Gilroy might be renowned for it’s stinking rose, but there’s more to the city than its cash crop.
El Charrito Market and the Community Agency for Resources, Advocacy and Services—known as CARAS—are hosting Gilroy’s first tamale festival and competition between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Oct. 19. Contestants will try their hand at wowing local judges with their tamales against a backdrop of live music and a classic car show.
And of course, those who show up to the free event on Monterey Street between Third and Fifth streets can buy some tamales of their own.
The concept for the festival was born during a conversation at El Charrito Market, according to one of the event’s organizers, Frank Hernandez. While discussing food with El Charrito’s owner, Hernandez said talk moved to food festivals and to the Garlic Festival.
“We wanted to have an annual event like the Garlic Festival, but one that would encourage more Hispanics to come,” he said. “The Garlic Festival bring people from all over, but that’s really the only event like that and it only happens once a year.”
When an employee nearby pointed out “a lot of people like tamales,” the idea was sold.
“We thought it would be a good way to bring people from all around Gilroy,” Hernandez said, explaining that attendees can get a taste of tamales from across Mexico. “Knowing the volume (of tamales) El Charrito sells and coming close to the festivities of winter, we thought it would be a good time for an event and motivate citizens to participate.”
A portion of the proceeds from the festival will go towards the Gilroy Unified School District, according to Hernandez.
-The inaugural Tamale Festival and Competition will take place between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Oct. 19 on Monterey Street between Third and Fifth streets. Admission is free. For more information, to sign up as a contestant in the tamale competition or register as a vendor, call the Community Agency for Resources, Advocacy and Services at (408) 842-7898. The CARAS office is located at 8545 Monterey Road, Suite A-next to the Gilroy Compassion Center.
-To register for the car and motorcycle show or for more information, call (408) 315-0854 or email [email protected]. The first 40 cars to enter will be in the running for a $50 raffle.
