Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald: Justin Scott, the owner of Gi’Mees Restaurant, holds up his novelty $1,000 check for taking Best Overall Salsa in the professional division at the 13th annual SalsaFest last year. This year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the annual festival will be a Salsa Trail Challenge and people are encouraged to visit each participating restaurant during the month of September to vote for the best salsa.
Contributed Article
SAFFORD – The World Famous Salsa Trail is excited to announce a new format for SalsaFest this year. Instead of our traditional festival in Downtown Safford, we are taking the party to all 15 SalsaFest locations!
The Salsa Trail restaurant locations include Casa Manaña, Chalo’s La Casa Reynoso, Clifton Hotel Bar, El Charro, El Coronado, Gila Hank Café, GiMees Restaurant, JD’s Sports Bar & Grill, La Paloma, La Unica, The Manor House, Mechy’s, Meg’s Place, Taco Taste, and The Plank.
SalsaFest Challenge:
We are challenging all salsa lovers to complete the Salsa Trail Challenge. To complete the challenge, you must submit an entry for each of the Salsa Trail locations. A valid entry includes your name, the restaurant, the entrée you ate, the salsa(s) you tried, a score of the salsa between 1-100, and a photo of your receipt. Each person who completes the SalsaFest Challenge will receive a one of a kind T-shirt. The first person to complete the SalsaFest Challenge will receive $300 in gift cards, which is one $20 gift card from each restaurant.
Photo Contest:
Celebrate SalsaFest by sharing photos of yourself enjoying a meal at official Salsa Trail locations! A valid entry includes your name, the restaurant, and the photo you would like to submit. We will select one prize-winning photo for each official Salsa Trail location. The person who submitted the winning photo will receive a $20 gift card. By submitting a photo, you give permission for it to be used in promotional materials
Participants should text their entries for both the SalsaFest Challenge and the Photo Contest by text to 928-792-8661.
What: World famous Salsa Trail SalsaFest Challenge
When: Sept. 1 – while supplies last
Where: Official Salsa Trail locations
Sponsors
Salsa Award Sponsors:
Eastern Arizona Courier Best Overall Salsa, Double R Communications Best Red Salsa, Eat Local Gila Valley Best Green Salsa
SalsaFest Premium Sponsors:
Gila Herald, and Tierra Antigua Realty
SalsaFest Standard Sponsors:
DRG Technologies
Community Partners:
Bureau of Land Management, City of Safford, Double R Communications, Eastern Arizona College Small Business Development Center, Freeport-McMoRan, Good Food Finder, Graham County, Kempton Chevrolet, Local First Arizona, Safford Downtown Association, Town of Thatcher, Town of Pima, and United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties
Gold Member Sponsors:
CMI, Haralson Tire Pros, Hydra Pest Control, Life Net, Maverick Motorsports, and Valley Telecom Group
Premium Member Sponsors:
Gila Watershed Partnership, Ginaveve’s Marketplace and Main Street Bean, Into the Wild Outdoors, La Paloma Restaurant, and Trek RV and Outdoor
