Tamales!!!: The 4th Annual LA Tamale Festival & Dia de los Muertos (10/31-11/2)

For those of you who've always wanted to see the festivities behind Dia de los Muertos, let's check this out. Over 55,000+ people are expected to attend this free festival! I know you want to catch the alter making contest!

What is Dia de los Muertos: Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead is the Mexican celebration of All Souls Day. Traditions include caring for the graves of family members, building elaborate altars to loved ones who have passed on and celebrating the dead with processions, dances and music. Calaveras, or skulls show up in masks, costumes, paper maché puppets, and candy, including sugar skulls that children decorate for the day. Every Mexican community in LA has their own festivities, from family events at local cemeteries to neighborhood block parties.

What's this festival about?: It's all about the tamale. From tamale eating contest to cook-offs and demos, you'll be in tamale heaven! Throw in an interesting altar making contest at 4pm on opening day (Friday) and you have one helleva interesting event!

When: Oct 31st-Nov 2nd (Fri-Sun)
Friday 3pm - 8pm
Saturday 10am - 9pm
Sunday 11am - 6pm

Where:
MacArthur Park - Mama's Hot Tamales Café
(2122 West 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90057
between Parkview & Alvarado Street on 7th Street)

How much: FREE!

Activities:
* Tamale Cook-off
* Altar Making Contest
* Art & Crafts Booths
* Best Commercial Tamale Contest & Best Homemade Tamale Contest
* Tamale Eating Contest
* Tamale Making Demo
* Commercial Booths
* Non-profit Booths
* Kids Zone
* Free Entertainment

More pictures:

Thanks, Mary Seibert, for the tip! Let's go together!

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