Exclusive hot sauces, food challenges at Jungle Jim’s Weekend of Fire

Jungle Jim’s International Market’s Weekend of Fire is in its 12th installment and continues to bring the heat to the Oscar Event Center at 5440 Dixie Highway, Fairfield.

Here’s are six things to know about the annual fiery foods festival, which turns up the heat from from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

1. Samples galore, and no it’s not just hot sauce

Admission to the festivals provides guests with unlimited samples of foods ranging from mild to wild in spice levels.

Sure there are plenty of hot sauces, but there’s also a host of other spicy fare, including rubs, barbecue sauces, other various condiments and salsa, which will be in greater supply than ever before at previous Weekend of Fire installments.

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2. There’s a new theme

Jungle Jim’s, an international grocery store, wanted to go international with this year’s festival and pay homage to a culture that has some of the spiciest foods in the world: Mexico.

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3. Exclusive hot sauce only at Weekend of Fire

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.

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4. Show off your love for spicy foods

For those brave enough, the Arena of Fire provides a host of smokin’ hot food challenges, some old and some new. Contests include:

  • Blistering Bloody Mary
  • Pizza Sweats
  • Pickle D'Licious
  • Wing King
  • Oscar Tear
  • Salsa Scorcher
  • Wing King
  • Rockin' Coneys

5. There’s entertainment, too

No need to eat for hours on end. Let a host of entertainers strut their stuff, including a fire perfomer, stilt juggler, LED Performer, tarot/palm reader and even a Salsa Dance Lesson

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6. It’s not just about the food

To quench guests’ thirst, Weekend of Fire offers the Singe Bar to create customized bloody Marys or a new Mexican-themed addition, margaritas. While beer and mixed drinks may help cool down your tongue, lovers of spicy food know to avoid water, as it won’t help much.

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IF YOU GO

WHAT: Weekend of Fire: Fiesta Style

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday

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

ADMISSION: $10 purchased 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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