Tacos, tequila, beer and live music is coming together for a daylong festival in Tucson.
“Taco Fest is a vibrant, high-energy celebration of all things tacos, tequila and music,” said Chrissy Greco, head of marketing for Activated Events, which is bringing the event to Tucson’s Rillito Park on April 26. “We wanted to create a full-on experience with music, drinks, photo ops and activities that make it a day to remember for the entire family.”
The festival features a lineup of hip-hop and rap artists – T.I., Lil Jon, Fat Joe, Chingy, Trick Daddy, Paul Wall, Yung Joc, Bubba Sparxxx and DJ Luwiss Lux – and more than 100 premium tequilas, craft margaritas and beer. There also will be lucha libre wrestling, old-school car shows and most importantly, tacos from several vendors.
The California-based Activated Events hosts traveling festivals that organizers say “reflect the personality and culture” of each location.
Tucson will be the first of three cities to host Taco Fest. It moves to Norco, California, on May 3 and Albuquerque, New Mexico, on June 21.
“It’s food, fun, and community all rolled into one tortilla,” Greco said.
Greco said Taco Fest is modeled after the company’s earlier event, Fiesta de Taco, that started in Norco.
Ironically, only one – La Cocina food truck – of the vendors providing tacos for Taco Fest is from Tucson, which promotes itself as having “America’s Best Mexican Food.” Some of the other vendors are MoLo’s from Buckeye, Chicago’s Flaco’s Tacos and Sonoran Grillz from Gilbert.
In December, Tucson celebrates the 10th anniversary of being designated a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, which has put the region’s food scene, largely influenced by its indigenous and Sonoran, Mexico, influences, on a national and international stage.
Tucson hosts dozens of popular food festivals a year including Tucson Meet Yourself in October, the signature Sabores de Tucson: Best Mexican Food in America Festival May 2 and the World Margarita Championships in June.
Taco Fest runs from noon to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at Rillito Park, 4502 N. First Ave. Tickets start at $59 through mytacoparty.com; tacos and beverages are sold separately.
Arizona Sonoran News is a news service of the University of Arizona School of Journalism.
