Introducing Pepper's new mate!

Pepper’s Mate has a Name!

About four years ago, just before BorderFest’s “Celebrating Ireland” Festivities were scheduled, a giant, mysterious egg began appearing around the Valley.

Every day it was in a different location. It seemed to be sitting on a float in a large nest. Everyone was curious about the egg, wondering what was going to hatch out of it. The only clue was a sign on the egg that read “will be hatched at BorderFest.”

BorderFest’s mascot Pepper caught sight of it several times and was just as curious as everyone else. Then during BorderFesdt it appeared in the Friday night parade and then again in the Grand Parade on Saturday morning. Pepper was really getting curious by then.

As the Saturday night Illuminated Parade, the egg float began to shake and crack open in front of thousands of spectators and viewers. Lo and behold, out popped a beautiful red-headed parrot with her eyes fixed on Pepper and ready to join the BorderFest fun. Pepper took a real liking to her from that very moment and invited her to join him. Then they promoted hand-in-hand down the parade route.

Since then she has become a regular visitor at BorderFest and other times during the year. It seems that Pepper has become very smitten with her. Could Cupid be in the air?

The BorderFest Committee decided it was time to find out more about her and give her a name. The committee designed a contest to name Pepper’s friend. The general public submitted names via themonitor.com for a chance to win a family BorderFest package, which included four day passes for four family members, two tickets to see Tim McGraw and two tickets to see Bret Michaels.

Four years later, with a very established friendship with Pepper and the BorderFest team, the beautiful red-headed parrot has a name. ChaCha Rita will now join Pepper along his endeavors and will promote BorderFest proudly as the festival that has brought her to life.

Congratulations to Desiree Garcia, chosen as the winner of the “Name Pepper’s Mate Contest” Desiree sent in the name Rita. ChaCha was suggested by a child when they heard the name Rita. So BorderFest has combined the two names giving it a fun and lively ring. Desiree, we will see you and your family at BorderFest, where you can be sure more surprises surrounding this couple will continue.