Nov. 08th
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
Marco Favela
Entreprenuer
Marco Favela is a Mexican-American content creator and co-host of Porque Because Podcast, based in Escondido. Born in Mexicali and raised in Escondido, Marco brings humor, cultural pride, and a passion for connecting his community through conversations and local stories.
Alicia Moreno
Entrepreneur
Alicia Moreno is a long-time Escondido resident. She went to Lincoln Elementary, Grant Middle and Escondido High School. In the last 30 years she has run three businesses here in our community. Alicia dines regularly here in Escondido and considers herself a foodie. She has more that 1,000 online dining reviews on Google, Yelp and Facebook business pages
Suzie Castro
Social Media Influencer and Singer
Susie Castro is simultaneously famous as a mainstream singer and primary Tik Tok influencer. She is from Chalma, Veracruz Mexico and lives in San Diego.