The 2019 Delta Hot Tamale Festival is just days away and if folks hadn’t already, now is as good of a time as any to purchase tickets for the three-day, fun and flavor-filled event.
With all of the notoriety the festival has gained over the previous years, festival goers can look forward to this year’s festival being even better than last year’s, which says a lot.
People from all over the country travel in droves of thousands to attend to not only eat delicious tamales, but become involved in community fellowship and honoring the traditions and history of the Mississippi Delta.
When the festival’s king and queen, Jack Jackson and Betty Lynn Cameron, were crowned last month, Greater Greenville Housing & Main Street CEO Daniel Boggs made sure to preface his announcement with the fact the honor goes to someone who has gone above and beyond giving back to the Greenville community and has been a great ambassador for the community.
This year, the festival kicks off 6 p.m. Thursday at the Belmont Plantation for the Literary/Culinary Mash-Up Welcome Dinner. The evening entails the company of a stellar lineup of authors, artists, and chefs who will also be on hand to sell and sign their books while guests enjoy great music, hors d’oeuvres and libations.
A sit down, three-course plated Italian Farm-to-Table Supper on Belmont’s gorgeous grounds will follow shortly after.
This year, an amazing team of chefs is made up of multiple New Orleans restaurant stars, including: Stephen Stryjewski of the Link Restaurant Group, Jason Goodenough of Carrollton Market, and Rebecca Wilcomb of Gianna. They will be joined by the Delta’s own Cole Ellis of Delta Meat Market fame and Hugh Balthrop of Sweet Magnolia Gelato, among other culinary stars.
Guests can look forward to a brief live auction, after-dinner dancing, and lots of Delta-style fun.
Tickets for the event are $185 and can be purchased online at mainstreetgreenville.com.
At 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, is the Literary/Culinary Mash-Up Panel Discussion and Luncheon being held at the Jake and Freda Stein Hall, E. E. Bass Auditorium. This event consists of four panel discussions including author Roy Blount, Jr., actress and photographer Jessica Lange, artists John Alexander and William Dunlap, and many more. Lunch will feature Delta tamales from last year’s grand champion and other festive treats. The panelists’ books — as well as signature Bloody Marys and Mint Juleps will be on sale, and the authors will be on hand for signings. Tickets for this event are $60.
Also, at 3:15 p.m. Friday, trail markers for two Mississippi writers, Shelby Foote and Walker Percy, will be unveiled in front of E.E. Bass Auditorium.
From 6-9 p.m. Friday night, there will be two open air concerts in downtown Greenville held simultaneously.
The first stage will be set up in the parking lot of Downtown Grille with Good Paper of Reverend Robert Mortimer performing.
Kern Pratt will be performing in the courtyard of Greenville Inn and Suites on Walnut Street.
Admission for both concerts is free but no outside coolers are allowed. There will be a variety of beverages available for purchase.
The festivities will conclude with the always anticipated Flavors of the Festival, beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday along Washington Avenue and Stein Mart Square.
For $25, festival goers get a chance to sample the different tamales on tap from former and present winners of the Frank Carlton Hot Tamale Cooking Contest along with a sampling of craft beer to compliment their tamale tasting. Three seating times for festival goers’ convenience are 11 a.m., 12 p.m., and 1p.m. at The Leyser Gallery, 303 Washington Ave.
At 1 p.m. on the Jim’s Cafe Stage at Jim’s Cafe, a country music trail marker for artist Steve Azar will be unveiled and will conclude at 1:20 p.m.
Festival goers can look forward to a myriad of hot tamale vendors as well as local arts and crafts vendors. In addition, there will be a wide variety live music and contests for kids adults — Hot Tamale Cooking Contest, Kids Art Contest, Celebrity Chef Competition, and Infinite Concepts Hot Tamale Eating Contest.
The entertainment line-up includes Jonathan Tyler and The Northern Lights, Ray Boudreaux, Gravy, Ferd Mouse, Ron Ethridge, Raymond Longoria, Delta String Band, Pharm Truck, Michael Dennis and Jazz Persuasion.
Added to the musical entertainment line-up for Saturday are Aubrey Holman and Terry “Harmonica” Beans. From 3:50-5 p.m., Holman will perform on the Planters Bank Stage and “Harmonica” Beans on the Jim’s Cafe Stage.
For more information about the Delta Hot Tamale Festival, visit mainstreetgreenville.com.
