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On Saturday, September 12, the Mexican Heritage Plaza (La Plaza) will honor the spirit of Mexican Independence Day with the return of its annual Chile, Mole, Pozole (CMP) event. This family-friendly celebration is packed with live music, delicious food, and fun activities for all ages. Headlining the day's lineup is Sonora San José, bringing the lively cumbia sound that gets everyone on their feet.

Adding an exciting new dimension to this year's festivities, CMP will debut its inaugural chile-eating competition, where contestants will vie to see who can endure the heat the longest. The event reflects La Plaza's ongoing commitment to celebrating community, local talent, and entrepreneurs. Here are the key features of the event:

• Live Music & Dance: Performances by Sonora San José, DJ Too Tall, Mariachi Tapatio, Calpulli Ocelocihuatl, and Los Lupeños de San José

• Activities: A chile-eating competition with a grand prize courtesy of SJ Sharkie, Pro Wrestling Revolution Lucha Libre matches, a mechanical bull, dance workshops, hands-on art activities including paper flower crowns and paper sarape making, face painting, a photo booth, and a vibrant artisanal market

• Food & Drinks: Authentic pozole, mole, salsas, and tacos, along with refreshing micheladas and more

FAQ:

• Will Chile, Mole, Pozole take place outside or indoors?

  • This Mexican Independence Day Celebration features both outdoor and partial indoor activities. Guests can comfortably watch the performances from the indoor Pavilion, which provides shade and first-come, first-served seating.

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Chile Eating Competition at La Plaza! | ¡Concurso de comer chiles en La Plaza!

Reward

• Win $100 worth of San Jose Sharks gear provided by SJ Sharkie!

Locations & Time

• Mexican Heritage Plaza | Pavilion | Check-in: 4:15 PM | Start Time: 4:30 PM

Rounds

🟢 Round 0 — Warm-Up

• 3 banana peppers

• Time limit: 60 seconds

🟡 Round 1 — Mild (~5,000 SHU)

• 3 jalapeños

• Time limit: 90 seconds

🟠 Round 2 — Medium (5,000–50,000 SHU)

• 3 serranos

• Time limit: 90 seconds

🔴 Round 3 — Hot (100,000–2,200,000 SHU)

• 2 habaneros

• Time limit: 2 minutes

💀 Tiebreaker — Death Round

• 1 habanero

• Sudden death: whoever finishes first (or last person standing) wins

Rules for Contestants

1. Full pepper must be swallowed to count as "finished" — no spitting, no cheeking.

2. No outside food or drink at the table except what's provided.

3. Any contestant may tap out at any time — hand raised, say "OUT."

4. Vomiting = automatic elimination.

5. Judges' decisions are final.

6. Must be 18+ to participate and have a signed waiver.

Format Overview

• Elimination-style, round by round. Contestants who can't finish their peppers within the time limit (or who tap out) are eliminated.

• Survivors advance to the next round; if more than one contestant survives Round 3, they go to the Tiebreaker Death Round.

• If everyone drops out in the same round, the winner is whoever ate the most/fastest in that round.

Questions

Please contact edgar@mhplaza.org

Participant Advisory & Safety Disclaimer

This contest involves consuming peppers ranging from mild to extreme heat. Participation is voluntary and at your own risk. Individuals with sensitive stomachs, heart conditions, severe allergies, or other pre-existing health concerns should refrain from participating.