One of the original and biggest chilli festivals in the UK, West Dean Gardens’ award-winning Chilli Fiesta is now in its 21st year.
One of the original and biggest chilli festivals in the UK, West Dean Gardens’ award-winning Chilli Fiesta is now in its 21st year. Chilli Fiesta is a hot weekend destination this summer as sizzling Cuban, Latin and salsa bands line up to perform over a three-day programme. Making their first appearance in the exciting line up of entertainment are tribute band Viva Santana, Panama, Jason Lee, Adriana Son G, Cuarto Elemento, Alex Latin Jazz, Salsa All Stars, and Mariachi Mezcal. The popular Groupo Lokito will be returning to Chilli Fiesta on Saturday night, which will close with a spectacular firework display. Strictly Come Dancing professional dancers, Joanne Clifton and Giovanni Pernice (Jo & Gio), will be giving a salsa masterclass (Sunday). Also returning this year are old friends Son Yambu, the Big Noise Community Samba Band and local duo Steel Strum. Music on the main stage will finish at 8.30pm (Friday), 10pm (Saturday) and 5.30pm (Sunday) and live music and DJ’s will continue in the Los Amigos bar until 11pm (Friday and Saturday) and 9pm (Sunday) featuring Jason Lee, Steel Strum and TLM Rocio. Jason Lee Chilli Fiesta @westdeangardens Groupo Lokito, Chilli Fiesta @westdeangardens Son Yambu, Chilli Fiesta @westdeangardens
Around 25,000 visitors come to the family-friendly Chilli Fiesta (5, 6, and 7 August) to enjoy the full programme of live music, entertainment and food. Great camping facilities are on offer for the weekend in the spectacular grounds of the estate in the heart of the South Downs.
Visitors can pick up cooking tips in the Cookery Theatre with Rustie Lee, the celebrity Caribbean chef; Dean Edwards, ITV’s Lorraine Resident Chef; Paul Wayne Gregory, Master Chocolatier; and Malcolm Riley, The African Chef. On Saturday, Rosemary Moon, popular Sussex cook and food writer, will be hosting a series of food demonstrations with a surprise celebrity guest.
Sarah Wain, West Dean Gardens’ chilli expert, will be giving informal talks and tours around the Victorian glasshouses in the Walled Garden. Chilli-lovers can see around 250 varieties of chillies in the glasshouses and learn how to grow them at home. This year, Australian-born Sarah celebrates 25 Years of Glorious Gardening with a brand new, rare white chilli named Streuth! by growers Simpsons Seeds. Sarah has grown 300 plants which will be available exclusively to buy at Chilli Fiesta in support of the Save the Glasshouses Appeal.
There will be a selection of bars around the site and a wide range of chilli-related foods to enjoy and set your taste buds alight.
With over 140 stalls – many new this year - there will be a great variety of quirky gifts on offer from hot and spicy foods to eat to chilli plants, seeds and produce so you can experiment with the dishes inspired by the Chilli Fiesta back at home.
Published on 28 July 2016 by Ben Robinson
Viva Santana!
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