Brooklyn Estrada’s dog, Simba, is more interested in tasting a chicharron tamale than she is during the La Habra Tamale Festival on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. Her great grandfather, Danny Martinez, said the tamale was too spicy for her liking but he was enjoying it. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Steaming pots holding tamales by the pounds awaited crowds Saturday who eagerly bought the holiday staples by the dozens at the annual Tamale Festival in La Habra.
Along with stocking up for the weeks ahead, visitors tasted the savory and sweet tamales vendors were selling as they listened to live entertainment throughout the day and wandered the festival that has become a popular tradition in the city’s downtown. In the evening, the city hosted its tree-lighting ceremony.
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Alma Marquez-Guerra works the Nothgate Market booth during the La Habra tamale Festival on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
An offering of veggie, blueberry and pinnapple tamales are steamed and ready to go at the Original Tamale Co. booth during the La Habra Tamale Festival on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. People waited in line up to an hour to purchase them. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Eunice “Mama Nichi” Lopez shows off the “Best Savory Tamale” trophy she and her church group won for their pork with red sauce at the La Habra Tamale Festival on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. The group serves up 3,000 tamales for the event and all the recipes are created by her. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The annual one-day La Habra Tamale Festival features tamales, of course, and other food items and entertainment on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Christian Ortega serves tamales from the Original Tamale Co. booth during the one-day La Habra Tamale Festival on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. People waited in line up to an hour to purchase them. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
An interesting cat slinks around at the La Habra Tamale Festival where Casper Bryant promotes the Phantom Projects Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. The Cat in the Hat will be showing there Dec. 6 through Dec. 15. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Tamales, other food items and cold drinks, from the Los Colorines booth, are offered during the La Habra Tamale Festival on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Brooklyn Estrada enjoys a cold drink at the hot La Habra Tamale Festival on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Tamales a piping hot at the Award Winning Tamales booth during the La Habra Tamale Festival on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sandy Aldana serves tamales from the Original Tamale Co. booth during the one-day La Habra Tamale Festival on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. People waited in line up to an hour to purchase them. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Brooklyn Estrada’s dog, Simba, is more interested in tasting a chicharron tamale than she is during the La Habra Tamale Festival on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. Her great grandfather, Danny Martinez, said the tamale was too spicy for her liking but he was enjoying it. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Alma Marquez-Guerra works the Nothgate Market booth during the La Habra tamale Festival on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Didn’t get the memo? You have another chance to fill your fridge and tummies at the Placentia Tamale Festival, which is celebrating 30 years on Thursday, Dec. 12.
The festival will be open 4 to 10 p.m. on the 100-200 block of Santa Fe Street and the 200 block of Bradford Avenue in Old Town Placentia.
A variety of tamales may be purchased from downtown restaurants and there will be live entertainment, a visit by Santa Claus and a craft beer garden. Information: placentiatamalefestival.org
