21st Tamale Festival holiday event returns to Mesa after pandemic-caused hiatus

PHOENIX — The annual Tamale Festival returns to the Valley this weekend for the first time since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The holiday event with a tamale contest, food tasting, music, dancing and free toys will commence Saturday and Sunday at the Mesa Convention Center.

The contest to determine the tamale of the year will take place Sunday at 2 p.m., with first place earning $1,000 in furniture from Del Sol Furniture and the top two runners-up being awarded a $500 Food City gift card.

Attendees can purchase homemade tamales throughout the weekend, with the proceeds benefitting local churches, according to a press release.

Vendors will also sell jewelry, arts and crafts.

Other entertainment includes live mariachis, ballet folklorico and a performance by Las Calakas, an cumbia fusion band from Phoenix that will headline Saturday’s musical acts.

Children will have a chance to meet Santa and pick up a free gift while supplies last on each day of the festival.

Chicanos Por La Causa, a community development organization, is offering a health fair on-site including free booster seats for families with young children.

The festivities will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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