Garden Event
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The UK's biggest chilli festival returns. Join the party and dance to live Latin music, watch cookery and gardening demonstrations and taste delicious chilli foods 'til your tongue sizzles. Make the most of the family-friendly festival atmosphere and camp onsite with great facilities.
"Plenty of chances to taste chilli food, plus live Latin music
and a family-friendly festival atmosphere"
The Daily Express
What's on?
Live music
Music on the front lawn stage plays from 11am until 9pm Friday, from 10.30am to 9.30pm Saturday and from 11am until 7.45pm on Sunday. Music continues in the Los Amigos Bar until 10.30pm Saturday and 9.30pm Sunday.
New music for 2017 include Latin four piece band Cuban Cuban, Konga Dia Ntolia, Oye Santana and Andalus who are the leading Gipsy Kings tribute band. Enjoy Latin jazz with the Manana Collective and the traditional Mexican sounds of Mariachi Tequila. We also welcome back this year, Steel Strum, The Fontanas and the Big Noise band.
Dance
Dance acts incude Latin American ballroom Strictly dancer Oti Mabuse who will be performing on Sunday. Pro-Latin dancers, Ryan and Ksenia will be performing on Friday and Saturday. Get put through your paces with Debbi and Francisco and join their salsa workshops, on all three days.
During the weekend there will be many more music, dance and performance acts to watch, listen and join in with. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to keep up-to-date.
Cookery demonstrations and workshops
Watch food demonstrations in the Cookery Theatre and expect creative, chilli based recipes from top chefs. This year confirmed chefs include Levi Roots, 2017 Masterchef winner Saliha Mahmood-Ahmed, Dan Doherty, Rosie Birkett and Steve Edwards. Also see demos by Giles Thompson from The Earl of March the chef from The White Horse (Chilgrove) and West Dean College's very own Head Chef, Dan Frowen. Using ingredients from all over the world and ideas you can easily recreate at home, they're guaranteed to make your mouth water.
This year we are also offering cookery workshops for children on Sunday with authors of The World In My Kitchen, Sally Brown and Kate Morris.
Shopping
Browse over 140 stalls, offering a variety of quirky gifts as well as chilli foods, chilli plants, seeds and produce. The West Dean Gardens gift shop is also open each day.
All shopping stalls close at 6pm each day, but a range food and drink stalls stay open into the evening while the entertainment continues.
Eating and drinking
Pop-up restaurants
NEW for 2017 are a choice of two pop-up restaurants, one serving a delicious Mediterranean menu and the other serving a variety of seafood with the option of champagne to accompany your meal.
Food stalls
Sample spicy and exotic food from a selection of food stalls to keep you going throughout the day. There will be plenty of options for those less keen on the hot stuff and local ice cream if you need a little help cooling down! Hot and cold drinks include speciality coffees, tea, hot chocolate, fresh fruit smoothies and more.
The Gardens Restaurant
Choose from a variety of freshly prepared meals, snacks and cakes and sit either indoors or outside on the terrace. Open until 6pm daily.
Bars
Enjoy a selection of beers, ales and wines, as well as soft drinks at one of our onsite bars located close to the main stage. Bars include Los Amigos, cider bar, cocktail campervan, and the Potting Shed.
Wake up in the beautiful grounds of West Dean and make a weekend
or a mini break of it. Full camping facilities are available
throughout the Chilli Fiesta weekend (including great showers and
toilets). A limited number of pitches are available so early
booking is essential.
Pick your camping zone: This is done on the day you arrive
and not in advance.
Jalapeno - most popular general camping area,
close to the event arena helping to enhance the festival atmosphere
of the weekend.
Pimento - quiet camping area away from the main
arena ideal for a good night's sleep.
Bell - family friendly close to the toilets and
showers, ideal for the earlier to bed but up bright and
early.
The camping shop will be open 24 hours.
Sadly, due to restrictions from Natural England we now have reduced
capacity of caravan and campervan pitches and are therefore unable
to offer these to the public for this year's Chilli Fiesta.
Camping tickets are available for the full weekend (three nights) or for one night (Saturday).
Here are a few of our top tips and FAQs:
Q. Is it possible to pay on the gate?
A. It is possible to pay on the gate for day tickets but campers
need to buy tickets in advance.
Q. Do I get tickets sent to me?
A. No, Chilli Fiesta tickets are now issued electronically and will
be emailed to you. Print off the email confirmation which should
show a bar code/reference number and bring it with you on the
day.
Q. Can I just show you the e-ticket on my phone?
A. Yes. Please ensure your booking reference number is on show.
Q. What age range is a child ticket?
A. Children age 4 and under enjoy free entry, 5 -15 requires a
child ticket. Children are to be accompanied by a paying adult. 16+
require an adult ticket.
Q. What camping facilities are there at Chilli Fiesta?
A. The campsite is complete with showers, flushing toilets,
drinking water and a small shop for basic amenities. Showers will
operate 24hrs a day. The campsite crew will be on site
throughout.
Stay up to date with our events and sign up for our West Dean newsletter.
West Dean Gardens is part of a registered charity and its upkeep and care are only possible with the support of generous donors, friends and legacy gifts.
If you share our passion for the gardens and gardening
excellence,
please find
out how you can help support their upkeep.
