City of Atascadero Presents the Winners of the 9th ANNUAL Tamale Festival!

The City of Atascadero 9th Annual Tamale Festival had over 140 vendors in attendance with over twenty-five vendors specializing in tamales of all kinds from our local restaurants, as well as from across California!

Each year, the festival hosts a “Best Tamale” Contest, a Tamale Eating Contest, and a Chihuahua & Pet Costume Contest! Following are the results:

BEST TAMALE CONTEST

Best Overall Tamale – Super Tamales, San Jose, CA

TRADITIONAL TAMALE WINNERS:
1st Place – Super Tamales, San Jose
2nd Place – The Original Tamale Company, Pacoima
3rd Place – Mama Nichi, La Luz del Mundo, Visalia

GOURMET TAMALE WINNERS:
1st Place – Savina’s Gourmet Tamales, Santa Maria
2nd Place – La Luz del Mundo, Visalia
3rd Place – Tamale Café, San Fernadno

TAMALE EATING CONTEST

Winners (12 & Over):
1st Place - Aspen Martin
2nd Place – Sabina Fernandez-Lopez

Winners (11 & Under):
1st Place – Roman Leon
2nd Place – Gabby Castaneda

CHIHUAHUA & PET COSTUME CONTEST!

• Trophy ~ Best Overall:  Lulu – the 4th of July Baby! Owner Jose Reynoso
• 1st Place ~ Best Costume: Tacoma, Owner, Cris Murillo
• 2nd Place ~ Look Alike: Goodie & Owner, Julie Ritchie
• Honorable Mention ~ Noodle, the Turkish Van Cat – Owner Devin Swearingen

The City of Atascadero sends out a sincere thank you to this year’s sponsors: Platinum Sponsors: Central Coast Carts, Glenn’s Rental & Repair, and Mechanics Bank; Gold Sponsor: Avila Traffic Safety; Silver Sponsors: MGP Coatings, Springhill Suites by Marriott, AM Sun Solar, Waste Management, Kirk Consulting; Bronze Sponsors: Kenneth’s Heating & air, Leaf filter systems, Street Side Ale House & Eatery, 5 Star Rain Gutters, Latino Business Council and Hispanic Business Association.

Special thanks to Medina Light Show Designs - Manuel Medina; Emcee Francisco Ramirez; the Famous Dancing Horses; Manuel Enrique Ranchero Artist & his Horse; Mariachi Voces Tapatias,  Steppin Out Band, Brass Mash Band, Dante Marsh & The Vibe Setters, Sound Tech Rich Rolson; Friends of the Charles Paddock Zoo; all tamale tasting judges, pet judges and our amazing team of volunteers, vendors who traveled here from all over California and to all of our local breweries, wineries, and cideries who participated!

Thank you to everyone for making our 9th Annual Tamale Festival a success!  Save the date: Friday & Saturday, May 1st & 2nd, 2026!