Indio — About 70 tamale vendors will offer everything from traditional tastes and dessert options to gourmet flavors created with feta cheese, turkey or salmon this weekend at the 20th annual Indio International Tamale Festival.
More than 100,000 people are expected to crowd the streets of downtown Indio along Miles Avenue, Town Street, Smurr Street and Requa Avenue.
Other activities will include carnival rides, games, a tamale competition and music and entertainment from four stages set up across the grounds.
This will be the first festival without former Indio councilman David Hernandez, known as the father of the tamale festival, who died in March at the age of 83.
History:
It all started in 1992 with an idea by Dave Hernandez, a member of the Downtown Indio Merchants Association.
The rich heritage of the tamale, consistent community support and hard working tamale makers have created the festival’s tremendous success.
Recently, the Food Network-TV ranked the Indio International Tamale Festival in the top 10 “All-American Food Festivals” in the nation!
Festival’s Guinness World Records:
The World’s largest Tamale-over 1 foot in diameter and 40 feet in length, Dec. 4, 1999. The World’s largest tamale festival-with 120,000 in attendance, Dec. 2-3, 2000.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. More information: (760) 391-4175 orwww.tamalefestival.net.
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