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IT’S TACO TIME! Salt River Fields festival spices up fall event scene Alison Bailin Batz » The Entertainer!
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orget Taco Tuesday; it’s time to get ready for a Taco weekend. Now in its eighth year, the Arizona Taco Festival— hosted across 10 acres at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Saturday, October 14, and Sunday, October 15—is set to delight taste buds and break records. “Last year, we served more than 30,000 guests with very few lines for tacos – and we expect even more taco lovers this year,” says David Tyda, festival co-founder. “After all, we have to protect our title as the largest taco festival in the country.” A general admission ticket, $12 to $15, provides access to 50 restaurants and food trucks, each dishing out $2 tacos and many also offering homemade salsas, guacamoles and à la carte desserts up for tasting as well. Event goers can indulge in Four Peaks beer, custom margaritas, and mezcal cocktails. Even “The Most Interesting Man in the World” will be in attendance, representing his new drink of choice, Astral Tequila. Bands will provide the soundtrack, while guests also enjoy a Chihuahua beauty pageant, eating contests, traditional Lucha Libre wrestling matches WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM
and 50 National Taco Association judges, each conducting double-blind taco tastings to determine who will win portions of a $10,000 cash prize purse. The 2016 Grand Champion, International Truck of Tacos, will be there both days to defend its title. The 2015 champions, Diego Pops and Creations by SERGIO, will also compete again against an impressive list of competitors including: • Casa Añejo • Chico Malo • CRUjiente • Dos Gringos • Gadzooks • La Hacienda • La Sala • Loco Patron • Modern Margarita • Old Town Gringos • Salty Senorita • SOL • T. Cook’s • Tarbell’s • Tacos Tequila Whiskey • Two Brothers Tap House • Willie’s Taco Joint • Tapacubo • Yardhouse “Guests will also be able to enjoy entertainment in virtually every corner of the event, including
the now-legendary Tequila Expo on Saturday and Margarita Expo on Sunday,” Tyda says. More than 100 types of tequila will be available during this Saturdayonly tent, where guests can purchase 10 tastes for $20. Arizona’s top mixologists will take part in Sunday’s Margarita Expo, now in its second year. Like with the Tequila Expo, guests will be able to purchase 10 tastings for just $20. “Visitors to this tent will vote on their favorite margaritas throughout the day, with one mixologist winning the most coveted of prizes—a year membership for prime steak delivery,” Tyda says. For an elevated festival experience, VIP tickets are available for $100 each day and include the main event fun plus five adult beverages, one water or soda, and 10 tacos. Guests also have access to a VIP tent with shaded seating and private bathrooms. Kids 12 and younger are admitted free so they can enjoy several attractions, like bungee trampoline, mechanical bull, hamster balls, orbitron, slides and bounce houses. Kids also have access to lemonade stands, ice cream vendors and shaved ice carts. Some activities are an additional cost.
Arizona Taco Festival
Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, 7555 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, aztacofestival. com, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, October 14, and Sunday, October 15, $12-$100.