Grants-Cibola County Chile Fiesta deadline is Wednesday

By Jim Maniaci
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — Wednesday is the deadline for individuals, organizations and businesses to reserve a vending spot for Saturday's annual Grants-Cibola County Chile Fiesta.

Reservations should be made with the Grants-Cibola County Chamber of Commerce at (505) 287-4802. In an effort to assist organizations in raising as much money as possible, only one booth selling each type of food will be allowed, according to the chamber's announcement.

"This is an excellent opportunity to raise funds for your organization or charity," said manager Star Gonzales. With the limit of a single vendor for each type of food she added, "We feel this will enable you to raise funds and be competitive."

Food handlers permits will be required. Those needing them should contact the Environment Department branch office at 1212 Lobo Canyon Road. The telephone number is 287-8845.

Vendors needing electrical hook-ups will be assisted in a first-come, first-served basis, with an additional $10 fee. Vendors also must supply their own trash cans, awnings, tables, chairs and heavy-duty extension cords which meet code requirements.

Prohibited merchandise includes water toys, water balloons, popping toys, stink bombs, silly string, fireworks, knives or drug-related paraphernalia. Sales of T-shirts with nudity, vulgar or drug-related sayings or symbols will not be allowed.

The spaces will be 10-ft. by 10-ft. for $25 or 10-ft. by 20-ft. for $37.50 in City Hall Park on Santa Fe Avenue between Iron and Lead avenues.

Gonzales also announced that perennial champion Millie Chavez has agreed to be a celebrity judge this year.

Another change will be that cooks can prepare their red or green chile, or salsa, at home and bring it. Previously all entrants were required to cook their chile or salsa on-site.

Cash prizes will be awarded for first, second and third places in both the red and green chile classes, plus one overall prize for the best in the opinion of the judges salsa.

Cooking time will be 10 a.m. to noon, followed by two hours of judging and announcing the seven winners starting around 2 p.m.

Judging standards are aroma, color, consistency, taste and after-taste, burning their palates from tiny sample cups scooped from the two 1-quart jars which are required.

"After the judging, chili samples will be sold as a fund-raiser for La Fiesta de Colores," Gonzales said.

The following Saturday, an Ancient Way Cycling Tour race will take place, starting in front of the chamber's office in the New Mexico Mining Museum at Santa Fe Avenue and Iron Avenue. The race will begin at 9 a.m. Entries are being accepted by the chamber. Registration is $30.

Prizes will be offered for first, second and third places in men's and women's categories.

Covering a distance of 30 miles, the Tour route heads west from Iron Avenue on High Street to Wayne Avenue, goes left a block to Santa Fe Avenue, then right (west) to State Hwy. 53. At the traffic signals, riders will go left on the bridge over the BNSF Railroad, Rio San Jose and Interstate 40 for about 15 miles to the Zuni-Acoma Trailhead, then turn around and come back to the chamber.

There are restrooms and water at the turn-around point.

To contact reporter Jim Maniaci in Grants, telephone 285-6184 or (505) 870-7775 (cellular).