A Reimagined Indio International Tamale Festival returns
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, October 28th, 2021
A Reimagined Indio International Tamale Festival returns to Downtown Indio December 4th & 5th, 2021
The City of Indio Presents
Indio International Tamale Festival
Downtown Indio
100 Civic Center Mall, Indio, CA 92201
Free Admission, All Ages
Hours: Saturday 10 AM – 7:00 PM & Sunday 10 AM - 5:00 PM
A CALL TO VENDORS
Now accepting Food, Retail & Entertainment Vendor Applications
PERFORMANCES AND ATTRACTIONS TO ANNOUNCE
Friday, November 5th at 10 AM PT
Text “TAMALE” to 888-760-0017
For Updates
The City of Indio, in partnership with CUSP Agency, is pleased to announce the 29th Annual Indio International Tamale Festival in Downtown Indio. Over the first weekend of December, the reimagined festival, set for 10 AM to 7 PM on Saturday, and 10 AM to 5 PM on Sunday, will bring in tens of thousands of food lovers, and hundreds of vendors.
New for 2021, the City of Indio has partnered with experiential agency, CUSP, and its founding producer, Gopi Sangha, to elevate and enhance Tamale Festival through 2023. This partnership and joint-investment into the community experience will bring the festival a fresh creative vision spanning: branding, décor, musical bookings, food and beverage curation, attractions and more. These booking and production efforts draw on Sangha’s tenured experience producing and contributing to music festivals locally and nationally for over fifteen years including: Coachella, Stagecoach, Tachevah, Splash House and more.
“The return of the Indio International Tamale Festival to the center stage of the desert shows our desire to bring world-class events into our local community,” said Indio Mayor Elaine Holmes. “We are excited to take this year’s event to another level.”
Sangha commented on the historic festival,
“It is an incredible honor to produce for the residents of Indio and the Coachella Valley. A community which ignited and inspired our careers in producing major festivals. We are enthusiastic about reestablishing the Tamale Festival as a marquee cultural event in the region and using it as a platform to highlight local creators.”
The refreshed Indio International Tamale Festival will continue to feature old favorites such as handmade tamales, competitions for best tamale and tamale eating, carnival rides, and a car show. Fans can also expect new festivities including curated food areas featuring Tamales, Signature Cocktails and Micheladas. Musical bookings will span English and Spanish language performers, featuring both touring favorites and local features. A new Mercado will bring hand crafts, merchandise, art and a farmers market to the event. Family friendly attractions will expand to include luchador wrestlers and “The World's Biggest Bounce House” by Big Bounce America. The Tamale Festival will continue to provide a rich multicultural and multi-generational experience complemented by holiday shopping for a wonderful day spent amongst family and friends.
All local and regional vendors, returning and new, are encouraged to participate by submitting their applications on the festival website. Applications to participate are due by Friday, November 12th at 5 PM.
Since Tamale Festival’s first iteration in 1992, families and fans have lined up yearly for the widest variety of handmade tamales to be found anywhere in the world. In December of 2000, the festival made the Guinness Book of World Records for its record attendance of 120,000 people. Voted as one of Food Network’s Top 10 All-American Food Festivals, the much loved event is a favorite of locals and tourists alike.
Admission to the event is free, and parking is available at the County's Administration Building, Larson Justice Center, on the corner of Highway 111 and Oasis Street. Free shuttles will be provided.
ABOUT CITY OF INDIO
The City of Indio is the largest and fastest growing city in the Coachella Valley with more than 90,000 residents. Nearly 1.4 million people visit Indio every year to attend its world famous arts, food, and music festivals, and the city is ranked as one of the top emerging travel destinations in the country. With nationally recognized public safety services, exceptional schools, great parks and senior and teen centers, no wonder more than 2,700 new housing units are in construction or being planned throughout the City, in addition to new hotels, restaurants and retailers. Indio was the first city incorporated in the Coachella Valley on May 16, 1930, and is the traditional gathering place of the desert, bearing the fruit of cultural exchange and youthful energy.
ABOUT CUSP AGENCY
CUSP is an experiential marketing agency dedicated to enhancing live experiences. CUSP produces both digital and live events, with a focus on driving fan engagement and connectivity. The agency works in service to brands and producers of music festivals and events nationwide including: Coachella, Splash House, Something in the Water and Los Angeles Football Club. Based in Los Angeles with frequent operations in the Coachella Valley, CUSP seeks to expand its relationship with the patrons and communities of the desert.
HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS
All vendors are required to have a negative test or proof of vaccination. All vendors are required to wear a face mask throughout operations. Additional hand-washing, sanitization, and masks will be available for public attendees. All vendors and attractions will operate in open-air environments, however all attendees should arrive masked and evaluate their risk in determining whether to attend the festival.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Festival Contact:
Kiersten Nagata, Makreting Director
760-315-7469
kiersten@crowdcontroldigital.com
City of Indio Contact:
Brooke Beare, Dir. of Communications & Marketing
(760) 574-7886