(MVA) — A full repertoire of contests awaits revelers at the 20th Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival on Feb. 16-17, 2024.
Co-ed beach volleyball kicks off Feb. 15 at 2:30 p.m. along the sandy shoreline of Jones Beach in San Jose village, with teams of six people —including at least one female — vying for cash prizes of $250 for 1st place, $200 for 2nd place, and $150 for 3rd. Games will end before dark and resume at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
The festival opening ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. with Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang and other dignitaries. The ceremony will also include a historic sister city agreement signing by the mayors of Tinian and the town of Tublay in the northern province of Benguet in the Philippines.
The first round of the Triple J Hot Pepper Eating Contest will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, pitting 10 competitors against each other. Round Two of the eating contest will be held on Saturday at 5 p.m. Contestants may join either round to prove their mettle. Tinian Donni Sali Band and other live entertainment will take the stage from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Contests on Saturday start bright and early with the Pika Run 2024 at 6 a.m. at Jones Beach. Registration is $10 for the 5K and can be made on race day from 5:00-5:30 a.m. at the start line. Cash prizes will be awarded in Men and Women’s Divisions: $150 for 1st place, $100 for 2nd place, and $75 for 3rd place. The first 100 registrants will also receive a complimentary Pika Run 2024 t-shirt, and awards will be presented at 4 p.m. Registration can be made by emailing your name, division, and contact phone number to the MVA office in Saipan at [email protected] or calling (670) 664-3200 or by emailing the MVA Tinian office at [email protected]/.
The Estofao Pika (spicy chicken stew) Cooking Contest will begin at 4 p.m. Following Round Two of the Hot Pepper Eating Contest at 5 p.m., the Little Miss & Mr. Pika 204 will be held at 5:30 p.m. for ages 6-11. Contestants will be judged on costume, Q&A, and overall stage presence. The JC Burger Eating Contest at 6:30 p.m. will deliver for contestants who like their burgers spicy. Local musician Yobei Parker will set the stage for the Cha-cha Dance Contest between 7 and 8 p.m., where contestants will be judged based on their hot pepper-inspired costumes and their dance moves. Other live entertainment on Saturday will include YORP Band at 8 p.m., Sugar King Band at 9 p.m., and True North at 10 p.m.
“We’re excited to have a full deck of contests lined up for the Tinian Hot Pepper Festival,” said Marianas Visitors Authority Managing Director Christopher A. Concepcion. “In addition, we’ll be opening registration early for most of the contests, so stay tuned for that announcement and get ready for a great weekend in Tinian.”
Docomo Pacific is the Exclusive Pika Sponsor of the 20th Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival, which is organized by the MVA in collaboration with the Tinian Mayor’s Office. Additional sponsors are JC Café and Triple J.
The festival pays homage at Tinian’s “donne sali” hot pepper and will be held at the Fiesta Grounds in San Jose, Tinian, adjacent to the picturesque Jones Beach and House of Taga, a U.S. National Historic Landmark featuring limestone monoliths carved by ancient Chamorros.
Ferry service is available between Saipan and Tinian for the event. Departure time has been changed to 1 p.m. on the return trip from Tinian to Saipan on all days.
• Feb. 16, departing Saipan at 8 a.m. and departing Tinian at 1 p.m.
• Feb. 17, departing Saipan at 8 a.m. and departing Tinian at 1 p.m.
• Feb. 18, departing Saipan at 8 a.m. and departing Tinian at 1 p.m.
Ferry round trip cost is $20 for ages 3-11, $50 for ages 12 and older. For one way, the cost is $15 for ages 3-11, $25 for ages 12 and older. Children ages 0-2 are free. Children under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult, and tickets are non-transferable. Advanced ticket purchase is required and will be accommodated on a first come, first served basis. Tickets may be purchased at the MVA office in Tinian or Saipan, cash payments only will be accepted. Interested parties may call (670) 664-3200 to confirm availability before purchase.
Free camping is available at Jones Beach, Taga Beach (toilets, barbecue pits, and outdoor showers available) and at the adjacent Tachogna Beach (barbecue pits, outdoor showers, and toilets are available).
The Super Emerald ferry will depart from the Commonwealth Ports Authority dock in Lower Base, Saipan. Passengers must check in one hour before departure. Each paying customer is allowed one free checked bag and one additional checked bag for $20 for a combined total weight of up to 70 lbs. One household pet of up to 50 lbs. is allowed per paying customer, and thirty-five passengers will be accommodated per ferry.
For more information, contact MVA Community Projects Specialist Ray Villagomez at [email protected], Tinian Field Operations supervisor Vida Borja at [email protected] or (670) 433-9365, or the Tinian Mayor’s Office at (670) 433-1802.
