Casino Del Sol Celebrates 20th Annual Tucson Tamal & Heritage Festival
Saturday, December 6, 2025 at AVA Amphitheater – Free & Open to the Public
TUCSON, AZ. – Casino Del Sol is proud to announce its 20th Tucson Tamal & Heritage Festival on Saturday, December 6, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the award-winning AVA Amphitheater.
A beloved Tucson tradition marking the start of the holiday season, the festival brings together more than 10,000 attendees each year for a celebration of culture, flavor, and community. Admission and parking are free.
The festival highlights the rich tastes, aromas, and variations of tamales from across the Southwest and Mexico, with dozens of vendors offering tamales, frybread, tacos, burritos, churros, aguas frescas, kettle corn, and more. Guests can also shop for unique holiday gifts from artisan and farmers market vendors featuring jewelry, beadwork, blankets, paintings, woodwork, jams, soaps, hats, chiles, and other handmade treasures.
Tamal Contest
The cornerstone of the festival is the Tamal Contest, judged by more than 50 community members and culinary experts. Participants compete in four categories: Traditional, Green Corn, Gourmet, and Sweet.
- 1st Place – $500
- 2nd Place – $300
- 3rd Place – $150
- Best Overall Tamal Winner – $750
How to enter: Contestants must be 18 or older and bring one dozen cooked tamales to the stage by 11 a.m. Contest begins at 12 p.m., with winners announced on stage at 4 p.m.
Live Entertainment & Cultural Performances
Guests can enjoy performances throughout the day, including Tejano acts, folklórico groups, Aztec dancers, mariachis, and Pascua Yaqui Tribe cultural dancers, creating an atmosphere that celebrates both tradition and community spirit.
Visuals for Media
- Dozens of tamal varieties and live judging at the noon contest
- Crowds of families enjoying tamales, frybread, tacos, and more
- Cultural dancers, musicians, and artisans showcasing their work
- Vendors offering handmade crafts and holiday gifts
Event Details
When: Saturday, December 6, 2025, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Where: AVA Amphitheater, 5655 W. Valencia Rd., Tucson, AZ 85757
Admission: Free & open to the public
For more information on becoming a vendor or entering the tamal contest, visit: https://www.casinodelsol.com/event/20th-tamal-festival.
###
MEDIA CONTACTS
On-Site Contact:
Veronica Vasquez
Veronica.Vasquez@casinodelsol.com | 520-324-9415
Media Inquiries:
Courtney Pulitzer
courtney@sandovalcreative.com | 520-903-2201 x112
Hispanic Media:
Laura Sepulveda
laurasepulvedaconsulting@gmail.com | 520-251-4902
About Casino Del Sol
Casino Del Sol is a AAA Four Diamond casino resort and one of the Best Hotels in Arizona as named by U.S. News & World Report. Owned and operated by the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Casino Del Sol is part of a diverse portfolio of enterprises that include SolSports, Tucson’s first retail sportsbook; Casino of the Sun; Estrella at Casino Del Sol, a 151-room hotel; AVA Amphitheater, a 5,000-seat open-air concert venue named Casino Arena/Amphitheater of the Year by the Casino Entertainment Awards; Sewailo Golf Club, a par-72 championship course designed by Notah Begay III; the 73-space Casino Del Sol RV Park; and the Del Sol Marketplace. For more information: 1-855-SOL-STAY (765-7829), www.CasinoDelSol.com, or follow on social media: @casinodelsol and @casinodelsolresort.
