Spring (May)
Philly brings the same energy to hot sauce it brings to everything.
See the guide for next year →
Southeast
Back next MayPinellas Pepper Fest
Pinellas Park, FL · Early May (May 3–4)
Florida sun, Florida peppers, and no shortage of heat.
See the guide for next year →
Full calendar
February
1 festivalApril
2 festivalsMay
4 festivalsPhiladelphia, PA
Philadelphia Hot Sauce Festival
Spring (May)
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Pinellas Park, FL
Pinellas Pepper Fest
Early May (May 3–4)
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Houston, TX
Karbach Hot Sauce Festival
Early May
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Galveston, TX
Galveston Island Hot Sauce Fest
Early May
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August
1 festivalSeptember
3 festivalsAustin, TX
FeaturedAustin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival
Late August – September
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Hatch, NM
FeaturedHatch Chile Festival
Labor Day Weekend
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New England, MA
New England Hot Sauce Fest
Fall (September)
View guide →
15
Festivals tracked
10
States represented
8
Months covered Jan – Dec