What you need to know about Taco Fest, which this year has more food, much more wrestling
Festive ICT’s Taco Fest — an annual all-ages event that has proven popular since its first installment in 2017 — is returning this weekend, and for the first time since it started, organizers will be sticking with the same venue two years in a row.
The taco-eating event, which happens from 3 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, will return to the Capitol Federal Amphitheater in Andover, where it landed in 2022 after a two-year COVID-19 break. (Previous Taco Fests happened at Union Station Plaza, Lawrence-Dumont Stadium and Cowtown.)
But the Andover venue works well for the event, said founder and Festive ICT owner Nnanna Okpara. It has plenty of space for organizers to spread out vendors and activities, and Andover has been especially welcoming, he said.
“The City of Andover has pulled out three red carpets for us,” Okpara said. “They’ve gone above and beyond. It’s mind blowing how far they’ve gone to make sure we’re comfortable and have everything we need.”
Organizers this year have tweaked a few things about the festival, including scheduling more frequent bouts of Lucha Libre wrestling — a big hit last year.
If you’re interested in attending this year’s Taco Fest, here’s everything you need to know:
More food
The festival will have more food vendors this year than it did in 2022, when restaurants and food trucks were still trying to recover from the pandemic, Okpara said. The long list of vendors, which can be found at www.festiveict.com/wichita-taco-fest, includes more than 25 food trucks and restaurants. Among the most recognizable names on the list: El Pollo Dorado, Los Compadres Mexican Grill, Tacos tj 664 and La Chonchis food truck.
Once inside, ticket holders will be able to buy $2 tacos as well as elote, chips and salsa and desserts. Set up throughout the event will also be several bars, where attendees can buy beer, margaritas and bottled water.
More wrestling
Last year, organizers added Lucha Libre wrestling — which Okpara describes as a Latin WWE — to the lineup, and people loved it. The wrestlers, when finished, left the ring and mingled with the crowd, happily posing for selfies, he said.
But the wrestling in 2022 didn’t start until 6:30 p.m., meaning people who attended the festival earlier in the day completely missed it. This year, wrestling matches will be staged throughout the day so all attendees will be able to catch at least one.
Lots of other taco-related fun
Taco Fest will again include favorite activities from years past, including live music, a playground for kids, face painting, a jalapeno eating contest, and best salsa and a best taco competitions. (The event also will include a tequila tasting, but tickets to that are already sold out.)
New this year: An artist will be set up near the stage working on a live painting that people can help with, and a troupe of Mexican folk dancers will perform.
Tickets are still available
Admission tickets are available online and at select Dillons stores through Friday. On Saturday, they’ll be available only online and at the gate. Individual tickets are $15 until 11:59 p.m. Thursday, when they go up to $20. Ages 5 and under will be admitted free.
Tickets are available online at www.festiveict.com/wichita-taco-fest-tickets, which is also where a list of Dillons stores selling tickets is available. A couple of discount packages also are available online.
For more information: www.festiveict.com/wichita-taco-fest
