Arizonas Salsa Trail And Salsafest

Arizonas Salsa Trail is all about enjoying some terrific Mexican food and meeting some really friendly people along the way. Besides the food, the scenic beauty and endless possibilities of outdoor recreation make Graham County a culinary destination for tourists. The Salsa Trail was created for the promotion of bringing tourists to the area to stay in motels, visit attractions, and shop in businesses throughout the County. Salsa Trail businesses report a steady flow of customers who announce they have arrived because theyve heard about the Trail.

Arizonas Salsa Trail of Graham County started as an idea by former member of the Bureau of Land Management, Bill Civich. After an award from the Governors Tourism Office, Bill said It was quite an honor to have the Salsa Trail recognized as the best promotion in the entire state. We plan to display the Governors Award in the Chamber office so that visitors to Graham County will share the pride we all feel. The Salsa Trail was proclaimed Arizonas Salsa Trail Month in September 2009 by Governor Jan Brewer. The Proclamation recognizes Arizonas Salsa Trail as a year-round culinary tourism destination in southeast Arizona.

The Annual SalsaFest is always held the weekend near September 25th, in the city of Safford Town Square. Each year, the SalsaFest grows in attendance and popularity. The 4th annual SalsaFest will be in September 2010. At SalsaFest, people see downtown Safford aglow with hot air balloons on a Friday evening as festivities began in the historic town square. The evening Balloon Glow lights up the Taste of the Salsa Trail where Salsa Trail restaurants are featured. The SalsaFest is a celebration of everything Salsa including an opportunity to win prizes and bragging rights in the Salsa Challenge. Jane Wyatt, owner of one of the Salsa Trail businesses - the San Simon Chile Company, says she looks forward to the annual event which is in the heart of chile season. Jane makes Jalapeo Salsa year round but harvest begins in the southern Arizona chile fields at the end of July.

The Salsa Trail businesses are sprinkled throughout Graham county (within a 40 mile radius of Safford): Casa Maana, Chalos, El Charro, El Coronado, Manor House Rock N Horse Saloon, Mi Casa Tortilla Factory, San Simon Chile Company, and Taco Taste in Safford; Bush & Shurtz in Pima; La Casita Caf in Thatcher; La Paloma in Solomon; P.J.s in Clifton; Hildas Market in Duncan; Salsa Fiesta in Willcox and Gimees in York. The Salsa Trail website has given a web presence to these small businesses who have never had a website previously.