Something fun to do this coming Saturday for you and your family. I'm letting you know about this early so you can have a chance to enter your salsa if you like!
About 20,000 people are expected to attend the daylong event April 28. More than 90 salsas from 80 amateur and professional cooks will compete for a judge's vote while attendees visitors can sample the goods. The winner, picked by a panel of judges, will receive $1,000.
Foodies get a chance to judge salsas, too. A people's choice award is given for the booth that collects the most tickets from tasters. A new award this year is the biggest fundraiser award -- the booth that collects the most money in jars wins the title. The money benefits the Arizona Hemophilia Association, which raised $200,000 at the event in 2010.
If salsa's not enough to satisfy, food vendors also will be on hand, including Macayo's Mexican kitchen. An SRP Fun Zone will offer inflatable bounce houses for children ($2 per child).
A "Too Hot to Trot" 5K run around the Tempe Town Lake has been added to the yearly event. The run starts at 8 a.m. near the boat docks on the north side of the lake and ends at the entrance of the festival on the south side. The cost is $35 and includes early entry to the salsa challenge, breakfast, a beverage and a runner's T-shirt.
Also, Macayo's will feature its top three picks from its online salsa challenge. Salsa makers have until Saturday to submit their best salsa recipe to macayo.com/contest. At the Tempe event, people will vote for the best of three salsas. The grand-prize winner receives Macayo's food for a year and his or her salsa featured on Macayo's summer salsa menu . Second and third place prizes include a basket of Macayo's canned products and $100 or $50 gift card.
