One of the Mississippi Delta’s favorite festivals is up for a national honor.
The Greenville-based Delta Hot Tamale Festival, which takes place the third weekend of every October, has been nominated for “Best Specialty Food Festival” as part of USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
“As the ‘Hot Tamale Capital of the World,’ Greenville proudly pays homage to its signature dish, the Delta-style hot tamale – a traditionally Latin dish infused with African, Italian, and Native American influences – with this annual October festival,” USA Today editors wrote. “The festivities feature a ticketed Welcome Dinner, plenty of live music, 150-plus food and craft vendors, a hot tamale eating contest, a cooking competition, and the ever-popular Flavors of the Festival tour. It’s a weekend full of flavor, fun, and family – full of Southern hospitality.”
The Delta Hot Tamale Festival is vying against other similar festivals such as the Beignet Festival in New Orleans, the Boston Pizza Festival, the Georgia Peach Festival, the National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores, Ala., and the Oregon Chocolate Festival, among others.
Voting is open now and until March 2 at 11 a.m. CT. Participants can vote once per day for the duration of the contest. Winners will be announced on March 11. Click here to vote.
