LB Living is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated return of the Long Beach International Tamales Festival, taking place this Saturday from 1 – 9 p.m at Long Beach City College (PCC). In collaboration with KCRW, Estrella Jalisco, and LBCC, this festival is bringing the community a day of Latin cultural celebration, delicious tamales, live music, crafts, and much more.
Venture through the festival grounds and discover a variety of tamales representing unique corners of Latin America and Beyond. Hailing from Mexico, Central America, and Venezuela, over 20 food vendors will offer an assortment of tamales showcasing the diverse flavors and of their respective regions.
Vendors will include restaurants such as El Barrio Cantina, who will be offering chicken tinga tamales, birria tamales, and a filipino-inspired chicken adobo tamale, all made with rice masa and cooked in banana leaves. Find dessert tamales by stopping by Te Quiero Mucho Tamales booth, who apart from their savory tamales will be offering a sweet strawberry tamale topped with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. The pricing for tamales are expected to range between $2.50 – $7 each.
The event is set to feature a tamale-tasting contest, judged by a panel consisting of local food influencer James Tir, seasoned journalist Brian Addison, and renowned Chefs Ramiro Arvizu and Alfredo Vivar. Last year’s contest winner Arcelia Reynoso will be present at the festival as well, offering her award-winning tamales from a dedicated booth sponsored by LB Living.
Beyond gastronomy, attendees can expect over 60 retail vendors who will set up pop-up shops offering Mexican hand-crafted products, clothing, stuffed toys, and holiday-themed items.
The Long Beach International Tamale Festival will also features workshops where attendees can craft art from corn husks, traditional Indigenous performances, Ballet Folklórico, and live music performances by Cumbia and Mariachi artists. Notable musical groups include La Nueva Ola, who give electrifying Cumbia performances in luchador masks, and Mariachi Cielito Lindo, who serenade the audience with beloved Mariachi classics while dressed in traditional charro suits.
General admission tickets for this event start at $20 per person. To partake in the tequila tasting experience, where attendees can savor 12-15 different tequila flavors, GA + Tequila Tasting tickets can be purchased starting at $45 per person.
For those seeking an even more enhanced experience, VIP tickets can be purchased starting at $70 per person, which include tequila tastings, a beer, a tamale of choice from any vendor, and exclusive access to a VIP area adorned with a bar and close proximity to the stage. You can purchase your tickets by visiting lbhomeliving.com/lbtamalesfest.
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