AUG. 1, 2015 UPDATE — Organizers have set a new weekend for Hot Sauce Fest, August 29-30.
New dates for the Chicago Hot Sauce Fest is August 29th-30th. If any questions email us at ChicagoHotSauceFest@gmail.com
— ChicagoHotSauceFest (@ChiHotSauceFest) August 1, 2015
AVONDALE — The organizer of the city's first Hot Sauce Fest is fired up after he said a miscommunication with city departments forced him to delay the festival.
Originally set for this weekend in Avondale, the Chicago Hot Sauce Fest is being pushed back to late August, organizers announced Wednesday.
"It's a big city, so I expected some back and forth, but I didn't think they were going to pull this three days before the fest," Adrian Gutierrez told DNAinfo Chicago.
Back in January, Gutierrez said he attempted to file his paperwork with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, but was told he needed the local alderman to sign off first.
Ald. Deb Mell (33rd) helped Gutierrez meet with the Avondale Neighborhood Association and other residents to test the waters. During a June meeting, residents voiced concerns over whether everything would be ready, but Mell seemed confident the festival had enough time to prepare.
Last week, the special events department told Gutierrez he should have filed the incomplete paperwork before getting the alderman's approval, he said. But Mell's office wrote a letter waiving the 45-day deadline for submission, and Gutierrez remained optimistic.
That is until Wednesday, when the department told him that the Chicago Department of Transportation was refusing to block off Belmont and Elston avenues, where the fest was meant to take place, Gutierrez said.
"I had no sense this would happen" until he got the call on Wednesday, Gutierrez said. The transportation department said it didn't have enough time or manpower to place the necessary "No Parking" signs to clear the intersection for the fest, Gutierrez said.
He said Mell's office tried to work with the special events department to keep the festival on its original date, but to no avail. Instead, he's pushing it back a month.
"They suggested we postpone it until next weekend, but my vendors are like, 'No way,' because they've got other shows planned. It just wouldn't be fair for me to put the pressure on them and the local businesses," Gutierrez said.
The festival plans to feature spicy wings, sauces, jams and more, as well as contests and music to entertain those who can't handle anything more intense than a jalapeño.
Organizers also promised a ghost-pepper eating contest, adding that kids are allowed to participate, with their parents' permission.
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