News from Tamale Festival:

~Family Activities include Parade, Carnival, Car Show, Arts and Crafts, Interactive Art and Beer Garden, SIX (6) Live Entertainment Stages with Beer Gardens, and Lots of Tamales!
-New attractions this year include: ~ Flavor Stations by Tabasco® Sauce ~ Salsa Dance Contest ~ Selfie Photo Opportunities ~ Best Tamale Contest Flavored by Tabasco® ~New Piñata Stage! -Recipes from all over the Southwest feature pumpkin date tamale, pineapple and raisin tamale, chocolate and strawberry tamales, shrimp and habanero chili tamale, green chili and baby back rib tamale, and hundreds more

(Indio, CA.) – The countdown is on for the 26th Annual Indio International Tamale Festival®, presented by Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, the City of Indio and KevaWorks, LLC and Flavored by Tabasco®. The celebration will take place Saturday, December 2, 2017 from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Sunday, December 3, 2017 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Carnival rides will open the evening before, Friday, December 1 at 5:00 PM and remain open until late evening. Festival activities will be located in Downtown Indio, located between Hwy 111 and Indio Boulevard, winding through the streets of Miles, Towne, Smurr and Requa.

The Festival will begin with the annual City of Indio/Tamale Festival Parade, featuring Mr. Tamale as the Grand Marshal, riding with Indio Mayor Michael Wilson and the City Council.

At least 125,000 people are expected to attend the two-day celebration. Live Entertainment will be featured on six stages, including two Community Stages. Admission into the Festival is FREE to the public. Over 75 tamale booths, a tamale eating contest, two Best Tamale Contests, opening parade, 5th annual Car Show, an interactive art and craft beer garden, Artisan’s Corner, Kiddieland, four Beer Gardens, the City of Indio Christmas Tree Lighting with a visit from Santa, as well as over 250 vendors, sponsor displays and a carnival with rides and games make for family-friendly activities and are geared for all ages and community interests.

FREE parking is available at the Larsen Justice Center, located at Hwy 111 and Oasis Street and shuttle services are offered every half hour or guests can park on numerous streets surrounding downtown Indio. SunLine Transit bus routes include stops close to the Festival grounds. For more parking or bus route information, please visit: http://www.tamalefestival.net.

Presented By

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The Festival has been ranked as one of the top ten “All-American Food Festivals” in the nation by Food Network-TV. The traditional competition for best tamale recipe will be held and new to the Festival this year, Best Tamale Contest Flavored by Tabasco®. There will also be a tamale eating contest for kids and adults alike.

The Festival is produced by KevaWorks, LLC, in partnership with the City of Indio. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino will serve as the official presenting sponsor, as they have since 1999. The Festival will be Flavored by Tabasco® Sauce. O’Reilly Auto Parts will sponsor the 5th annual Car Show. Additional primary sponsors include IEHP, Ford Hispanic Experience, and USend as Volunteer Sponsor.

Complete Festival details and schedules may be found online at: http://www.tamalefestival.net. or by contacting [email protected] or (760) 832-8620 x 43.

When: Friday, December 1, 2017 — 5:00pm – 10:00pm (Carnival only) Saturday, December 2, 2017 – 10:00am – 8:00pm Sunday, December 3, 2017 — 10:00am – 5:00pm (Carnival open until 10:00pm)

Where: Old Town Indio between Highway 111 and Indio Boulevard; occupies the streets of Miles, Towne, Smurr, Civic Center, Bliss and Requa.

DETAILED FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES:

OPENING PARADE The annual Tamale Festival parade will be held on Saturday, December 2nd at 10:00 AM (Car Run begins at 9:30AM), starting at Miles Avenue Park and will proceed down Miles Avenue to Oasis Street and Wilson Avenue.

This year’s Parade Grand Marshal will be Mr. Tamale. American Legion Post 793 will post our nation’s colors. Members of the Indio City Council, led by Mayor Michael Wilson, will ride in the parade, as will many local government officials.

Special participants will include several local high school bands, drum lines, color guard and tall flag demonstrations as well as numerous Elementary schools will also take part in dance groups, football teams and other organized groups.

Santa will end the parade riding in an antique fire truck. In all, approximately 50 groups will be participating in the parade.

Those wishing to participate in the parade must complete a parade entry form in advance; please contact Kevaworks at 760-832-8620-ext. 46 or [email protected] by November 10, 2017.

KIDDIELAND/KIDS ZONE This special zone for children will feature free arts and crafts by SCRAP Gallery as well as Face Painting. Rides and games (nominal fee) will include rock climbing, bounce houses, a slide, an obstacle course, Sphere Runner, Simulator Flying, and The Living Desert W.O.W. (Wildlife on Wheels) animal program. ~more~

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BEST TAMALE CONTEST sponsored by Entravision Palm Springs Vendors will compete in the Best Tamale Contest at 12:00pm on Saturday, December 2nd on the Community Too Stage, located in the Artisan’s Corner at the corner of Miles Avenue and Smurr Street. Well known tamale makers including last year’s overall winner, Que Mami Organics, participate in the contest. A panel of ten judges, including local radio and TV personalities will select first and second place winners for nonprofit and commercial vendors in “gourmet” and “traditional” categories. Winning vendors will each receive a trophy to display. Master of ceremonies for the contest is KMIR’s very own Manny the Movie Guy.

BEST TAMALE CONTEST FLAVORED BY TABASCO® SAUCE New to the Festival! Vendors will flavor meat, masa or salsa with Tabasco® sauces; original red, green and chipotle. Contest is at 12:00pm on Sunday, December 3rd on the Community Too Stage, located in the Artisan’s Corner at the corner of Miles Avenue and Smurr Street. A panel of six judges, including local radio and TV personalities, will select first and second place winners for each category. Winning vendors will each receive a trophy to display and cash prizes, $500 for First Place and $250 for Second Place, Best Overall adds another $500. Guests of the Festival will vote for People’s Choice, lists will be available for all vendors participating, stop by each booth for a free sample and vote!

TAMALE EATING CONTEST The annual tamale eating contest will be held following the Best Tamale Contest at 3:00pm on Saturday, December 2nd on the Community Too Stage. Two divisions to participate in; one for 18 and under and one for 19 and above. Contestants must consume as many tamales as possible within two and a half minutes. Tamales will be supplied by Rincon Norteño Restaurant in Indio.

The reigning 19 and above champion Charles G. Bill, Jr. was dethroned last year for the first time since 2009. He has already turned in his application to try and take back his title!

CARNIVAL RIDES Schoeppner Shows is bringing an array of family and adult rides to the festival, including Zipper, Gravitron, Tilt-a-Whirl, Cyclone, and Giant Slide. They will also have games and a food trailer with popcorn, cotton candy, hot dogs, and candy apples. The Carnival will be open Friday, December 1st from 5:00pm – 10:00pm and will end Sunday, December 3rd at 10:00pm. A Pay One Price pass (POP) is available for $30 and is good for one day. Ride prices are $1 per ticket and 24 tickets for $20. Pre-sale tickets will be available for $25 from various non-profit organizations; please contact Festival staff for names of groups.

5thANNUAL CAR SHOW O’Reilly Auto Parts will once again sponsor the car show. Approximately 50 showcase cars will take part in the opening parade and will then be displayed along Civic Center Mall and Towne Street for spectator viewing and judging. The public will vote on the best in seven categories, to include: Street Rod (up to 1959), Muscle Car, Sport, Truck and Low-Rider. The awards ceremony will be held on Saturday, December 2nd at 4:00pm on the Sunset Stage. To date, entries include ’32 roadsters, sedans, coupes and more.

Those wishing to participate in the Car Show must register in advance by contacting KevaWorks at 760832-8620 x 46 or [email protected] as soon as possible, as space is limited for first come, first served. more-

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INTERACTIVE ART AND CRAFT BEER GARDEN – PINATA STAGE New to the Festival – DJ2A Entertainment will sponsor the Piñata Stage, which will offer Karaoke, games, music, piñatas, and fun for all! Original art work, including painting, photography, sculpture, and textiles from at least 10 artists will be on display and for sale. Guests can enjoy craft beer selections and other tasty libations. Participate in our Interactive Art painting on canvas, to be presented to the City after Festival.

FLAVORING STATIONS BY TABASCO® SAUCE New to the Festival – Flavoring stations will be available at each Beer Garden to dress up Bloody Mary’s and Cheladas with sauces from Tabasco®. Check the map for Flavoring Stations throughout the Festival to flavor your food with Original Red, Green or Chipotle sauces provided by Tabasco.

FARMER’S MARKET Local produce from local growers, including dates and Napoli, will be on hand. Support our local growers and take home fresh fruits, plants/herbs and veggies.

ARTISAN’S CORNER Crafters will display their handmade works of art, such as metal art, painting, Christmas decorations and ornaments, decorative yard signs, wood carvings, jewelry, tie dyed clothing, and more. Crafts will be available for purchase both full days of the Festival. SHOPPING AND VENDOR BOOTHS There will be at least 250 booths representing over 150 vendors offering and/or selling foods such as ethnic specialties, hot dogs, roasted corn, and desserts; clothing and accessories; skincare products and aromatic oils, jewelry, music and more. Several featured vendors include Sutton Sunglasses, La Tortilla Oven, Nature’s Select Pet Food (pet supplies including natural food), Casa de Silvia, Vegan Tamales and Hawaiian fried SPAM wasabi. New this year, try lobster macaroni and cheese, flavored popcorn and cotton candy, as well as Old Fashion Soda cart, flavor your own soda onsite.

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT – Six stages New! Added Piñata Stage Live music, dancing, singing, and other diverse performances will be held on the Fiesta, Amigo, Sunset, Piñata, Community and Community Too! Stages.

Entertainers to include: Latin Legends – Thee Midniters and Tierra, Tejano Grammy Award Winner Shelly Lares, Bumptown, Mestizo LA Band, King Sol & The Vibes, Adrian Crush and Elaband, Grupo Uniko, Flashback Boyz, Steve Justice performing “Rat Pack Era”, The OCD Band, and many others. Local community groups include Tough Guys & Gals Do Dance, Folklorico Sol Del Desierto, Kidz Rock, Mariachi Nuevo Amanacer and Indio Dance Club to name a few.

Join us for our Salsa Dance Contest, Saturday, December 2nd at 2:45 on the Amigo Stage. Partners will display fancy footwork and hip movement with the sounds of Tierra. Join Shelly Lares, Latin Grammy award winner for best Tejano album, for line dancing on Sunday, December 3rd at 3:30PM at the Amigo Stage.
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On the grounds, daily of the Festival; Gilbert the Juggler will amaze guests with high flying items such as balls, clubs or rings, Mariachi groups will perform in the streets as well as various other costumed performers for your entertainment. “IEHP Rad Rider” bicycle stunt show “superheroes” will demonstrate fancy twists, turns and airborne flips off of a ramp (sponsored by Inland Empire Health Plan). In their shows, stunt cyclists reenact the Motor City comic book scenes in a musical skit and demonstrate safety tips to kids. The shows also feature BMX bike stunts and jumps to thrill the crowd and promote the ‘coolness’ of wearing helmets.

(http://www.radrider.com/meet-rad/safetyprog). Saturday, December 2nd at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm – Bliss Avenue and Smurr Street.

A complete list of entertainment will be provided upon request.

PHOTO FRAME- SOCIAL MEDIA OPPORTUNITES New to the Festival – Follow the map and find “photo ops” to post on social media. Eight (8) fun, Festival photo frames will be placed throughout the grounds for photo taking, sharing and memorializing the weekend. Don’t forget to tag the Festival…#ITTF, #IndioTamaleFest and more.

CITY OF INDIO TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY Join City Council and special dignitaries as the City of Indio lights the traditional Christmas tree at City Hall, Saturday, December 2nd at 5:00 PM. Santa will be on hand for photos and some children will win carnival wristbands, treat bags for all! FREE TO THE PUBLIC

Sponsorships and volunteers are welcome and appreciated. For more information, please contact KevaWorks, Inc. at 760-832-8620-ext. 46 or [email protected].

Complete Festival details, schedules, and event history may be found online at: http://www.tamalefestival.net. #