North Shore Taco Fest teams with 51st Annual Highwood Days

Celebrate Highwood welcomes 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 local taco-centric restaurants, caterers and food trucks will come together to offer a huge selection of mouthwatering 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, marking its 51st anniversary, complete with carnival rides and live music.

North Shore Taco Fest

"North Shore Taco Fest is all about celebrating the eclectic taste of tacos - both authentic and out of the ordinary," said 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."

The fest takes place from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

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 taco while competing for the title of 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 on the stage at 6 p.m. Sunday, July 21. 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, Wisconsin, 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," Falberg said. "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

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

Taco 5K Run/Walk

In addition to the wide selection of flavorful tacos, Celebrate Highwood will host the North Shore Taco 5K Run & Walk at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 20, benefiting North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic.

The clinic's mission it is to provide accessible, quality legal services in the areas of immigration, domestic violence and housing and to give those in need of access to justice the opportunity to live productive and secure lives.

Since opening four years ago, the clinic has helped more than 1,500 people become U.S. citizens, stay in their homes, and escape abusive relationships.

Packet pickup will be from 7-9 a.m., noon to 2 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, at Equinox Highland Park, 799 Central Ave. in Highland Park. On-site registration and packet pickup will begin on race day at 7:30 a.m. at the Celebrate Highwood booth.

Highwood Mayor Charlie Pecaro and North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic Chairman David Neiman will be joined by area elected officials to kick off the run at 8:30 a.m. The course will go through downtown Highwood, up along the lakeshore and through historic Ft. Sheridan.

Sprinters, scooters, strollers, bikes, wagons and pets welcome. Equinox Highland Park will lead participants in a prerace warmup and post-event cool down and stretching.

All North Shore Taco Fest run/walk participants will receive a goody bag with a run T-shirt and coupon for a complimentary taco and margarita, beer or soft drink. In addition, participants will receive a three-day pass to enjoy the fitness facility at Equinox Highland Park, a variety of special group fitness classes, and a complimentary private personal training session.

Advance registration is open through July 20. The cost is $35 per runner.

For more information, visit www.celebratehighwood.org/highwood-days-north-shore-taco-fest.

For more information on all of Celebrate Highwood's 2019 series of family-friendly festivals and events, visit www.celebratehighwood.org or www.facebook.com/celebratehighwood.

North Shore Taco Fest

Highwood Days take place July 18-21 and the North Shore Taco Fest takes place July 20-21 in the Downtown Highwood Metra station parking lot.

THURSDAY

4-10 p.m. Highwood Days

5-9 p.m. Unlimited rides special

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

8:30-10 p.m. Catfight performs

FRIDAY

4-11 p.m. Highwood Days

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

9-11 p.m. Deja Vu performs

SATURDAY

9 a.m. North Shore Taco Run 5K

11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Highwood Days and North Shore Taco Fest

1-11 p.m. Unlimited rides special

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

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

7:30-9 p.m. Rollover performs

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

SUNDAY

11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Highwood Days and North Shore Taco Fest

1-9 p.m. Unlimited rides special

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

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

6 p.m. Taco contest winners announced

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