North Shore Taco Fest & Highwood Days Is Back

HIGHWOOD, IL (JULY 18-21, 2019) - Celebrate Highwood is pleased to welcome back Highwood Days July 18-21 and the North Shore Taco Fest July 20-21 to the Downtown Highwood Metra station parking lot. More than 15 of the region’s most talked about taco-centric restaurants, caterers and food trucks will come together to offer a huge selection of mouth-watering taco creations. Each day, more vendors join the fun leading up to the full-on taco throw down Saturday and Sunday. Now in its fourth year, North Shore Taco Fest piggybacks Highwood Days, the City’s most celebrated festival in history, marking its 51st anniversary complete with carnival rides and live music.

“North Shore Taco Fest is all about celebrating the eclectic taste of tacos – both authentic and out of the ordinary,” says Eric Falberg, President of Celebrate Highwood and Highwood Alderman. “Taco Fest has become a North Shore summer staple with the perfect combination of alluring tacos, music, diversity, and culture. We are thrilled to celebrate for the fourth year.”

More than 15 taco vendors, including La Casa De Isaac, La Plancha Loca, Longitud315, Salt Creek Tacos, Taco Vida, Taquizas El Poblanito, and Three Legged Tacos will be sharing their unique take on the ever-popular taco while competing for the best taco in town. Attendees can choose from a variety of tacos from the traditional carne asada to the more unique duck and hominy and smoked pork shoulder tacos or healthy tofu taco.

Those who attend can cast their vote in the ‘People’s Choice Award’ in three categories: Most Authentic Taco, Most Unique Taco, and Best Tasting Healthy Taco. The winners will be announced at the stage on Sunday, July 21 at 6 p.m. The winner in each category will receive a trophy and bragging rights. The 2018 contest winners in each category were:

· Best Authentic Taco: La Plancha Loca from Highwood for their Al Pastor Taco

· Best Unique: Elsie Mae’s Canning and Pies from Kenosha, WI for their Dessert Tacos

· Best Healthy Tacos: The Otherdoor from Lake Bluff for their Duck Confit Taco

“Last year’s North Shore Taco Fest attracted thousands of taco enthusiasts from all over Chicagoland,” says Falberg. “We will once again tent the entire area to provide cover from the hot summer sun and potential rain and are anticipating an even greater crowd, rain or shine, so be sure to come early.”

Highwood Days (July 18-21) will take place, rain or shine, Thursday, July 18 from 4-10 p.m., Friday July 19 from 4-11 p.m., Saturday, July 20 from 11a.m.-11 p.m. and Sunday, July 21 from 11a.m.-9 p.m. The 51st Annual Highwood Days will feature carnival rides and games throughout the fest with unlimited ride specials on Thursday from 5-9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m.

In addition to the wide selection of flavorful tacos, Celebrate Highwood is hosting the North Shore

Taco 5K Run & Walk on Saturday, July 20th at 9 a.m., benefiting North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic, whose mission it is to provide accessible, quality legal services in the areas of immigration, domestic violence and housing to give those in need of access to justice to the opportunity to live productive and secure lives. Since opening four years ago, the Clinic has helped over 1,500 hundred people become U.S. citizens, stay in their homes, and escape abusive relationships.

Packet pick up will be on Wednesday, July 17 from 7-9 a.m., noon–2 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. at Equinox Highland Park, 799 Central Avenue in Highland Park. On-site registration and packet pick up will begin on race day at 7:30 a.m. at the Celebrate Highwood booth. Highwood Mayor Pecaro and David Neiman, North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic Chairman will be joined by Highwood Alderman and area elected officials to kick off the run at 8:30 a.m. Equinox Highland Park will lead participants in a pre-race warm up and post-event cool down and stretching. The course will go through downtown Highwood, up along the lakeshore and through historic Ft. Sheridan. Sprinters, scooters, strollers, bikes, wagons, and pets welcome.

All North Shore Taco Fest run/walk participants will receive a goodie bag with run t-shirt and coupon for a complimentary taco and margarita, beer or soft drink. Runners are encouraged to head over to festival grounds after the run to enjoy the live music and fabulous food. In addition, participants will receive a three-day pass to enjoy the luxurious fitness facility at Equinox Highland Park, a wide variety of special group fitness classes, and a complimentary private personal training session.

Pre-run registration is open now through July 20. The cost is $35 per runner. Runners can sign up now for this running fiesta.

NORTH SHORE TACO FEST LIVE MUSIC SCHEDULE:

Thursday, July 18

6:30-8:00 p.m. The Mighty Grouper

8:30-10:00 p.m. Catfight

Friday, July 19

6:30-8:30 p.m. Suede Diamond

9:00-11:00 p.m. Deja Vu

Saturday, July 20

3:30-5:00 p.m. Los Perros Cubanos

5:30-7:00 p.m. Jon Allegretto Collective

7:30-9:00 p.m. Rollover

9:30-11:00 p.m. Rico!

Sunday, July 21

3:30-5:00 p.m. Forte Band

5:30-7:00 p.m. Joe Rendon & Friends

7:30-8:00 p.m. Manny Torres with LeftJones

A special thanks to our North Shore Taco Fest/Taco Run sponsors: Chiro One Wellness Centers, College of Lake County, Equinox Highland Park, Goslings Rum, M. Brad Slavin Farmers Insurance, Passanante Home Food Service, Ravinia Brewing Company, and Renewal by Andersen.

For more information on North Shore Taco Fest and the Taco Run, visit www.celebratehighwood.org/highwood-days-north-shore-taco-fest.

For more information on all of Celebrate Highwood’s 2018 series of family friendly festivals and events, please visit www.celebratehighwood.org or www.facebook.com/celebratehighwood.

ABOUT CELEBRATE HIGHWOOD:

Celebrate Highwood is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity established in August 2016. Managed and operated by volunteers, our mission is to bring community together to raise funds for local and national charities. Through producing events that cater to the citizens, businesses and visitors of Highwood, our goal is give back, build strong community spirit, and establish Highwood as THE prime entertainment destination for dining, festivals and events on the North Shore. For more information on all of Highwood’s festivals, please visit www.CelebrateHighwood.org, www.facebook.com/celebratehighwood, or call 847-432-6000.

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