Salsa Festival & Showdown

10am-2pm Saturday, Sept. 19th • The Commons Park Block, 6th & Bartlett, Medford

Join the Rogue Valley Growers & Crafters Market, Thrive and La Clinica at a Salsa Festival & Showdown, a day celebrating Latino culture, healthy living, and local foods.  The Salsa Festival is part of Thrive’s 11th annual “Eat Local Celebration,” a week of fun activities that raise awareness about the benefits of eating locally.  The Festival includes entertainment from Ballet Folklorico, Zumba, Salsa Rueda, and the Antonio Reyes Band.  There will be recipe demonstrations, market tours, and salsa sampling.  Each family who participates in the tour of the market will receive a cookbook: Cooking with Vegetables in the Rogue Valley.  Students from the after-school suicide prevention program, Life Art will showcase their artwork.

The highlight of the day will be the salsa making competition organized by the Rogue Valley Growers & Crafters Market! In this spicy showdown, participants will be challenged to showcase their freshest, best salsa recipe – using only ingredients available at market that day!  The grand prize is a $100 gift certificate to the market.  Second and third place winners will also win prizes.  Competition is limited to 15 contestants. Contest information can be picked up at the Thrive office at 100 E. Main St. Talent. For more information, go to: www.rvgrowersmarket.com or contact Stacy at

541-601-1534 or stacy@rvgrowersmarket.com

The Salsa Festival is brought to you by Thrive, Jackson Care Connect, the Medford Police Department, Rogue Valley Growers & Crafters Market, and La Clinica.  In 2015, Eat Local Week is generously sponsored by the city of  Ashland, the Ashland Food Co-op, and the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians.

The Salsa Festival is part of Thrive’s 11th annual “Eat Local Celebration,” a week of fun activities that raise awareness about the benefits of eating locally.  This culinary extravaganza is packed full of fun and delicious events celebrating the local bounty of the harvest season. Now’s your chance to get to know the people growing your food and the chefs who make it even more delicious.  Farm to table meals, restaurant specials, tastings, a farm tour are all included in the festivities.  For a complete schedule of events go to www.buylocalrogue.org

The Eat Local Week Celebration is part of Thrive’s mission to strengthen and connect businesses and community members in the greater Rogue Valley who share a commitment to creating an economy that preserves community character, promotes social justice and protects ecological health and diversity.