Nov. 01
Tamale Contest 1 pm
Attention all food enthusiasts and talented chefs! Get ready to showcase your culinary skills at the highly anticipated Tamale Festival. If you have a tamale recipe that will leave taste buds craving more, this is your chance to shine! With five expert judges ready to savor every bite, we’re looking for the best tamales in town. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a passionate home cook, bring your A-game and compete for the title of Best Tamale! Don’t miss out on the fun, flavor, and bragging rights. Join us and share your tamale masterpiece with the world!
Tamale Contest Entry Form
(note: must be a vendor at event to enter tamale contest)
Wag & Woof Costume Contest 2 pm
Calling all pet lovers! Get your furry friends ready for the Wag & Woof Contest at the Tamale Festival on November 1st. This is your chance to dress up your adorable animals in their cutest, funniest, or most creative costumes. Whether you have a Chihuahua, a big dog with a small dog attitude, or any other fabulous pet, we want to see them strut their stuff on stage. From playful pups to feisty felines, let your animals steal the show and compete for fun prizes. It’s all about paws, claws, and costumes—so don’t miss out on the tail-wagging excitement! Sign up at the USA Multicultural Canopy (red/white/blue 10×20 canopy) and check in. Contest starts at 2 pm on the stage!
Please print out form, fill out and scan back to Sohaila01@gmail.com or bring to USA Multicultural booth (red, white, blue 10×20 canopy) at event.
Beer Stein Contest 3 pm
🍺 Beer Stein Showdown! 🍺
Think you’ve got the strongest arm and the steadiest hand in the beer garden? Prove it at our Beer Stein Holding Contest at 3 PM! Grab a full stein, hold it high, and outlast the competition — no shaking, no spilling, no mercy. The last one standing wins a FREE BEER and eternal bragging rights! Gather your friends, bring your best game face, and meet us by the taps for some frothy fun and fierce competition. Cheers to strength, stamina, and suds! 🍻 Meet in the Beer Garden by 2:45 pm!
Tamale Contest Judges
Mitzi Brigitte Guevara
Entreprenuer
I am the proud owner of Donutgram, a beloved local donut shop I opened five years ago with a passion for creativity, connection, and community. Before dedicating myself full-time to small business ownership, I spent over a decade serving others through my work at Neighborhood Healthcare in Escondido and TrueCare in San Marcos, experiences that deepened my love for people and my community. A true foodie at heart, I enjoy celebrating local culture, flavors, and traditions—
Brittany Contreras
Executive Chef
I have been an executive chef for over 15 years, and my passion for food began at a very young age. I realized early on that I could bring joy to my loved ones through food, and many of my fondest memories involve cooking and laughing in the kitchen with my family and grandparents. After high school, I had the opportunity to attend culinary school and achieved a degree in Culinary Arts. Outside of my professional life, I enjoy outdoor activities on the water with my fiancé and our 10-year-old daughter.
Lucy
Restaurant Owner
Lucy, proud owner of El Tejate, a renowned Oaxacan restaurant, began her journey 20 years ago at the Escondido swap meet with her husband and three children. Through hard work and passion, she grew a small food stand into two thriving restaurants in Escondido and Carlsbad. Her dedication to authentic Oaxacan cuisine and community has made El Tejate one of San Diego County’s most recognized Mexican restaurants.