Atascadero Tamale Festival returns!
Tamales! Sip & Shop! Live music! Dancing horses! Tamales! Kid’s fun! Did we mention tamales?
Atascadero’s famous Tamale Festival weekend kicks off with Fiesta Friday on May 2, 2025, from 5:30-8 p.m. in the Sunken Garden, downtown Atascadero. Free admission to the festival includes family-friendly activities, contests, live music, and entertainment.
Sip & Shop: Fiesta Friday is a special opportunity to browse participating businesses enjoy a variety of wine, beer, coffee, and cider. Early bird Sip & Shop tickets are available through April 18 at atascaderochamber.org/events. Regular-priced tickets will be available until noon, May 2. The evening includes complimentary tours of Historic City Hall!
Saturday’s main event starts at 11 a.m. and is packed with over 100 food and merchandise vendors with close to 30 tamale vendors with Tamales from gourmet, to traditional and sweet. For the thirsty, enjoy margaritas, craft beer, wine, cider, and non-alcoholic beverages.
Saturday’s entertainment includes Emcee Francisco Ramirez, Medina Light Show Designs, music from Voces Tapatias Mariachi, Ranchero Artist Manuel Enrique and his horse, the Famous Dancing Horses, and the Aztec Folklorico Dance group! Live music is featured on two stages.
Enjoy bounce houses, Zorb Balls, obstacle courses, and bungee jumps along with face painting, balloon animals, a photo booth with Waffles the miniature donkey, contests, and plenty of fun for all ages!
Contests all day!
- Noon-12-30 p.m. — Find out who wins the Best Tamale Contest when winners are announced.
- 2 p.m. — Don’t miss the Chihuahua Pet & Costume Contest.
- 3 p.m. — Join the Tamale Eating Contest to find out how many you can eat!
The Chihuahua Pet & Costume and Tamale Eating contests are on the steps of city hall.
Admission is free, but don’t forget to bring your wallet for the delicious food, activities, and merchandise. Be sure to stock up from your favorite tamale vendors. Tamales freeze well and you can enjoy them for months!
All proceeds from the Tamale Festival’s adult beverage sales on Saturday benefit the Friends of the Charles Paddock Zoo!
The festival is on May 2 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. and May 3 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at the Sunken Gardens, 6505 El Camino Real. More information: atascaderotamalefest.com.
