OXNARD, California– Families, friends and neighbors are invited to ring in the holiday season at the City of Oxnard’s 10th annual Tamale Festival on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in downtown Oxnard at Plaza Park, 500 S. C St. The festival will feature live entertainment, arts and crafts, family fun and, of course, mouthwatering tamales.

This year’s festival features 14 booths offering tamales–from the traditional savory and sweet, to some not seen at the event before. Perhaps the most unique will be the special fusion tamales created for the festival by The Flip Side, blending Filipino and Mexican tastes into one dish. Those who like Tex-Mex food might look for La Luz del Mundo’s tamales with frijoles con queso. Me Gusta Gourmet Tamales will bring corunda tamales. From the Michoacan region of Mexico, they are wrapped in leaves instead of corn husks and often come without a filling. Tacos, sopes, flautas, kettle corn, huaraches, Filipino food, Hawaiian fruit, and other foods will also be available.

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The fun-filled event features several family-friendly activities:

• Best Tamale Contest – Participants must bring a dozen tamales along with the contest application no later than 1:30 p.m. on the day of the event. The application can be downloaded at www.oxnardtamalefestival.com/contests and will be available at the event. There is no cost to enter. About 20 entries will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Local judges will taste the tamales and crown the winners of the “best savory tamale,” “best sweet tamale” and “best overall tamale.
• Youth can enjoy adrenaline-pumping fun as well as arts and crafts in the kids zone. New this year is the 805 Game Truck, a mobile gaming truck with PS4 console and Xbox. Other kids zone fun includes an inflatable pool water roller, human hamster balls on land, pirate adventure playhouse, and air tunnels-indoor parachute attraction.
• Santa will be on hand for pictures!
• Stop by the arts and crafts booths, and non-profit information booths.
• Enjoy live entertainment organized by Lazer Broadcasting Corp., La Sonora Explosive, The Road Brothers, Herencia Privada, Angelo Arce & the Cousins Band, Jonatan Sanchez and La Mar-K de Tierra Caliente.

The 2017 Tamale Festival, www.oxnardtamalefestival.com, is organized by City of Oxnard’s Cultural and Community Services Department staff and volunteers. The presenting sponsor is Lazer Broadcasting Corp. with additional sponsorships from California Lutheran University, the Law Offices of Paul Kinsler, Clinicas del Camino Real, Premier America, CBC Credit Union, Ventura County Deputy Sheriff’s Association and Dignity Health.

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