Everything salsa—red and green, dancing, music, food, craft vendors, fun… Yes, this Sunday is the 2^nd Annual Main Street SalsaFest from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Downtown Mall, between Las Cruces Avenue and Griggs Street.  Thousands of salsa enthusiasts are expected to participate in the judging of the 19 competitors’ salsa.  The 2009 Homestyle champion, Soccoro Lopez, is even returning to the event in order to defend her title.  In the restaurant category La Nueva Casita Café, Nopalito Restaurant (the defending champion of the restaurant category in 2009), and El Patron Café & Catering have all signed-up to represent.

It free admission, but if you want to be part of the tasting, a $3 wristband will allow you to taste all the salsas and vote for your favorite.  The top three finalists will go before the SalsaFest Celebrity Panel to vie for the $500 first prize.  Celebrity judges include: Manny Arrieta, district judge; Barbara Couture, NMSU president; Margie Huerta, Dona Ana Community College president; Carrie Hamblen, KRWG new reporter; Fernando Macias, district judge; Marvin Menzies, NMSU men’s basketball coach; and Miguel Silva, aka Captain Salsa, Las Cruces city councilor.

If your mouth catches on fire early on in the day, you can let it cool off a bit while you check out the demonstrations of Zumba and Timba aerobic exercises, or take the kids around different booths for them to participate in chile art, games, face-painting, or get their energy out in a jumping balloon. 

We’ll see who can bring the heat without forgetting the flavor!