Celebrate the rich tastes, smells, and variations of tamales from the Southwest and Mexico at the 19th Annual Tucson Tamal & Heritage Festival!
The cultural event is held every year on the first Saturday of December at Casino Del Sol’s AVA Amphitheater (5655 W. Valencia Rd.) — a Tucson tradition marking the beginning of the holiday season.
The festival typically draws out more than 10,000 people and this year’s event is happening on Saturday, December 7 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The festival is always free and you just pay for what you want to eat and drink — tamales (of course), fry bread, tacos, burritos, kettle corn, churros, and aguas frescas to name a few.
The event will be fun for the whole family and aside from the food, there’s going to be live local entertainment and the opportunity to shop for unique gifts from Artisan Vendors selling beadwork, jewelry, blankets, and artwork. There’s even going to be a farmers market full of vendors selling jams, hats, soaps, shirts, chiles, and more.
Taste Testers Wanted
And of course, don’t miss the celebrated tamal contest!
The contest is determined by more than 50 judges in four categories including:
- Traditional
- Green Corn
- Gourmet
- Sweet.
Cash prizes from $150 to $500 are given for first, second, and third place in each category, with the top prize of $750 going to the “Best Overall Winner.”
Head out to Casino Del Sol on Saturday, December 7 and have a ball!
Casino Del Sol and the AVA Amphitheater are located at 5655 W Valencia Rd. For more information, visit casinodelsol.com.
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