The Jalapeno Festival, organized by the Washington's Birthday Celebration Association, is part of a series of celebrations during the month-long homage to George Washington and the city of Laredo. Festivities include beauty pageants, parades, carnivals and street parties. The first event took place in 1898 to celebrate the American holiday and the cultural diversity of the Laredo community. The Jalepeno Festival was added in 1978 as a two-day affair to highlight Laredo's Mexican cultural influences with local foods like fajitas and, of course, jalapenos. The event is held annually in mid-February. Tickets are available at the gates, or discounted at one of several sponsor locations such as Stripes, O'Reilly's Auto Parts or the Mall del Norte's WBCA kiosk.
Tejano, rock and country music are just some of the genres that heat up the main stage during the festival. Headliners have included international stars like Selena, as well as Grupo Vallejo, winners of Texas Latin Music Awards' "Best Rock Band." Country music great Trish Yearwood and the multi-platinum, Grammy Award winning group Intocable have also graced the stage. Carnival games, cooking contests, a blind jalapeno toss and booths serving local favorites are guaranteed to keep you entertained. Try pozole, a rich hominy soup, or gorditas -- deep-fried dough pastries filled with meat, cheese or vegetables for a special Mexican treat.
The Bike Rally Showdown kicks things off on Friday night. Hundreds of bikers ride from the Harley Davidson store on the east side of town near the I-35 Freeway along the 4-mile route through the city to the El Metro Park & Ride where the festival takes place. Many riders also enter the motorcycle show in hopes of winning bragging rights for taking top prize as the best looking bike. On Saturday morning, young women between 17 and 25 compete in the Jalapeno Pageant as a warm up for the festival's main event -- La Costeña Jalapeno eating contest. The competition literally heats up as contestants try to see who can eat the most jalapenos in 15 minutes. As of the date of publication, the 21-year-old record of 141 jalapenos still stands.
Visitors to Laredo have no shortage of hotels and lodging options. To stay in the historic city center, about 5 miles from the Jalepeno Festival, opt for La Posada, picked by the Texas Chamber of Commerce as the number one hotel in Texas. Hotels a bit closer to the festival include AmeriK Suites at the Mall Del Norte and the Embassy Suites Laredo around the corner from the mall.
