Diana Ortega stays calm and serves up tamales at the Gusta Gourmet Tamales booth during the La Habra Tamale Festival on Saturday, December 2, 2023. The company featured unique flavors like egg nog, guava, and strawberry to name a few. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Lorrie Meisenhelder, left, and Stella Cabral dance to the music of Suave during the 10th annual Tamale Festival in La Habra on Saturday, December 2, 2023. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ismael Frias with Award Winning Tamales serves up some pork tamales during the 10th annual Tamale Festival in La Habra on Saturday, December 2, 2023. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
One-year-old Maverick Valdez enjoys sweat corn tamales served to him by his mom, Kelly, during the 10th annual Tamale Festival in La Habra on Saturday, December 2, 2023. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Gusta Gourmet Tamale booth features unique flavors of tamales like egg nog, guava, and strawberry to name a few at the La Habra Tamale Festival on Saturday, December 2, 2023. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A couple of curious alpacas cause 20-month-old Penelope Luz to hold tight to her mother, Areli, at the petting zoo during the La Habra Tamale Festival on Saturday, December 2, 2023. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Children enjoy a friendly ride on a roller coaster during the La Habra Tamale Festival on Saturday, December 2, 2023.
(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Naylah Araiza, 4, gets dad supervision from Joe Araiza as she makes tamales with panela cheese during the 10th annual Tamale Festival in La Habra on Saturday, December 2, 2023. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Vendors serve up food, including plenty of tamales, during the
10th annual Tamale Festival in La Habra on
Saturday, December 2, 2023. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Diana Ortega stays calm and serves up tamales at the Gusta Gourmet Tamales booth during the La Habra Tamale Festival on Saturday, December 2, 2023. The company featured unique flavors like egg nog, guava, and strawberry to name a few. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Lorrie Meisenhelder, left, and Stella Cabral dance to the music of Suave during the 10th annual Tamale Festival in La Habra on Saturday, December 2, 2023. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
For a decade, La Habra has made it easy to stock up on tamales for the holiday.
The annual La Habra Tamale Festival was held Saturday, with visitors filling up on the tasty treats as well as holiday cheer.
The festival has grown in the last 10 years and now fills two downtown parks and stretches along Euclid Street. There were three stages of entertainment with bands and dance groups performing as well as a children’s activities, a community tree lighting, pictures with Santa Claus, shopping and of course all the tamales for sale.
Missed the opportunity to fill your plate? Placentia’s Tamale Festival will be 4 to 10 p.m. Dec. 7 along 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.
