Eat, drink and be merry at Highwood Days, Taco Fest
Celebrate Highwood has announced that, after two years, Highwood Days and Taco Fest are back this year, running July 21-24.
Recognized as the city's oldest festival, Highwood Days features one of the area's largest carnivals with rides, games, live music and more.
The addition of Taco Fest brings together the region's best taco-centric restaurants, caterers and food trucks to offer a wide range of mouthwatering creations, along with a full booze tent featuring Freshie Organic Tequila Seltzer, Party Can Cocktails, and a variety of beer from Ravinia Brewing Company.
There also will be a lineup of live music, activities for the whole family, vendors and more.
Taco Fest vendors will be sharing their unique take on this popular food item while competing to be the best in town. Attendees can choose from a variety of tacos, including the traditional carne asada, the unique braised short rib and Brussels sprout taco, or healthy mahi mahi or sweet potato.
Visitors can then cast their vote in the People's Choice Award in the categories of Best Authentic and Best Unique Tacos.
The winner in each category will receive a trophy and bragging rights. The winners will be announced at 6 p.m. Sunday, July 24.
Taco Fest hours are 5-11 p.m. Thursday and Friday, July 21 and 22; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 23; and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday, July 24.
The 55th Annual Highwood Days carnival hours are 5-10 p.m. Thursday, 5-11 p.m. Friday, 1-11 p.m. Saturday and 1-9 p.m. Sunday.
Unlimited ride specials will be available for $30 per person, per day, from 5-9 p.m. Thursday and 1-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; and for $35 from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Friday and 6-10 p.m. Saturday.
The carnival will take place in the Downtown Highwood Metra Station Parking Lot, 317 Green Bay Road, while Taco Fest will be in Everts Park, 111 North Ave.
"The combination of Highwood Days and Taco Fest offers families something for everyone to come out and enjoy all weekend long, with a variety of options from great food and drinks, live music and a carnival," said M. Brad Slavin, president of Celebrate Highwood.
"Taco Fest celebrates the eclectic taste of tacos and the culinary diversity of Highwood."
In addition to the food, music and carnival activities, Celebrate Highwood will host the North Shore Taco 5K Family Fun Run, Walk and Stroll benefiting the Northern Suburban Legal Aid Clinic, which provides accessible, quality, free legal services in the areas of domestic violence, housing and immigration to low-income, at-risk community members.
The walk takes place at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 23, in downtown Highwood. The start and finish line will be at the intersection of Waukegan and Walker avenues, just north of The Bent Fork Bakery.
The registration fee is $35 per participant (stroller kids are free) and includes a run T-shirt, complimentary taco from La Plancha Loca and, for participants 21 and older, a choice of a Ravinia Brewing Company beer, Freshie Organic Tequila Seltzer, or Party Can cocktail to enjoy at Taco Fest.
For more information, visit www.celebratehighwood.org.
Highwood Days and Taco Fest
Events take place in the Downtown Highwood Metra Station Parking Lot, 317 Green Bay Road; and Everts Park, 111 North Ave., Highwood.
<b>Thursday, July 21</b>5-10 p.m. Carnival
5-11 p.m. Taco Fest
7-10 p.m. Expo 76 performs
<b>Friday, July 22 </b>5-11 p.m. Carnival
5-11 p.m. Taco Fest
6-7:30 p.m. Darren Jay & the Delta Souls performs
8:15-11 p.m. Sneezy performs
<b>Saturday, July 23</b>9 a.m. Taco 5K Run, Walk and Stroll
Noon to 11 p.m. Taco Fest
1-11 p.m. Carnival
2:30-4 p.m. Class of '68 performs
5-7:30 p.m. Saturday June Band performs
8:15-11 p.m. Davidson County Band performs
<b>Sunday, July 24</b>Noon to 9 p.m. Taco Fest
1-9 p.m. Carnival
3-5:30 p.m. Barry & The Fountains performs
6-9 p.m. Spies of the World performs