Thousands turn out for annual Atascadero Tamale Festival 

Atascadero Mayor Heather Moreno giving away awards.

Best overall tamale went to La Luz Del Mundo Oxnard

– Several thousand people turned out for the 6th Annual Atascadero Tamale Festival on Saturday. Organizer and Deputy City Manager Terrie Banish estimated that more than 40,000 tamales were purchased by attendees. People lined up at tamale booths to buy traditional and exotic tamales. Some people ate the tamales standing or sitting in the Sunken Gardens. Many people take the tamales home to freeze them and enjoy them at a later date.

La Luz Del Mundo tamales.

Judges evaluated tamales in a variety of categories with the best given trophies which they proudly display at their booths. Again this year, La Luz Del Mundo Church in Paso Robles was one of the big winners in the competition.

A Paso Robles-based mariachi band, Mariachi Voces Tapatias, provided musical entertainment from the steps of the Rotunda while people dined on tamales under a large white tent or on benches scattered through the Sunken Gardens. Waffles the miniature donkey posed for pictures with people.

Tamale line up

Late Saturday afternoon, there was a Chihuahua and pet costume contest. The event concluded with a fireworks show Saturday evening. Despite cloudy skies and a few sprinkles, the 6th Annual Tamale Festival was a great success in Atascadero.

Below are the winners of the “Best Tamale” Contest, Tamale Eating Contest, and the Chihuahua & Pet Costume Contest:

Waffles the Donkey

Best tamale contest:

Best overall tamale: La Luz Del Mundo Oxnard

Traditional tamale winners:

• 1st Place ~ La Luz Del Mundo, Paso Robles;
• 2nd Place ~ La Luz Del Mundo, Oxnard;
• 3rd Place Me Gusta Gourmet Tamales, Pacoima.

Gourmet tamale winners:

• 1st Place ~ Mary’s Cuisine Catering, San Luis Obispo,
• 2nd Place ~ La Luz Del Mundo, Oxnard;
• 3rd Place Garcia’s Restaurant, Atascadero

Tamale eating contest:

• Winners (12 & Over): 1st Place: Jake Henry; 2nd Place: Adam Siesel; 3rd Place: Derek Phillips
• Winners (11 & Under): 1st Place: Asher Lenge; 2nd Place: Hunter Lenge; 3rd Place: Evelyn Bravo

Chihuahua and pet costume contest:

• 1st Place ~ Best Overall: Gus & the Tamale Cart, Owner Paige Foss
• 2nd Place ~ Best Costume & Owner Look Alike: Gilbert & Owner, Tiffini Banks
• 3rd Place ~ Best Costume: Itsie Bitsie, Owner Shirley Fitzpatrick

About the author: News Staff

News staff of the A-Town Daily News wrote and edited this article from local contributors and press releases. Scott Brennan is the publisher of this newspaper and founder of Access Publishing. Connect with him on Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, or follow his blog. He can be reached at [email protected].