AUSTIN, TX — Come Aug. 26, it's going to be a hot time in the city, both literally and figuratively.

Spice lovers will converge at Fiesta Gardens that Sunday for the 28th annual Hot Sauce Festival staged by the Austin Chronicle to benefit the Central Texas Food Bank. Hundreds of gallons of hot sauces in every conceivable variety will be on hand on Aug. 26 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Fiesta Gardens, 2101 Jesse E. Segovia St. The event is said to be the largest hot sauce festival in the world, during which attendees can sample and purchase from among hundreds of hot sauces. Cooking demonstrations will take place, samples from top local restaurants will be available and live music will fill the air.

Festival proceeds benefit the food bank that provided more than 65,000 meals to Central Texas residents in need last year. Admission to the event is free to the public with a suggested donation of three healthy, non-perishable food items or a $5 cash donation to the Food Bank. The $5 donation provides 20 meals for Central Texas families in need.



"This event brings the community together to fight hunger at a crucial time for Central Texas families," Derrick Chubbs, President and CEO of the Central Texas Food Bank, said. "It's vital that children in our community have access to nutritious food as they head back to school. The Hot Sauce Festival helps make sure they're starting off on the right foot. Last year, the event raised nearly 65,000 meals for Central Texans in need. This year, we're looking forward to even more, thanks to the Austin Chronicle and generous community support." Jessi Cape, food editor at the Austin Chronicle, threw down the chile gauntlet in encouraging Austin residents to make this the most successful fundraiser for the food bank: "We're hoping Central Texans will show up for our neighbors in need and help raise more meals than ever," Cape said. "The Hot Sauce Festival and the Central Texas Food Bank have a 28 year partnership even better than chips and salsa. We're excited to just go ahead and embrace the heat while we enjoy a few gallons of top-notch hot sauce, cold beverages, and dancing to one of Tejano music's all-time greatest bands."

In addition to more than 350 hot sauce entries, Little Joe y La Familia, El Tule, Altamesa, Big Wy's Brass Band and Chulita Vinyl Club ATX are scheduled to take the stage to provide musical entertainment at the festival. Little Joe y La Familia has become a top Tejano band in their more than 50-year history and will be headlining the Hot Sauce Festival at 3:30 P.M. before the winning sauces are announced.

For more information, visit www.centraltexasfoodbank.org/hotsauce.