City of Atascadero Presents the 9th ANNUAL Tamale Festival! Friday & Saturday, May 2nd & 3rd

The City of Atascadero is pleased to announce the 9th Annual Tamale Festival to be held in the Sunken Gardens and Downtown Atascadero on Friday, May 2nd from 5:30 – 8 pm and Saturday, May 3rd from 11 am until 7 pm!

The festival will kick off on Friday, May 2nd starting at 5:30 pm until 8 pm with “Fiesta Friday!” Enjoy a variety of Tamale vendors with an opportunity to purchase tamales without the crowds. The Atascadero Chamber of Commerce will be hosting it’s annual “Sip & Shop” taking place in the Downtown with over 15 participating businesses offering a variety of wine, beer, coffee, and cider to enjoy and open late so you can get some shopping in (and in time for Mother’s Day!).  Early bird tickets are available for purchase here atascaderochamber.org/events. The evening will also feature complimentary tours of Historic City Hall!

The main event, the 9th Annual Atascadero Tamale Festival, on Saturday, May 3rd from 11 am until 7 pm will not disappoint! This year, there will be over 100 vendors on display from tamales to a wide variety of food beyond tamales to appease everyone’s pallet and appetite! If you are thirsty, there will be margaritas, craft beer, wine, and cider plus a large variety of merchandise vendors. Out of the 100 plus vendors, approximately thirty of them are tamale vendors from across California offering a variety of tamales for purchase from gourmet to traditional to sweet tamales.  Entertainment will include your favorite Emcee, Francisco Ramirez along with Medina Light Show Designs, plus a wide variety of music from Voces Tapatias Mariachi, Ranchero Artist Manuel Enrique & his horse, the Famous Dancing Horses, the Aztec Folklorico Dance group, and the Paso A Pasito Folkloric Dance Group! Live music will be featured across two stages including the Vibe Setters, Steppin’ Out Band, Big Wheel Cobra, and Brass Mash! Enjoy bounce houses, Walk on Water attraction, obstacle courses, and bungee jump from Bubble Fun 101 along with face painting, balloon animals, a photo opportunity with “Waffles” the miniature donkey and plenty of fun for all ages!

The “Best Tamale Contest” will be in the works, where all the tamale vendors can showcase their outstanding work to our celebrity judges to decide the “best” tamale. Winning tamale vendors will be announced between 12-12:30 pm! Two very popular contests not to miss, the “Chihuahua Pet & Costume Contest” taking place at 2:15 pm, and the “Tamale Eating Contest” taking place at 3 pm - both on the steps of City Hall!   

DO NOT MISS this popular event! Atascadero’s Annual Tamale Festival weekend on May 2nd & 3rd will be a fun and exciting occasion for the whole family, especially for anyone who loves tamales! The event is free to attend and enjoy the entertainment, but don’t forget to bring your wallet to purchase delicious food, activities, and merchandise; AND be sure to place your orders from your favorite tamale vendor(s) to stock up, as tamales freeze well too!

THANK YOU to our amazing sponsors! We would not be able to do this without you! Platinum Sponsor: Glenns Repair & Rental, Central Coast Carts & Mechanics Bank; Gold Sponsor: Avila Traffic Safety; Silver Sponsors: AM Sun Solar, Kirk Consulting, MGP Coatings, Springhill Suites by Marriott & Waste Management; Bronze Sponsors: Street Side Ale House, Kenneth Heating & Air, 5-Star Rain Gutters, Leaf Filter Gutter Protection, Lola’s Letters, Hispanic Business Association & Latino Outreach Council; Media sponsors: New Times, American General Media & Dimes Media.

All proceeds from the Tamale Festival’s adult beverage sales on Saturday will benefit the Friends of the Charles Paddock Zoo!

For event information and a full entertainment schedule, go to www.VisitAtascadero.com/TamaleFest.