Annual
TAMALE FESTIVAL WEEKEND
FIESTA FRIDAY | May 1, 2026 | 5 pm - 9 pm
Kick-off this year’s Tamale Festival Weekend with Fiesta Friday on May 1st Starting at 5 pm in Downtown Atascadero. Fiesta Friday is a great way to get a head start on tamale shopping and a taste of what's in store from some of this year's tamale vendors without the crowds. You might even find other vendors open for business early! The kick-off will also feature the Zongo All-Stars Band bringing Latin inspired music to the evening in front of Historic City Hall from 6-8 pm! The Central Coast Zoo Foundation will be providing adult beverages for purchase including margaritas, wine, beer, cider and more, with all proceeds going to the Zoo Foundation!
MAIN EVENT | May 2, 2026 | 11 am - 7 pm
The 10th Annual Tamale Festival’s Main Event will take place on May 2nd, and feature everything you've come to expect from this fun event favorite: a variety of delicious traditional, gourmet and sweet tamales from a variety of vendors and restaurants both locally and across California, adult beverages, merchandise vendors, live music, "best" tamale, tamale eating and pet costume contests, photo opportunities, and more!
Entertainment will include your favorite Emcee, Francisco Ramirez along with an action packed schedule featuring Ranchero Artist Manuel Enrique, the Famous Dancing Horses, Mariachi Azteca de Oro, Mariachi Lo Mejor de Jalisco Mariachi Band, the Ballet Folklórico Flor de Luna Dancers, and the Paso A Posito Folklorico Dance group! Live music will also include the Brass Mash band plus bounce houses, obstacle courses, and bungee jumps from Bubble Fun 101 along with face painting, balloon animals, a photo booth with “Waffles” the miniature donkey and plenty of fun for all ages!
Atascadero’s Annual Tamale Festival 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!
2026 EVENT SPONSOR RECOGNITION
The City of Atascadero sends out a sincere thank you to our 2026 sponsors: Platinum Sponsor: Avila Traffic Safety; Gold Sponsor: Central Coast Carts; Silver Sponsors: 5 Star Rain Gutters, A.M. Sun Solar, Renewal by Andersen Windows, CK Farr Dentistry, Cal Poly Athletics, Community Health Centers of the Central Coast (CHC), Leaf Filter Filtration Systems, Waste Management; Bronze Sponsors: Kenneth Heating & Air, MGP Coatings! Media Sponsors include American General Media, Dimes Media, and New Times.
Book Your Stay in Atascadero! | View vendor and event contact information*
(*Please note: we are only accepting Tamale vendor applications at this time.)
WHY THE TAMALE FESTIVAL
Over 20 Tamale Vendors
Dancing Horses
Folkloric Dancers
Tamale Eating Contests
Variety of Music
Chihuahua & Pet Costume Contest
Variety of Merchandise & Food Vendors
Family Fun
Tamale Contests
2026 EVENT LINEUP
TAMALE FESTIVAL OPENING
11 am • City Hall Stage
The Tamale Festival kicks off with event announcements and a performance by the Ballet Folklórico Flor de Luna Dancers on the Steps of City Hall.
BALLET FOLKLÓRICO FLOR DE LUNA DANCERS
11 am • City Hall Stage
Take in the beauty of folkloric dancing with performances by the Ballet Folklórico Flor de Luna Dancers.
WAFFLES, THE MINI DONKEY PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
11 am - 2 pm • Next to City Hall (East Mall side)
A must do on your list this year! Be sure to get a photo with adorable mini donkey, Waffles!
WINNERS OF BEST TAMALE CONTEST ANNOUNCED
11:45 am • City Hall Stage
Don't miss an opportunity to share in a shout out for the winners of the 2026 Tamale Festival Contest. Trophies will be delivered to the winners at their individual booths.
RANCHERO ARTIST MANUEL ENRIQUE
12 pm - 1 pm • City Hall Stage
Enjoy the singing of talented Ranchero Artist Manuel Enrique and performance with his dancing horse.
DANCING HORSES & MARIACHI AZTECA DE ORO
1 pm - 2 pm • Front of City Hall
A Tamale Festival event favorite, you won't want to miss this year's stunning dancing horses, PLUS a performance by Mariachi Azteca de Oro!
MARIACHI LO MEJOR DE JALISCO BAND
2 pm - 4pm • Strolling the Event
Enjoy the music of the Mariachi Lo Mejor de Jalisco Band and they stroll through the event.
PASO A PASITO FOLKLORIC DANCERS
2 pm - 4pm • Different Locations
Take in the beauty of folkloric dancing with performances by the Paso A Pasito Folkloric Dancers.
CHIHUAHUA & PET COSTUME CONTEST
2:30 pm • City Hall Stage
To participate in the contest, please sign up at the INFO booth between 11 am and 2 pm on the day of the event, located on West Mall near City Hall.
TAMALE EATING CONTEST
3:30 pm • City Hall Stage
To participate in the contest, please sign up at the INFO booth between 11 am and 3 pm on the day of the event, located on West Mall near City Hall.
BRASS MASH
5 pm - 7 pm • City Hall Stage
Get ready for a high energy performance of all your favorite tunes! Groove along to the powerhouse sounds of horns, winds and percussion.
TAMALE FESTIVAL WINNERS
9th ANNUAL TAMALE FESTIVAL 2025
SUPER TAMALES ~ Best Overall Tamale
SUPER TAMALES ~ Traditional Tamale
Other Traditional Tamale Winners: 2nd Place ~ The Original Tamale Corp., Pacoima • 3rd Place ~ La Luz del Mundo, Visalia (MaMa Nichi)
SAVINA'S HOME MADE TAMALES ~ Gourmet Tamale
Other Gourmet Tamale Winners: 2nd Place ~ La Luz del Mundo, Visalia • 3rd Place ~ Tamale Cafe, San Fernando
TAMALE EATING CONTEST ~ 11 and Under
1st Place: Roman Leon 2nd Place: Gabby Casteneda
TAMALE EATING CONTEST ~ 12 and Over
1st Place Winner: Aspen Martin 2nd Place: Sabina Fernandez -Lopez
CHIHUAHUA & PET COSTUME CONTEST
1st Place ~ Best Overall: Lulu – the 4th of July Baby! (Owner, Jose Reynoso)
2nd Place ~ Best Costume: Tacoma (Owner, Cris Murillo)
3rd Place ~ Best Look Alike: Goodie & Owner, Julie Ritchie
Honorable Mention: Noodle, the Turkish Van Cat (Owner, Devin Swearingen)
8thANNUAL TAMALE FESTIVAL 2024
AWARD WINNING TAMALES ~ Best Overall Tamale
AWARD WINNING TAMALES ~ Traditional Tamale
Other Traditional Tamale Winners: 2nd Place ~ Super Tamales • 3rd Place ~ La Luz del Mundo, Paso Robles
LA LUZ DEL MUNDO, Visalia ~ Gourmet Tamale
Other Gourmet Tamale Winners: 2nd Place ~ La Luz del Mundo, Oxnard • 3rd Place ~ Beth's Tamales
TAMALE EATING CONTEST ~ 11 and Under
1st Place: Roman Leon 2nd Place: Gabby Castaneda
TAMALE EATING CONTEST ~ 12 and Over
1st Place Winner: AJ Fragoso 2nd Place: Justin Turner
CHIHUAHUA & PET COSTUME CONTEST
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
SAVINA'S HOME MADE TAMALES ~ Traditional Tamale
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
Other Gourmet Tamale Winners: 2nd Place ~ Garcia's Restaurant, Atascadero • 3rd Place ~ La Luz del Mundo, Oxnard
TAMALE EATING CONTEST ~ 11 and Under
1st Place: Liam Shutt 2nd Place: Bella Real
TAMALE EATING CONTEST ~ 12 and Over
.jpg)
1st Place Winner: Juan Morquez 2nd Place: Michael Dean
CHIHUAHUA & PET COSTUME CONTEST
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
LA LUZ DEL MUNDO, Paso Robles ~ Traditional Tamale
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
Other Gourmet Tamale Winners: 2nd Place ~ La Luz del Mundo, Oxnard • 3rd Place ~ Garcia's Restaurant, Atascadero
TAMALE EATING CONTEST ~ 11 and Under
1st Place: Asher Lenge 2nd Place: Hunter Lenge 3rd Place: Evelyn Bravo
TAMALE EATING CONTEST ~ 12 and Over
.png)
1st Place Winner: Jake Henry 2nd Place: Adam Siesel 3rd Place: Derek Phillips
CHIHUAHUA & PET COSTUME CONTEST
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)
Other Traditional Tamale (Nonprofit) Winners: 2nd Place ~ La Luz del Mundo, Santa Ana
LA LUZ DEL MUNDO, Santa Ana ~ Gourmet Tamale (Nonprofit)
Other Gourmet Tamale (Nonprofit) Winners: 2nd Place ~ La Luz del Mundo, Paso Robles
MARY'S CUISINE CATERING, San Luis Obispo ~ Traditional & Gourmet Tamale (Commercial)
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
1st Place: William Maynard 2nd Place: Brenden Edwards
TAMALE EATING CONTEST ~ 12 and Over
.png)
<1st Place Winner: Charles Bill
CHIHUAHUA & PET COSTUME CONTEST
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
2nd Place ~ La Luz Del Mundo Paso Robles • 3rd Place ~ Las Delicias de Zacatecas, San Luis Obispo
GARCIA'S RESTAURANT, Atascadero ~ Traditional Tamale
2nd Place ~ Mary's Cuisine Catering, San Luis Obispo • 3rd Place ~ Maria's Catering, Anaheim
LA LUZ DEL MUNDO, Ontario ~ 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
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
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
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
2nd Place ~ Nohemi's Concessions, Riverside • 3rd Place ~ Atascadero Apostolic Church, Atascadero
2nd ANNUAL TAMALE FESTIVAL 2017
GARCIA'S RESTAURANT, Atascadero
2nd Place ~ Dos Hermanos, San Miguel • 3rd Place ~ Shave N'Flav, Paso Robles
LA LUZ DEL MUNDO, Santa Ana
2nd Place ~ Shave N'Flav, Paso Robles • 3rd Place ~ Dos Hermanos, San Miguel
1st ANNUAL TAMALE FESTIVAL 2016
LA LUZ DEL MUNDO, Paso Robles
2nd Place ~ Atascadero Apostolic Church
SHAVE N'FLAV, Paso Robles
2nd Place ~ Los Pablanos • 3rd ~ Mr. C's Catering
PHOTO GALLERY
2020 Ranchero Artist Manuel Enrique and Folkloric Dancer - Photo by Keith Bergher
2020 Dancing Horse Performer - Photo by Keith Bergher
Gourmet Tamales
Photo by Keith Bergher
2020 Pet Costume Contest Contestant
2020 Tamale Festival Tamale Judges - Mayor Heather Moreno, Council Member Fonzi and Beth Giuffre of New Times
2020 Mariachi Voces Tapatias - Photo by Keith Bergher
2020 Folkloric Dancers - Photo by Keith Bergher
2020 Pet Costume Contest Contestant
2020 Tamale Festival Tamale Judges - Tom Kefurry and Becky Kingman, KJUG Morning Show
Tamales!
Photo by Keith Bergher
2020 Dancing Horse Performer - Photo by Keith Bergher
2020 Mariachi Voces Tapatias Singer - Photo by Keith Bergher
2020 Tamale Festival Tamale Judges - Megan Healy - KSBY, Supervisor Debbie Arnold and Council Member Bourbeau
2020 Folkloric Dancers - Photo by Keith Bergher
2020 Dancing Horse Performer - Photo by Keith Bergher
2020 Pet Costume Contest Winner
Gus (Owner, Paige Foss)
2020 Folkloric Dancer - Photo by Keith Bergher
2020 Mariachi Voces Tapatias - Photo by Keith Bergher
Francisco Ramirez Singing at the 2020 Tamale Festival - Photo by Keith Bergher
2020 Dancing Horse- Photo by Keith Bergher
2020 Tamale Festival Tamale Judges - Chad Stevens - KPRL and Andy Morris - KVEC
2020 Pet Costume Contestant
2020 Folkloric Dancer - Photo by Keith Bergher
2020 Manuel Enrique singing and riding his dancing horse- Photo by Keith Bergher
2020 Pet Costume Contest Winner
Bean (Owner, Ava Kershner)
2020 Mariachi Voces Tapatias - Photo by Keith Bergher
2020 Manuel Enrique riding his dancing horse- Photo by Keith Bergher
2020 Pet Costume Contest Contestant
Manuel Enrique singing to and dancing with a woman attending the 2020 Tamale Festival- Photo by Keith Bergher
2020 Folkloric Dancers - Photo by Keith Bergher
2020 Mariachi Voces Tapatias Musician- Photo by Keith Bergher
Dancing Horses - Photo by Rick Evans
Folkloric Dancers - Photo by George L. Westlund
Got Tamales...
Soloist Manuel Enrique - Photo by George L. Westlund
2019 Tamale Festival Tamale Judges - Mayor Heather Moreno and Supervisor Debbie Arnold
2019 Tamale Eating Contest Winners
Folkloric Dancers - Photo by Rick Evans
Atascadero Tamale Festival 2019 - Photo by George L. Westlund
2019 Tamale Festival Tamale Judges - Council Member Newsom, Mayor Pro Tem Bourbeau and Council Member Fonzi
Want Tamales... - Photo by Rick Evans
Tamale Eating Contest - Photo by Rick Evans
Mariachi Mexicanisimo Band Performers
2019 Tamale Festival Tamale Judges - Council Member Funk, Andy Morris - KVEC & Katy Budge - Tribune Features Reporter
CONTACT INFORMATION
For questions regarding the Annual Tamale Festival
805.470.3360
Event Location: 6500 Palma Avenue
Atascadero, CA 93422
VENDOR & SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION
If you would like to be a vendor at the 10th Annual Tamale Festival, please complete the appropriate form below. Registration closes April 6, 2026.If you are interested in being a sponsor, please complete and return the application below.
Vendor Inquiries call (805) 470-3360