Chile Pepper Festival at Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Saturday, September 28, 2019
11:00 am – 7:00 pm

Brooklyn, NY—Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s annual Chile Pepper Festival returns on Saturday, September 28, 2019, with a daylong celebration of all things hot and spicy followed by an evening concert with legendary New Orleans musicians John “Papa” Gros, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, and New Orleans’ Queen of Soul, Irma Thomas. Joining the festivities will be Big Chief Monk Boudreaux bringing the traditions of the Mardi Gras Indians to the heart of Brooklyn.

During the day, try spicy creations from over 40 innovative food artisans from Brooklyn and around the country. Explore the world of chile peppers through tastings, demos, horticultural talks, and hands-on activities. Enjoy chile pepper-inspired dishes, beers, and other treats, and savor the last days of summer. When evening rolls around, head to the new Plant Family Collection for a musical journey to New Orleans.

Admission for Chile Pepper Festival is $30 for adults, $25 for students and seniors (with ID), and free for members and children under 12. For more information please visit bbg.org/chilepepperfestival.

Taste the Spice! Food and Fun 11 a.m.–5 p.m. | Cherry Esplanade and Various Locations
Indulge in tasty bites and sizzling sauces from over 40 food artisans bringing the heat from around the world. Enjoy spicy demonstrations, hands-on cooking classes, foodie-friendly tours and talks by BBG gardeners, activities for children in the Discovery and Children’s Gardens, and pop-up performances by roving musicians and artists. And if you want to go home with a peck of pickled peppers—or any other kind of peppers!—you can pick that up at the farmer’s market.

Evening Performances: Legends of New Orleans Come to Brooklyn 5–7 p.m. | Plant Family Collection
Dance to the jams of some of the Big Easy’s finest musicians, including blues master Walter “Wolfman” Washington and the Soul Queen of New Orleans, Irma Thomas, assembled by keeper of New Orleans music traditions John “Papa” Gros . And get your carnival on with Big Chief Monk Boudreaux and his Queen celebrating the music and traditions of the African American Mardi Gras Indians.