Tamal Fiesta y Más 2013 held Saturday

The 2013 Tamal Fiesta took place on a breezy, chilly day. A good day for a hot tamal, no?

LInes formed at the food stands, and people sat at tables or on curbs to partake of tamales, smothered or not.

Mariachi Rosas del Desierto of Deming and Mariachi Fuego del Sol of Las Cruces played appropriate music for the event.

New this year was a car show down the middle of Broadway.

Vendors hoped for buyers for their goods.

In conjunction with the Tamal Fiesta, the Silver City Museum had classes on how to make tamales. Consuelo Hester, who uses homemade or already prepared masa to make tamales, said when she makes her own, she uses lard, butter, olive oil or fat-free with potatoes and turkey or pork for the filling.

"Growing up, we would fatten a pig and would use the pork from it to make the tamales for special occasions, such as anniversaries, birthdays and Christmas," Hester said. "The whole family would make tamales all day. I learned to make them at the age of 12."

Photos by Mary Alice Murphy