Enjoy Highwood Days and Taco Fest through July 21

Posted July 17, 2024 1:54 pm

Daily Herald Staff Report

Highwood Days, featuring carnival rides and games, and Taco Fest, featuring food from over 20 vendors, live music and more, will run July 19-21 in downtown Highwood. Courtesy of Celebrate Highwood

The annual Highwood Days and Taco Fest events, presented by Celebrate Highwood, are back, both running concurrently through Sunday, July 21. The Highwood Days Carnival will take place in the Downtown Highwood Metra Station Parking Lot, while Taco Fest will take place in Everts Park, 111 North Ave., Highwood.

The 57th Annual Highwood Days carnival hours are 5-10 p.m. Friday, July 19; 1-10 p.m. Saturday, July 20; and 1-9 p.m. Sunday, July 21. Unlimited ride specials will be available from 1-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday for $30. Prime Time ride specials will be available from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Friday and 6-10 p.m. Saturday for $35.

Over 20 vendors will compete for the People’s Choice Awards at the Highwood Taco Fest in Everts Park. Courtesy of Celebrate Highwood

Taco Fest hours are 5-10 p.m. Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. Over 20 taco-centric restaurants, caterers and food trucks will be on hand competing for the People’s Choice Award in the categories of Best Authentic and Best Unique Tacos. Attendees can choose from a variety of tacos, from traditional carne asada to the more unique braised short rib and Brussels sprout taco, or healthy mahi mahi taco. The People's Choice winners will be announced at 6 p.m. Sunday. There will also be a booze tent featuring margaritas, palomas, mules, micheladas, Mexican beer and more.

The North Shore Taco 5K Family Fun Run, Walk & Stroll benefiting Nuestro Josselyn will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 20. Runners and walkers can find a link to sign up at celebratehighwood.org through midnight on July 19. The registration fee is $40 per participant (stroller kids are free), and includes a T-shirt, complimentary taco and, for participants 21 and older, a choice of beer or other cocktail to enjoy at Taco Fest.

The band Rico! will perform at Taco Fest in Highwood’s Everts Park at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, July 21. Other musical acts include Wild Oates, Soul Sacrifice, The Moonshine Bros and more. Courtesy of Rico!

Live music at the band shell in Everts Park includes Pamela Fernandez Duo at 5 p.m. and Wild Oates at 7:30 p.m. Friday; the Highland Park Players at noon, The Moonshine Bros at 12:45 p.m., Orchestra Alta Vida at 2:45 p.m., Los Perros Cubanos at 5:15 p.m. and Soul Sacrifice at 8 p.m. Saturday; and Jose Valdez & The Mambo All-Stars at noon, Ave Maria Dance Ministry at 2:15 p.m., Isabella at 3:30 p.m. and Rico! at 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is free. For details, visit celebratehighwood.org.

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