The International Tamales Festival will return on Dec. 9 for its third year at Long Beach City College with a lineup of music, cultural performances, tequila tastings and — of course — tamales.
The all-day festival organized by LB Living, a local lifestyle multimedia outlet, will begin at 1 p.m. and run until 9 p.m.
Early bird general admission tickets, which include entry to the festival, are priced at $15. The addition of tequila (12 to 15 tastings) will bring the early bird price up to $35. The $60 VIP early bird tickets include entry, the tequila tasting, one beer, a tamale from any vendor and entrance to a VIP area. Prices will increase by $10 after Nov. 24, and there are a limited quantity of early bird tickets.
Tamales from all over the region will be featured, and one vendor will take home the honor of winning the festival’s best homemade tamales.
The popular dish originated in Mesoamerica and, while eaten all year long, is especially part of the holiday’s traditional cuisine for many Latin American families. A tamales’ masa (corn) dough can be stuffed with marinated meat, vegetables, or cheese and wrapped with either corn husks or banana leaves and steamed.
In addition to the tamales, the Tequila Pavilion will showcase over a dozen tequila brands. Live music will be played all day featuring La Nueva Ola de Cumbia, traditional Mariachi, Ballet Folklorico, Spaghetti Cumbia and more.
Carnival games and arts and crafts stations will be available for children and families.
Interested vendors can visit www.LBHomeLiving.com to register online.
Tickets can be purchased here. The Long Beach City College Pacific Coast campus is at 1350 E. Pacific Coast Highway.