Salt River Fields Presents
5th Annual Arizona Taco Festival
“Taco-Topia” to Serve 100,000 Tacos Oct. 18 & 19, 2014
50 Teams Compete for $10,000 in cash
Scottsdale, Ariz. (Aug. 6, 2014) – The 5th Annual Arizona Taco Festival is set to bring another year of fiesta fun with more than 50 teams competing for $10,000 in cash, while an expected 25,000 attendees nosh their way through more than 100 types of tacos throughout the weekend.
Arizona Taco Festival, Sat. and Sun., Oct. 18 & 19, 11am-7pm each day, presented by El Jimador Tequila, offers $2 tacos in chicken, pork, beef, seafood, veggie, dessert, and anything-goes varieties, as well as salsa, guacamole and other related Mexican fare. Restaurants, caterers, amateurs, and nightclubs are prepared to sell enough tacos to cumulatively dish out 100,000 total tacos for attendees.
The Arizona Taco Festival pits these participants against each other in a double-blind competition. Tacos are submitted to more than 50 National Taco Association judges sequestered in a closed tent for truly anonymous scoring. Points are awarded and weighed for presentation, taste and texture. Cumulatively, the scores lead to an overall Grand Champion title and $1,000 checks each day.
Outside the judge’s tent, this exciting festival rages on with live Lucha Libre wrestling, a now-legendary Tequila Expo with more than 30 brands participating, and live surf and salsa bands on the main stage. A contest stage also will feature ‘best sombrero’ contests, interactive entertainment and the always popular “Ay Chihuahua! Beauty Pageant.”
The festival humbly began on a dirt lot in the heart of downtown Scottsdale and has since moved to an eight-acre grass field at the Spring Training home of the Arizona Diamondbacks — Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. The Arizona Taco Festival is believed to be the world’s first taco festival, and is estimated to draw more than 30,000 people by 2015.
Tequila Expo Tent, Sat., Oct. 18. The main tent hosts the popular Tequila Expo. Inside, patrons can sample from more than 100 tequilas. A tasting pass is $20 for 10 samples of fine tequila.
Ay Chihuahua! Beauty Pageant, Sun. Oct. 19. Sunday at 2pm, watch more than 15 sassy Chihuahuas strut across the Yelp Contest Stage.
Live Lucha Libre Wrestling. Enjoy live Lucha Libre wrestling all weekend long from comfortable seating around the ring. Also, get a chance to meet the wrestlers themselves during the meet-and-greet.
In addition, the diverse foodie event also features:
Taco Judges. 50 certified judges using a double-blind scoring system created by the National Taco Association will award cash and trophies for each category.
Main Stage. The Main Stage will offer constant live music from surf to salsa.
Contest Stage. Sponsored by Yelp.com, the Contest Stage offers hot chili pepper eating contests; taco eating challenges; a live DJ, arm wrestling matches, and other feats of taco fury. Full schedule and Pageant Entry Forms online.
Tequila Herradura Barrel Art Unveiling. Local artists painted the heads of Herradura Tequila barrels prior to the festival and attendees can vote on their favorite. Winner receives $1,000 cash.
Decked-out Lounges by Local Businesses. Whether it’s shaded seating or a party tent for dancing, local restaurants and bars will go all-out this year to turn the Arizona Taco Festival into the biggest party in the Valley.
Tickets & Parking. General admission tickets are $12; kids 12 and under FREE. General admission two-day passes are $20. VIP tickets are $85 advance online and $100 day of and include limited drinks from the VIP bar, taco tokens, and private restroom facilities. Parking is FREE for all patrons courtesy of Discount Cab. Purchase tickets online at www.SaltRiverFields.com/events.aspx.
About Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Salt River Fields is a central landmark within the emerging Talking Stick Cultural and Entertainment Destination (TSCED). Completing its fourth season, the world-class, LEED Certified Gold venue serves as Spring Training home to the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies. Surrounded by some of the world’s most beautiful mountain panoramas, the facility also serves as a popular year-round destination for major community events. Salt River Fields is an enterprise of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Community and a winner of the 2013 Good Design is Good Business competition by Architectural Record. The News-Record Southwest named Salt River Fields Best Sports/Entertainment Project and Ballpark Digest called it Ballpark of the Year, among other awards and honors. Salt River Fields, 7555 North Pima Road, Scottsdale, Ariz. 85258. Visit www.SaltRiverFields.com for the latest information. Follow on Twitter @SaltRiverFields and Facebook www.facebook.com/saltriverfieldsattalkingstick
About Arizona Taco Festival. The Arizona Taco Festival was founded by David Tyda and Rick Phillips of Affordable Food Festivals. They have a combined 30+ years experience in media, publishing, marketing and promotions. In reaction to high-priced, exclusionary culinary events, the duo formed a company that orchestrates events with three components: a food competition, low price of entry and lively festival atmosphere. They also produce the Arizona Barbecue Festival, Scottsdale Beer Palooza, the most recent Taste Tequila, and run the popular food blog, EATERAZ.com.
