2025 Chile Pepper Festival info
37th annual Chile Pepper Festival will be held Oct. 3-4 at Agri Park with Arkansas teams racing at 10:25am (men) and 11:00am (women) on Saturday morning.
The Chile Pepper Festival is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support the local high school and junior high cross country teams in Northwest Arkansas. The event was started in 1988 by Joe Fennel, the former owner of Bordino’s and Jose’s Mexican Restaurant (the genesis of the Chile Pepper themes). The event has given back over $1,000,000 to schools within the four counties of Northwest Arkansas (Benton, Washington, Carroll and Madison) over its 36 year history. This year, the organization is giving more than $75,000 back to schools within our region. With over 5,000 runners and teams from across the country competing, the event has grown to become one of the largest cross country running events in the country.
SPECTATOR/PUBLIC PARKING:
Spectator parking is available at the Washington County Fairgrounds. A free shuttle service is available to easily access the Festival Grounds.
https://www.chilepepperfestival.org/race-day-parking/spectator-parking-information/
CHILE PEPPER SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
FRIDAY SCHEDULE:
11:00 AM – Course opens for pre-meet practice
6:00 PM – 1 Mile Community Race
SATURDAY SCHEDULE:
6:30 AM – Packet Pick Up begins
7:30 AM – “Godpepper” 4K & 8K Community Races
8:45 AM – Senior High Girl’s “El Caliente” (Varsity 5K) – Heat 1
9:10 AM – Senior High Girl’s “El Caliente” (Varsity 5K) – Heat 2
9:40 AM – Senior High Boy’s “El Caliente” (Varsity 5K) – Heat 1
10:00 AM – Senior High Boy’s “El Caliente” (Varsity 5K) – Heat 2
10:25 AM – College Men’s “McDonnell Memorial” 8K
11:00 AM – College Women’s “Harter’s Habanero” 5K
11:25 AM – Men’s Collegiate “Prairie Fire Pepper” 8K
12:10 PM – Women’s Collegiate “Prairie Fire Pepper” 5K
12:45 PM – Girl’s Open (5K)
1:25 PM – Boy’s Open (5K)
2:00 PM – Junior High Girls Open (2 Mile)
2:25 PM – Junior High Boys Open (2 Mile)
RESULTS:
https://flashresults.com/2026_Meets/xc/ChilePepper/index.htm
LIVE STREAM (subscription required):
https://chilepepperfestival.runnerspace.com/eprofile.php?do=news&event_id=476&news_id=673008
