It’s the holiday season and it’s starting to smell like tamales. The delicious Latin-American dish has become a staple during the holidays and is joyfully celebrated with festivals throughout the area where home cooks and professionals compete to see who can make the best tamale.
So to get your belly into the holiday spirit here are five tamale festivals coming up this month.
But what if you can’t make it out to the festivals? Don’t worry, there are still tamales in your future since we’ve also included a few chain restaurants where you can find tamales to go near you.
LACC Tamale Festival
When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7
Where: 4725 Maine Ave., Baldwin Park
Cost: $5
Information: calegion.org
The $5 wristband gets you tamale tastings at the American Legion’s fourth annual festival. There will be tamale competitions, live music and more food.
La Habra Tamale Festival
When: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7
Where: Euclid Street between La Habra Boulevard and Bridenbecker Avenue
Cost: Free admission
Information: lahabratamalefestival.com
About 10,000 people are expected at this annual event where of course they’ll get to try all sorts of tamales from dozens and dozens of vendors. Live entertainment will take place on three stages that will include music and kid-friendly shows. It’ll wrap up with a tree-lighting ceremony and fireworks.
Vendors prepare tamales for customers at the Tamale Festival in Indio. The festival returns Dec. 7-8. (File photo by Rodrigo Pena, contributing photographer)
Indio International Tamale Festival
When: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7-Sunday, Dec. 8
Where: Miles Park, 82524 Miles Ave., Indio
Cost: Free to enter
Information: indiotamalefestival.com
According to the organizers this event is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the Largest Tamale Festival with more than 50,000 people expected to attend to check out offerings from more than 200 vendors. Tamale vendors will compete for the coveted title of “Best Tamale” in three categories that include Traditional, Vegetarian, and Sweet. Guests can also compete in a tamale eating contest, check out Lucha Libre matches and even go ice skating on a free rink.
Placentia Tamale Festival
When: 4-10 p.m. Dec. 12
Where: Old Town Placentia, 100 and 200 blocks of Santa Fe Avenue and the 200 block of Bradford Avenue, Placentia
Cost: Free to enter
Information: placentiatamalefestival.org
When the sun starts going down the tamales take over the city of Placentia in this now 30-year-old festival that’s expected to attract up to 10,000 people to Old Town Placentia. Tamales are of course the main draw but visitors can also expect live music, a beer garden, dozens of vendors, a tree-lighting ceremony and pictures with Santa for the kids.
Long Beach International Tamale Festival
When: 1-9 p.m. Dec. 14
Where: Long Beach City College PCH campus, 1350 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach
Cost: $7-$95
Information: playalarga.co/lbtamalesfest/
The Long Beach festival will include traditional tamales and a Best Homemade Tamale Contest. Besides tamales there will be festive tequila tastings, live entertainment including Lucha Libre matches and Ballet Folklorico performances plus a visit from Santa Claus.
Pick up tamales
Acapulco Restaurant Y Cantina, Chevys Fresh Mex, and El Torito Mexican Restaurant
Where: Various locations
Information: xperiencerg.com
Since they’re all run by the same parent company, these Mexican chain restaurants will all be offering the “Tamales To-Go” and seasonal Cranberry Margaritas specials through Jan. 1. Customers can mix and match from a selection of chicken, carnitas or sweet corn tamales for $28 per dozen. And to wash them down the restaurants are offering a 32-ounce Cadillac Cranberry Margarita, made with Lunazul Reposado for $38.
Miguel’s Jr.
Where: At various locations in the Inland Empire and Orange County
Information: miguelsjr.com
The Mexican chain restaurant is bringing back its holiday tamale specials through Dec. 31. They include the returning Spicy Chicken and Chile Rojo Pork tamales plus the new Chile Cheese Tamale, which will be available through December 10.
