21st ANNUAL TINIAN HOT PEPPER FESTIVAL ON FEB. 14-15, 2025
Tinian, Northern Mariana Islands (NMI) - The iconic Tinian Hot Pepper Festival returns to The Marianas for its 21st staging on Feb. 14-15, 2025, with food, fun, and flaming hot spiciness.
Festivities will include food sales, live entertainment, competitions, arts, and crafts sales, and more on the island of Tinian, a 10-minute commuter flight from the capitol island of Saipan. The festival, affectionately known as “Pika Fest” among locals (“pika” means spicy), pays homage to Tinian’s small but famous “donni’ sali” hot pepper.
“Tinian on President’s Day weekend is the place to be,” said MVA Managing Director Christopher A. Concepcion. “How much fun can you pack into a weekend? An amazing beautiful island, friendly people, good food and drinks, live bands and dances, exciting contests, laid back vibe…and a touch of donni’ sali as the perfect seasoning. Hotel rooms are filling up fast so grab one today or pack your camping gear for an unforgettable Pika Fest in February!”
The festival will kick off on the evening of Feb. 14 and will continue on Feb. 15 in the evening. The event is organized by the MVA in cooperation with the Office of the Mayor of Tinian and Aguiguan and will once again 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.
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). Hotel accommodations are provided by Tinian Ocean View, Tinian Diamond Hotel and Casino, Tinian Diamond Suites, Tinian Western Lodge Hotel, Lorilynn’s Hotel, Tinian Street Motel, Fleming Hotel, Green Lion House Hotel, Lucky Homes Hotel, and the Marpo Valley Inn.
For more information, contact Tinian Field Operations supervisor Vida Borja at [email protected], MVA Community Projects Coordinator Sherman Santos [email protected], or 1.670.433.9365 or the Tinian Mayor’s Office at 1.670.433.1802.
The Marianas is an archipelago of 14 islands - including Saipan, Tinian, and Rota - in the Western Pacific. The Marianas are home to indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian people, as well as over 20 different ethnicities from around the world who live and work in this harmonious tropical paradise. Ancient latte stone limestone monoliths, traditional nature-based ocean navigation not reliant on modern technology, and a culture seasoned by East and West influences are just a few of the experiences found in The Marianas, where pristine sea, sand, and skies are only a 3–4-hour flight from major Asian gateway cities. From South Korea, Jeju Air and T’Way provide direct flights to Saipan from Seoul-Incheon. United Airlines flies three times a week from Tokyo-Narita, Japan, and daily from Guam. Hong Kong Airlines flies twice weekly from Hong Kong. Interisland travel between Saipan, Tinian, and Rota is provided by Star Marianas Air. For more information on The Marianas, visit www.mymarianas.com, Facebook/VisitTheMarianas, or Instagram @themarianas.