Best Things to Do in Hatch

Hatch is a small farming village known for its famous Hatch green chile, a central ingredient in New Mexican food.

The town itself is small, but it is worth stopping for its chile stands, restaurants, roadside shops, and annual festival.
You only need a few hours unless you are attending the Hatch Chile Festival.

What Is Hatch Chile?

Hatch chile is not a single pepper variety. It is a designation for New Mexican chile peppers grown in the Hatch Valley, where hot days, cool nights, and generations of farming expertise have helped make the crop famous. Think of it as the Champagne of chile.

Chile has been grown in New Mexico for at least four centuries, while Hatch Valley emerged as a major center of commercial production in the early 1900s as modern New Mexican chile varieties were developed at New Mexico State University in nearby Las Cruces.

Don’t Miss

A Green Chile Cheeseburger

Hatch is one of the best places in New Mexico to try a green chile cheeseburger. The town’s most famous stop is Sparky’s Burgers & BBQ, known for its chile-topped burgers, weird roadside statues, and collection of vintage signs.
Several other restaurants and food stands around town also serve local chile in enchiladas, burritos, tacos, and other New Mexican dishes.

Shop for Chile

Roadside shops around Hatch sell fresh and roasted green chile, dried red chile, sauces, powders, ristras, and other local products. The main chile harvest usually runs from late summer into early fall, when roasting drums can be seen and smelled throughout the village.

Hatch Chile Festival

The annual Hatch Chile Festival is held in September around Labor Day weekend and is the village’s largest event; it is one of the state’s signature events. The festival includes chile roasting, food vendors, live music, contests, local crafts, and large crowds celebrating the region’s most famous crop.

How Long Should You Stay?

Hatch is a tiny town and is best seen as a food stop or short detour.

A few hours is enough to eat, browse the chile shops, and explore the center of town. A full day is only necessary if you are attending the Hatch Chile Festival.