National Taco Championships Springing To Austin

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Let's taco 'bout this: The National Taco Championships are coming soon, and it's time to think about buying tickets.

Taco makers from several cities will thrown down on March 30 during the competition. But it won't be just tacos involved. The National Taco Championships also will feature a top-shelf Tequila Expo; the Ay Chihuahua! Beauty Pageant; Lucha Libre Wrestling; Hot Chili Pepper Contest; Day of the Dead Wedding; local bands, DJs, and more.

But the pièce de résistance — the culinary centerpiece — of this affair are the tacos. Festival entry will enable attendees to access to tacos ($3 each) prepared by 35+ competing professional taco makers, restaurants, chefs, and food trucks. Featured Austin concepts competing for the region’s Top Taco include: Be More Pacific, Eldorado Café, Torchy’s Tacos, Gabriela’s, Holy Taco!, and House of the Rising Tanuki-san, with more entrants to come.

This culinary throw-down occurs March 30th from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Austin American-Statesman parking lot. Two ticket options offer various levels of enjoyment: General Admission ($15-$20) and VIP ($120). Plus, for agave aficionados, experience the Tequila Expo ($20) add-on, showcasing 30 tequila brands and samples of over 100 tequila expressions.

So if you adore tacos as much as we do, it's time to season the moment before you have a queso regret. Tickets to the National Taco Championships in Austin are on sale now, and can be purchased by visiting NationalTacoChampionships.com/tickets.

National Taco Championships: A Brief History

The National Taco Championships started in 2010 and is the only sanctioned National Taco Competition in the country. Entering its tenth anniversary since the inaugural event in Scottsdale, Arizona—including over 300,000+ attendees and over a million tacos and margaritas—the National Taco Championships is bringing its show on the road. Additional stops include San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and finally Las Vegas for the $100,000 Grand Championship showdown in November.

Let's Taco Bout Your Participation

The National Taco Championships is looking at local Austinites to join in on the fun. Whether you’re a pup, performer, or just a taco lover, there are many ways to be a part of the festival: as an officially sanctioned Taco Society Judge, volunteer, Ay Chihuahua! Beauty Pageant or Austin Hot Chili Pepper contestant, or a performing band/DJ.

For official rules, regulations, and more information about how to apply to be on the Taco Team, stage contests, and vendors, visit NationalTacoChampionships.com/austin.

Get Patch's Daily Newsletters and Real Time Alerts

>>> Photo of life-affirming, soul-enriching, smile-inducing, sadness-evaporating, happy-tears-producing, happy-dance-sparking tacos via Shutterstock