Fantasy Springs Resort Casino Serves as Presenting Sponsor
The countdown is on for the 22nd Annual Indio International Tamale Festival coming up this weekend on Friday, December 6, 5:00pm – 10:00pm (Carnival only this day); Saturday, December 7, 10:00am – 6:00pm (Carnival open until 10:00pm); and Sunday, December 8, 10:00am – 6:00pm (Carnival open until 10:00pm). The Festival will take place Old Town Indio between Highway 111 and Indio Boulevard, occupying the streets of Miles, Towne, Smurr and Requa.
The Festival is produced by KevaWorks, Inc., in partnership with host sponsor, the City of Indio. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino will serve as the official presenting sponsor, as they have since 1999.
Other key sponsors include: Budweiser, Union Pacific, Riverside County Fair, IEHP (Inland Empire Health Plan), Forest Lawn, Southern California Ford, Blue Shield of California, Metro PCS, and Desert Resort Security Services, Inc.
Media sponsors include:
-KMIR6 and KPSE My 13
-KESQ News Channel 3, CBS Local 2, Telemundo KUNA 15, and La Poderosa KUNA 96.7 FM
-Univision KVER Channel 4, UniMás KEVC-CA Channel 5, and José 94.7 KLOB FM
-The Eagle 106.9 FM
-The Oasis 95.9 FM KAJR
-EZ 103.1 FM KEZN
-Jammin’ 99.5 FM KMRJ
-U-92.7 FM KKUU and 93.7 FM KCLB
Admission into the Festival is FREE, and family-friendly activities, arts and crafts booths, and live entertainment are geared for all ages and community interests. 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 there will also be a tamale eating contest.
At least 125,000 people are expected to attend the two day celebration which begins with a parade on Saturday morning. Performances will be featured on four stages.
Free parking is available at Riverside County’s Administration Building at the Larson Justice Center on the corner of Highway 111 and Oasis Street. Public parking is also available on various streets around downtown Indio. Free shuttle services are provided by Lin Lines to all festival visitors from the Larson Justice Center. SunLine Transit bus routes include stops close to the Festival grounds.
Complete information on the Tamale Festival can be found at: http://www.tamalefestival.net.
DETAILED TAMALE FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES:
PARADE
The annual City of Indio parade will begin at 10:00am on Saturday, December 7th, at Miles Avenue.
This year’s Parade Grand Marshal will be Timothy Bradley, Jr., the current WBO welterweight champion and former WBO and two-time WBC junior welterweight champion.
Bands will compete for first and second place in both high school and middle school categories as well a high performance and high music.
Mayor Mike Wilson (who will be sworn in as Indio’s new Mayor this week), members of the Indio City Council, youth cheer groups, Healing Horses, Indio Police Department, Car Show participants will all ride in the parade, with Santa Claus riding a 100 foot ladder fire truck to finish the parade. Awards will be presented following the parade at the Fiesta Stage by Grand Marshal Timothy Bradley, Jr. and Mayor Wilson.
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 lhartley@kevaworks.com as soon as possible.
BEST TAMALE AND TAMALE EATING CONTEST
Vendors will compete in the Best Tamale Contest at 12:30pm on Saturday, December 7th on the Fiesta Stage. Well known tamale makers including Grandma Lupe will participate again. A panel of ten judges, including boxing champ Timothy Bradley, Jr., KUNA TV Telemundo 15 anchor Hernan Quintas, KMIR6’s Manny de la Rosa (Manny the Movie Guy), and local “great-great grandmother” tamale maker Lala Escobedo, will select first and second place winners for nonprofit and commercial vendors in “gourmet” and “traditional” categories. Vendors will each receive a trophy and a cash prize.
Both adults and children may compete in the Tamale Eating Contest, where the hungry person to consume the most tamales in a certain time period will win. Tamales will be supplied by Rincon Norteño Restaurant in Indio.
KIDDIELAND
This special zone for children will feature pony rides provided by the non-profit organization Healing Horses (http://www.healinghorsescv.org). Children will also be able to pet and feed the horses. Rides and games will include rock climbing, PGA golf, bounce houses, a slide, an obstacle course, Sphere Runner, Simulator Flying, and The Living Desert W.O.W. (Wildlife on Wheels) animal program.
CARNIVAL RIDES
Butler Amusements 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 6th from 5:00pm – 10:00pm and will end Sunday, December 8th at 10:00pm. A Pay One Price pass (POP) is available for $20 and is good for one day. Ride prices are $1 per ticket; 25 tickets for $23; 80 tickets for $70 (all rides require between 3-5 coupons each).
Butler Amusements, Inc. was started 42 years ago and is the largest carnival company in the Western United States, providing carnivals for over 125 different events each year. (http://www.butleramusements.com).
SHOPPING AND VENDOR BOOTHS
There will be at least 200 booths representing over 150 vendors offering and/or selling foods such as ethnic specialties, hot dogs, roasted corn, and desserts; clothing and accessories including the return of the Moncayo Family displaying Hawaiian shirts and dresses; arts and crafts including wood works, jewelry, music, toys, and the return of Mike Zapata, known for creating art on grains of rice. A new feature this year will be “Pains All Gone”, a therapeutic massage station using natural and aromatic oils.
“Support Our Troops Ranch” will be selling patriotic goods with all proceeds benefitting wounded soldiers. Nuovaterra will be on hand with six varieties of vinaigrette produced and bottled in southern California. Corium 21 will display their popular aloe vera based skin cream.
INAUGURAL CAR SHOW – New this year!
Showcase cars will take part in the opening parade and will then be displayed along Requa Street for spectator viewing and judging. The public will vote on the best in seven categories, to include: Pre-War Restored, Post-War Restored, Street Rod (up to 1959), Muscle Car, Sport, Truck and Low-Rider. The awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, December 8th at 3:00pm on the Fiesta Stage.
ART AND WINE GARDEN – New this year!
Original art work, including painting, photography, sculpture, and textiles from at least 25 artists will be on display and for sale. Guests can enjoy wine tasting in the wine lounge, and beer from Coachella Valley Brewery will also be available. Those wishing to display and sell their art must complete an application form in advance; please contact KevaWorks at 760-832-8620-ext. 46 or lhartley@kevaworks.com as soon as possible.
FOOD TRUCK ALLEY – New this year!
Approximately a dozen food trucks will offer a wide variety of cuisine, including California Grill Truck, Kogi Korean BBQ, Tornado Potato, Always Cookin’ BBQ, The Sweet Stop, Steamy Bun Truck, Bakery Truck, and Chunk and Chip (Ice cream with cookie outside). Mariachi music and local high school drum lines will provide entertainment for guests, and seating will be available.
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Live music, dancing, singing, and other diverse performances will be held on the Fiesta, Amigo, Sunset, and Community stages. There will also be a karaoke contest.
Entertainers will include: Fito Olivares Y Su Grupo (headliner), The L.A. Rhythm Kings, Steve Justice “Rat Pack,” St. Mary’s Ballet Folklorico, Olive Crest Academy, Battle of the DJ’s, and many others.
“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).
Sponsorships and volunteers are welcome and appreciated. For more information, please contact KevaWorks, Inc. at 760-832-8620-ext. 46 or lhartley@kevaworks.com.
Complete Festival details, schedules, and event history may be found online at: http://www.tamalefestival.net.
