Jungle Jim’s spices it up with new theme for Weekend of Fire

Jungle Jim’s International Market’s Weekend of Fire is adding a fiesta-inspired twist to the 12th installment of its popular Weekend of Fire.

The annual festival, a sampling show dedicated to spicy foods like hot sauces, barbecue sauces, salsas, and other condiments, runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 6 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 7 at 5440 Dixie Highway, Fairfield, in the store’s Oscar Event Center.

Its new theme celebrates one of the spiciest food cultures in the world: Mexico.

MORE: Jungle Jim’s makes big change to its popular food festivals

“Chili peppers are actually indigenous to Mexico and the Americas, so there are plenty of Mexican and South American dishes that are extremely spicy,” said lead festival designer Zachary Cobb. “We’re an international grocery store, so we wanted to go international with this festival and pay homage to a culture that has some of the spiciest foods in the world.”

Guests can enjoy unlimited samples of foods ranging from mild to wild in spice levels, enter the Arena of Fire to compete in spicy food challenges and sample more salsas than at previous festivals.

They also can stop by the Singe Bar to create customized bloody marys or, a new Mexican-themed addition, margaritas.

MORE: Jungle Jim’s recognized as ‘one of the best grocery stores in America’

In another twist, Jungle Jim’s is teaming up with Scotty O’Hotty, an award-winning hot sauce company, to create a limited-edition exclusive hot sauce for Weekend of Fire. The sauce, made from a blend of hatch, serrano, and ghost peppers with Mexican beverage tequila, will only be available for purchase at the two-day festival.

Guests may purchase Weekend of Fire tickets here or at the door on the day of the event, if tickets are still available.

MORE: Jungle Jim’s focuses on in-store experience with grocery industry ‘grabbing for straws’

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IF YOU GO

WHAT: Weekend of Fire: Fiesta Style

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 6 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 7

WHERE: The Oscar Event Center at Jungle Jim's International Market, 5440 Dixie Highway, Fairfield.

ADMISSION: $10 purchased here in advance or $12 the day of the event. Kids' tickets are available for $2. Children 4 years old and younger attend for free.

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