Update: Atascadero Tamale Festival rescheduled for May 6
Update posted Jan. 13:
– The City of Atascadero has announced that the 7th Annual Tamale Festival has been rescheduled to Saturday, May 6, from 11 – 7 pm in the Sunken Gardens and Downtown Atascadero.
This week, the city says it was able to work with the entertainers, vendors, dancers, contractors, and non-profits to get the event rescheduled. There are a couple of changes to some of the entertainment.
At this time, the Tamale Festival will include nearly 30 tamale vendors from across California offering a variety of tamales for purchase from gourmet to traditional to sweet tamales. Entertainment will include emcee Francisco Ramirez along with Medina Light Show Designs, plus a wide variety of music from Mariachi Mexicanisimo, Ranchero Artist Manuel Enrique and his horse, the Famous Dancing Horses, and the Folklorico El Padrecito Dancers from Guadalupe. Music will include Dante’ Marsh and the Vibe Setters, La Marcha Sound, and the Steppin’ Out Band. There will be face painting, balloon animals, a photo booth with “Waffles” the miniature donkey, fireworks, and plenty of fun for all ages. Over 90 vendors will be on display offering everything from merchandise and crafts to adult beverages to a wide variety of food vendors with tamales and beyond tamales to appease everyone’s palette and appetite.
The popular “Best Tamale Contest” will be in the works, where all of the tamale vendors can showcase their outstanding work to celebrity judges to decide the “best” tamale. Plus, the “Tamale Eating Contest” and the “Chihuahua Costume & Pet Contest” will be available for those who wish to participate.
Event updates can be found for this and all events on VisitAtascadero.com/events.
Update posted Jan. 10:
Update: Atascadero Tamale Festival canceled
– Due to the recent storms, wind, flooding, and poor weather conditions, the City of Atascadero has announced that the 7th annual Tamale Festival scheduled for Saturday in the Sunken Gardens and Downtown Atascadero has been canceled.
Over the last eight years, the Tamale Festival has been held each January, with the exception of 2021, in spite of light rainfall. This year, with the sheer volume of rain and flooding that we are experiencing in Atascadero, it is impossible to hold the event this weekend.
The city is currently working on potential dates in hopes to postpone the event vs. cancel it completely. As soon as city staff is able to reschedule, they will make that announcement.
Original story posted Jan 4:
Guests line up for tamales at the 2021 festival.
Event includes tamale vendors, musical entertainment, contests, shopping, and more
– Atascadero’s 7th Annual Tamale Festival will return on Jan. 14. Attendees can expect over 20 tamale vendors from across California offering a variety of tamales for purchase including gourmet, traditional to sweet tamales.
Entertainment will include Emcee Francisco Ramirez along with Medina Light Show Designs, plus a wide variety of music from Mariachi Mexicanisimo, plus Ranchero Artist Manuel Enrique and his horse, the Famous Dancing Horses, and the Folklorico El Padrecito Dancers from Guadalupe. There will be live music by Dante’ Marsh and the Vibe Setters, La Marcha Sound, Steppin’ Out Band, Brass Mash, and Outlaw Mariachi. There will also be activities such as bounce houses, Zorb Balls, obstacle courses, and bungee jumps from Bubble Fun 101 along with face painting, balloon animals, a photo booth with “Waffles” the miniature donkey, fireworks, and more. Over 90 vendors will be on display offering everything from merchandise and crafts to adult beverages to a wide variety of food vendors with tamales and beyond.
Vendors can participate in the popular “Best Tamale Contest” where tamale vendors have an opportunity to showcase their outstanding work to our local celebrity judges to choose the “best” tamale.
Plus, eventgoers can participate in a tamale eating contest and a Chihuahua and pet costume contest.
The event is free to attend, but don’t forget to bring your wallet to purchase food, select activities, and merchandise. It’s also a great opportunity to place orders with your favorite tamale vendor(s) to stock up on tamales to put in the freezer.
Those interested in becoming a vendor can sign up at: www.visitatascadero.com/tamalefest.
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