🍻🥨 Oktober Foodie Fest — Saturday 9/26 @ Corbett'sGrab Tickets
Tucson FoodieCelebrating local food, drink, and community.
Taste & Taste Some More at the Tucson Tamal & Heritage Festival

Taste & Taste Some More at the Tucson Tamal & Heritage Festival

Nov 26, 20181 min read

The AVA Amphitheater at Casino Del Sol is hosting the 14th annual Tucson Tamal & Heritage Festival from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 1.

This festival comes at the right time as the holiday season coincides with the cravings for tamales, but perhaps the biggest gift of all is the fact that the event is totally free.

Everyone’s invited to celebrate the rich tastes, scents, and the vast variety of tamales from the Southwest and Mexico. For weeks, tamale aficionados have been crafting the perfect tamale to enter in the contest, which gives everyone an opportunity to raise funds.

Now, it’s too late to join the contest, but you can still attend and eat plates upon plates of tamales. I mean, you’ve got to try all of them in order to decide who’s offered the best, right?

https://www.facebook.com/AVAconcerts/posts/10156908323531974?__xts__[0]=68.ARCAYLv47mT2NAJMJa6QmOESJcVUoDmA3F0TH2Q47YCNmEj8n0O_kMAiVFQE7MeYHknajfEvkBIibHhPOoF8DC7clkzPFpaX4Gek_Er_ItdixxcptIKjU1PlpEUb7zvR8ynHxnIh3QElgF6EUQZHxI93p5oxhVJ5jeZB2N30v3GEt-LkJ-FBq8lHrMOsc1LJZrGx6uTtl0a2QTleRfQxQ02vJlnMWfbnmY0SSDGfplPZova6Lv9-GuNCUw9PglIMt9RYphYDWl6Fjsa95h3HN_zsynsny2ELUlmtTJ0MW_x58AWSY9IfiOSx1Y-H-FhFhrd7zOyy2z320sGXLFvetxL1sirOKL-ZtHZfcEOrqwTwPsQjnpW_Z3mdYHRC1e9dtRlsMzqlJ4W2_9HHpEL2jDKaIRHZ0_621xov0aBzVMXXkr9dd58hemKHZraikounKR01W2-Z_3Sq1AmeQRra2EfdxkzevY-aKtfX3EeJVDyunIjeX3WC2MZt67bPdgql_yxvVdlxwZ5_jY3-EI73_w&__tn__=-R

There is also going to be a lot of fun at the festival with live and local entertainment for families, and farmers market vendors with tamales, tacos, fry bread, desserts, aguas frescas, roasted corn, and more.

Additional stands will feature artisan goods such as art, jewelry, and beadwork.

Casino Del Sol’s AVA Amphitheater is located 5655 W. Valencia Rd. For more information, call (520) 838-6400 or visit casinodelsol.com.

Article written by:

Matt Sterner

Matt Sterner

More about Matt

At a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.

He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.

If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.

Advertisement

Weekly digest of new openings, events, and guides. No spam.

Take us with you.

Discover the best local spots, browse the dish database, build and share your to-visit lists, support local, and join the Foodie Club when you're ready.

Follow @TucsonFoodie135.2K followers
@Tucsoncityofgastronomy opens the fifth annual @Pueblosdelmaiz Festival with Sabores del Pueblo on Thursday, Sept. 24, from 6–9 p.m. at Tucson GastroPark.

Five local chefs will serve creative Tucson-inspired dishes alongside craft beer, wine, and bacanora tastings:❤️

• @chefjosetucson
• @vindiola.claudia
• @nick_avram 
• @dcsanner 
• @travisgarypeters 

🎶 Hey Bucko! will provide live music

Tickets are available in @tucsoncityofgastronomy’s bio. Tucson Foodie Insiders save 15% with code INSIDERS.

Proceeds support free programming throughout the Pueblos del Maíz Festival.@Tucsoncityofgastronomy opens the fifth annual @Pueblosdelmaiz Festival with Sabores del Pueblo on Thursday, Sept. 24, from 6–9 p.m. at Tucson GastroPark. Five local chefs will serve creative Tucson-inspired dishes alongside craft beer, wine, and bacanora tastings:❤️ • @chefjosetucson • @vindiola.claudia • @nick_avram • @dcsanner • @travisgarypeters 🎶 Hey Bucko! will provide live music Tickets are available in @tucsoncityofgastronomy’s bio. Tucson Foodie Insiders save 15% with code INSIDERS. Proceeds support free programming throughout the Pueblos del Maíz Festival.
Tucson’s barbecue options range from food trucks to full-service dining rooms. Some focus on classic Texas-style plates with butcher paper and simple sides. Others experiment with fusion dishes that blend barbecue with Mexican and Southwestern flavors. This variety gives diners plenty of options, whether they want a quick lunch or a sit-down meal.

This guide highlights barbecue restaurants across Tucson. More on Tucsonfoodie.com🔥Tucson’s barbecue options range from food trucks to full-service dining rooms. Some focus on classic Texas-style plates with butcher paper and simple sides. Others experiment with fusion dishes that blend barbecue with Mexican and Southwestern flavors. This variety gives diners plenty of options, whether they want a quick lunch or a sit-down meal. This guide highlights barbecue restaurants across Tucson. More on Tucsonfoodie.com🔥
LAST CALL!

It’s the final day of @Sonoranrestaurantweek (September 13, 2026)! There’s still time to enjoy the great eats and deals across Tucson. Take a look at the menus on Tucsonfoodie.com/srw. 

Tag the restaurants that you loved the most! Thank you to everyone for being part of this incredible week.

Produced by Tucson Foodie 
Presented by @Visittucson 

#sonoranrestaurantweek #tucsonLAST CALL! It’s the final day of @Sonoranrestaurantweek (September 13, 2026)! There’s still time to enjoy the great eats and deals across Tucson. Take a look at the menus on Tucsonfoodie.com/srw. Tag the restaurants that you loved the most! Thank you to everyone for being part of this incredible week. Produced by Tucson Foodie Presented by @Visittucson #sonoranrestaurantweek #tucson
@Tortillaschiwas is currently in its soft opening at 914 N. Grande Ave. in Barrio Hollywood, inside the former Grande Tortilla Factory.

Phoenix restaurateurs Armando Hernandez and chef Nadia Holguin, a James Beard-nominated duo originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, are behind the restaurant.

Tortillas Chiwas is currently open Thursdays through Saturdays from 5–10 pm with 38 seats. Reservations are available on OpenTable.

Photos by @tortillaschiwas 
Read @jackie_tran_’s article on Tucsonfoodie.com

#tucsonfoodie #tucsonnews@Tortillaschiwas is currently in its soft opening at 914 N. Grande Ave. in Barrio Hollywood, inside the former Grande Tortilla Factory. Phoenix restaurateurs Armando Hernandez and chef Nadia Holguin, a James Beard-nominated duo originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, are behind the restaurant. Tortillas Chiwas is currently open Thursdays through Saturdays from 5–10 pm with 38 seats. Reservations are available on OpenTable. Photos by @tortillaschiwas Read @jackie_tran_’s article on Tucsonfoodie.com #tucsonfoodie #tucsonnews