Annual

Logo for Atascadero's Annual Tamale Festival

Group of pictures of various Tamale Festival activities.

TAMALE FESTIVAL WEEKEND

THE TAMALE FESTIVAL WILL RETURN ON MAY 2nd & 3rd, 2025!

Thank you for joining in the fun and festivities at the 2024 Tamale Festival! This event wouldn't have been possible without our generous sponsors, vendors, entertainers, volunteers, contest participants, and of course our enthusiastic attendees who were willing to brave the unexpected May rain to join us!


2024 EVENT SPONSOR RECOGNITION

The City of Atascadero sends out a sincere thank you to our 2024 sponsors: Gold Sponsors: Avila Traffic Safety, & Kirk Consulting; Silver sponsors: A.M. Sun Solar, Springhill Suites by Marriott, Waste Management; Bronze Sponsors: 5 Star Rain Gutters, and Planet Fitness Atascadero.


SPECIAL THANKS

Special thanks to Medina Light Show Designs - Manuel Medina; Emcee Francisco Ramirez; the Famous Dancing Horses; Manuel Enrique Ranchero Artist & his Horse; Mariachi Voces Tapatias, La Marcha Sound, Steppin Out Band, Brass Mash Band, Dante Marsh & The Vibe Setters, Mexicanisimo Mariachi Band; Paso A Pasito Dance Group; Paso Ballet Folklorico; The 90’s Babiez Ultimate Party Band; Sound Tech David Chock; Friends of the Charles Paddock Zoo; Pyro Spectacular for the Firework show; all of the tamale tasting judges, pet judges and our amazing team of volunteers, vendors who traveled here from all over California and to all of our local breweries, wineries, and margarita vendors who participated!


We look forward to seeing you in 2025!



Click here for vendor and event contact information.


         

WHY THE TAMALE FESTIVAL

Image of numerous tamales stacked in a pot.

Over 30 Tamale Vendors

Image of rider atop a dancing horse swinging a lasso.  - Photo by Rick Evans

Dancing Horses

Image of two folkloric dancers in bright colored dresses, with full flowing skirts rippling as they dance.

Folkloric Dancers

Image of kids eating tamales during a tamale eating contest.

Tamale Eating Contests

 Profile image of Mariachi Voces Tapatias performing, with a female violinist in the foreground.

Variety of Music

Image of a Chihuahua dressed in a Yoda costume.

Chihuahua & Pet Costume Contest

Image of people visiting different vendors with popup tents at the Tamale Festival.

Variety of Merchandise & Food Vendors

Image of blowup bounce houses and similar fun activities in Atascadero's Sunken Gardens during a past Tamale Festival.

Family Fun

Image of tamale platters and trophies displayed on a table with colorful table runners.

Tamale Contests

Photo Gallery

2025 Entertainment Lineup

To Be Announced

Tamale Festival Winners

8th Annual Tamale Festival 2024

AWARD WINNING TAMALES ~ Best Overall Tamale

Image of 2024 Best Tamale Winner

AWARD WINNING TAMALES ~ Traditional Tamale

Image of 2024 Judges Choice Traditional Tamale Winner(s)

Other Traditional Tamale Winners:     2nd Place ~ Super Tamales •   3rd Place ~ La Luz del Mundo, Paso Robles

LA LUZ DEL MUNDO, Visalia ~ Gourmet Tamale

Image of 2024 Judges Choice Gourmet Tamale Winner(s)

Other Gourmet Tamale Winners:     2nd Place ~ La Luz del Mundo, Oxnard •   3rd Place ~ Beth's Tamales

TAMALE EATING CONTEST ~ 11 and Under

Image of 2024 Tamale Eating Contest winners

1st Place:   Roman Leon   2nd Place:   Gabby Castaneda  

TAMALE EATING CONTEST ~ 12 and Over

Image of 2024 12 and Over Tamale Eating Contest winner

1st Place Winner:  AJ Fragoso  2nd Place:   Justin Turner  

CHIHUAHUA & PET COSTUME CONTEST

Image of 2024 Pet Costume Contest winners

1st Place ~ Best Overall Costume:   Phoebe (Owner, Vikky Mullin)   
2nd Place ~ Best Execution:   Maude (Owner, Ryan Duclos)   
3rd Place ~ Best Costume Creativity:   Pepper & Owner, Liam Shutt   
Honorable Mention:   Gidget (Owner, Carla Garcia)   

7th Annual Tamale Festival 2023

Award Winning Tamales, Van Nuys ~ Best Overall Tamale

Image of 2023 Best Tamale Winner

SAVINA'S HOME MADE TAMALES ~ Traditional Tamale

Image of 2023 Judges Choice Traditional Tamale Winner(s)

Other Traditional Tamale Winners:     2nd Place ~ Award Winning Tamales, Van Nuys •   3rd Place ~ La Luz del Mundo, Paso Robles

LA LUZ DEL MUNDO, Santa Barbara ~ Gourmet Tamale

Image of 2023 Judges Choice Gourmet Tamale Winner(s)

Other Gourmet Tamale Winners:     2nd Place ~ Garcia's Restaurant, Atascadero •   3rd Place ~ La Luz del Mundo, Oxnard

TAMALE EATING CONTEST ~ 11 and Under

Image of 2023 Tamale Eating Contest winners

1st Place:   Liam Shutt   2nd Place:   Bella Real  

TAMALE EATING CONTEST ~ 12 and Over

Image of 2023 12 and Over Tamale Eating Contest winner

1st Place Winner:  Juan Morquez  2nd Place:   Michael Dean  

CHIHUAHUA & PET COSTUME CONTEST

Image of 2023 Pet Costume Contest winners

1st Place ~ Best Overall Costume:   Gus (Owner, Paige Foss)   
2nd Place ~ Best Execution:   Boobon Antonio (Owner, Morgan Monroe)   
3rd Place ~ Best Costume Creativity:   Margot (Owner, Ryan Duclos)

6th Annual Tamale Festival 2022

LA LUZ DEL MUNDO, Oxnard ~ Best Overall Tamale

Image of 2022 Best Tamale Winner

LA LUZ DEL MUNDO, Paso Robles ~ Traditional Tamale

Image of 2022 Judges Choice Traditional Tamale Winner(s)

Other Traditional Tamale Winners:     2nd Place ~ La Luz del Mundo, Oxnard •   3rd Place ~ Me Gusta Gourmet Tamales, Pacoima

MARY'S CUISINE CATERING, San Luis Obispo ~ Gourmet Tamale

Image of 2022 Judges Choice Gourmet Tamale Winner(s)

Other Gourmet Tamale Winners:     2nd Place ~ La Luz del Mundo, Oxnard •   3rd Place ~ Garcia's Restaurant, Atascadero

TAMALE EATING CONTEST ~ 11 and Under

Image of 2020 Tamale Eating Contest winners

1st Place:   Asher Lenge   2nd Place:   Hunter Lenge   3rd Place:   Evelyn Bravo

TAMALE EATING CONTEST ~ 12 and Over

Image of 2020 12 and Over Tamale Eating Contest winner

1st Place Winner:  Jake Henry  2nd Place:   Adam Siesel   3rd Place:   Derek Phillips

CHIHUAHUA & PET COSTUME CONTEST

Image of 2020 Pet Costume Contest winners

1st Place ~ Best Overall Costume:   Gus (Owner, Paige Foss)   
2nd Place ~ Best Costume & Owner Look Alike:   Gilbert (Owner, Tiffini Banks)   
3rd Place ~ Best Costume:   Itsie Bitsie (Owner, Shirley Fitzpatrick)

5th Annual Tamale Festival 2020

LA LUZ DEL MUNDO, Paso Robles ~ Overall Tamale & Traditional Tamale (Nonprofit)

Image of 2020 Judges Choice Winner & Traditional Tamale (Nonprofit) Winner

Other Traditional Tamale (Nonprofit) Winners:     2nd Place ~ La Luz del Mundo, Santa Ana     

LA LUZ DEL MUNDO, Santa Ana ~ Gourmet Tamale (Nonprofit)


Image of 2020 Judges Choice Gourmet Tamale (Nonprofit) Tamale Festival Winner

Other Gourmet Tamale (Nonprofit) Winners:     2nd Place ~ La Luz del Mundo, Paso Robles     

MARY'S CUISINE CATERING, San Luis Obispo ~ Traditional & Gourmet Tamale (Commercial)

Image of 2020 Judges Choice Winner & Traditional Tamale (Nonprofit) Winner

Other Traditional Tamale (Commercial) Winners:     2nd Place ~ Beth's Tamale/Old Town Mexican Cafe, Santa Ana     

Other Gourmet Tamale (Commercial) Winners:     2nd Place ~ Me Gusta Gourmet Tamales - Napoleon, Pacoima    

TAMALE EATING CONTEST ~ 11 and Under


Image of 2020 Tamale Eating Contest winners

1st Place:   William Maynard    2nd Place:   Brenden Edwards

TAMALE EATING CONTEST ~ 12 and Over

Image of 2020 12 and Over Tamale Eating Contest winner

1st Place Winner:  Charles Bill

CHIHUAHUA & PET COSTUME CONTEST

Image of 2020 Pet Costume Contest winners

Best Costume:   Gus (Owner, Paige Foss)    Best Overall Costume/Most Creative:   Gus (Owner, Paige Foss)    Owner/Dog Look-a-Like:   Bean (Owner, Ava Kershner)

4th Annual Tamale Festival 2019

GARCIA'S RESTAURANT, Atascadero

Image of 2019 Tamale Festival People's Choice Winner

2nd Place ~ La Luz Del Mundo Paso Robles • 3rd Place ~ Las Delicias de Zacatecas, San Luis Obispo

GARCIA'S RESTAURANT, Atascadero ~ Traditional Tamale

Image of 2019 Tamale Festival Winner - Judges Choice Traditional Tamale

2nd Place ~ Mary's Cuisine Catering, San Luis Obispo • 3rd Place ~ Maria's Catering, Anaheim

LA LUZ DEL MUNDO, Ontario ~ Gourmet Tamale

Image of 2019 Tamale Festival Winner  - Judge's Choice Gourmet Tamale

2nd Place ~ Los Osos Mexican Market, Los Osos • 3rd Place ~ Barrett's Tamales, Huntington Beach

LA LUZ DEL MUNDO, Santa Ana ~ Sweet Tamale

Image of 2019 Tamale Festival Winner - Judge's Choice Sweet Tamale

2nd Place ~ Barrett's Tamales, Huntington Beach    •    3rd Place ~ Los Osos Mexican Market, Los Osos

3rd Annual Tamale Festival 2018

GARCIA'S RESTAURANT, Atascadero ~ All Three Tamale Categories

Image of 2018 Tamale Festival Winner - People's Choice Winner for all three categories

Other Traditional Tamale Winners:     2nd Place ~ La Luz del Mundo, Paso Robles    •   3rd Place ~ La Luz del Mundo, Santa Ana     

Other Gourmet Tamale Winners:      2nd Place ~ La Luz del Mundo, Paso Robles    •    3rd Place ~ Garcia's Tamales, Paso Robles     

Other Sweet Tamale Winners:     2nd Place ~ La Luz del Mundo, Paso Robles    •    3rd Place ~ La Luz del Mundo, Santa Ana

SHAVE N'FLAV, Paso Robles ~ Traditional & Gourmet Tamales

Image of 2018 Tamale Festival Judge's Choice Winner for Traditional and Gourmet Tamales

Other Traditional Tamale Winners:    2nd Place ~ Que Pasa Mexican Cafe, Atascadero    •    3rd Place ~ Tia Juanita’s, Atascadero

Other Traditional Gourmet Winners:    2nd Place ~ Frutiland La Casa del Sabor, Arroyo Grande    •    3rd Place ~ Las Delicias de Zacatecas, San Luis Obispo

LA LUZ DEL MUNDO, Paso Robles ~ Sweet Tamale

Image of 2018 Tamale Festival Winner - Judges Choice Sweet Tamale

2nd Place ~ Nohemi's Concessions, Riverside    •    3rd Place ~ Atascadero Apostolic Church, Atascadero

   2nd Annual Tamale Festival 2017

GARCIA'S RESTAURANT, Atascadero

Image of 2017 Tamale Festival People's Choice Winner

2nd Place ~ Dos Hermanos, San Miguel    •    3rd Place ~ Shave N'Flav, Paso Robles

LA LUZ DEL MUNDO, Santa Ana

Image of 2017 Tamale Festival Winner - Judge's Favorite Sweet Tamale

2nd Place ~ Shave N'Flav, Paso Robles    •    3rd Place ~ Dos Hermanos, San Miguel

   1st Annual Tamale Festival 2016

LA LUZ DEL MUNDO, Paso Robles

Image of 2016 Tamale Festival People's Choice Winner

2nd Place ~ Atascadero Apostolic Church

SHAVE N'FLAV, Paso Robles

Image of 2016 Tamale Festival Winner - Judge's Favorite

2nd Place ~ Los Pablanos • 3rd ~ Mr. C's Catering



CONTACT INFORMATION

For questions regarding the Annual Tamale Festival

805.470.3490

Event Location: 6500 Palma Avenue

Atascadero, CA 93422

info@visitatascadero.com

VENDOR & SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION

If you would like to be a vendor at the 9th Annual Tamale Festival, please complete the appropriate form below. Registration closes April 14, 2025.

Vendor Inquiries call (805) 470-3360

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