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and Creations by Sergio, respectively – are back to defend their titles against an impressive list of competitors, including: Blanco Tacos + Tequila Cien Agaves Dos Gringos El Hefe Hacienda’s Mexican Grill Joyride Tacos Ling & Louie’s Old Town Gringos Salty Senorita SOL Cocina Taco Guild Tarbell’s The Herb Box The Thumb Tommy Bahama Wasted Grain “Guests will also be able to enjoy several side contests both days, including a Chihuahua beauty pageant, themed eating contests and even an expansive Tequila Expo on Saturday and Margarita Expo on Sunday,” says event co-founder David Tyda.
PEACE, LOVE AND TACOS Salt River Fields presents seventh annual Arizona Taco Festival
Tequila Expo
BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ PHOTOS COURTESY OF ARIZONA TACO FESTIVAL
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even years ago, the Arizona Taco Festival began as a humble taco-tasting party on a dirt lot in the heart of Downtown Scottsdale. Today, the 30,000-plus ticketed guest event – now hosted across several acres at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick – has grown to be the largest taco festival in the U.S. and one of the fastestgrowing foodie events in Arizona. A general admission ticket to the Oct. 15-16 event provides access to 50 restaurants and food trucks, each dishing out $2 tacos and many also offering homemade salsas, guacamoles and a la carte desserts up for tasting as well. Event goers will also be able to indulge in specialty cocktails, custom margaritas, Micheladas and much more. Amid all the fun will also be a stage
If You Go…
What: Arizona Taco Festival When: Oct. 15-16, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Where: Salt River Fields, 7555 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale Tickets: VIP, $100 each day; general admission, $12 in advance or $15 at the gate; Tequila Expo, $20; Margarita Expo, $20 Information: www.aztacofestival.com
with live music, traditional Lucha libre wrestling matches throughout the weekend and 50 National Taco Association judges, each conducting double-blind taco tastings to determine the top tacos in several categories, including the coveted Overall Grand Champion. Both of 2015’s grand champions – Diego Pops
SO SCOTTSDALE! |
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More than 100 types of tequila will be available at this Saturday-only tent, with guests able to purchase a 10-tasting wristband once inside the event.
Margarita Expo Arizona’s top mixologists will gather in the Margarita Expo, new to the event this year. Like with the Tequila Expo, guests will be able to purchase a 10-tasting wristband once inside the event. “Visitors to this tent will vote on their favorite margaritas throughout the day, with one mixologist winning a trip to the famed Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans along with top honors,” says Tyda, noting that each mixologist has also been competing in preliminary Margarita Wars, weekly head-to-head margarita competitions leading up to the main event at the festival. “Participating mixology teams include the masterminds at Clever Koi, jade bar, Okra, Modern Margarita, Bitter & Twisted, The Ostrich and Crudo.”
| OCTOBER 2016
9/22/16 11:44 AM