The second round of Wichita Taco Fest is moving to a larger venue to handle anticipated attendance based on the popular inaugural event. Taco Fest 2018 is 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 23 inside Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.
The family-friendly event is a great way to sample the variety of tacos served in the city, and not just from the well-known chefs and restaurants serving Mexican food in Wichita, KS. Organizers expect another year of big crowds, so we’ve put together five tips for tackling Taco Fest this year.
1. Buy your admission tickets now.
You pay $5 in advance, $10 at the gate for a single-entry ticket. Plus, you’ll get in quicker if you’ve already bought your ticket because there’s a separate line for ticket-holders. Ages 5 and under are free. Advance tickets are available in-person at the Select-A-Seat box office at INTRUST Bank Arena or any MobileComm store in Wichita. You can also buy tickets by phone (855-755-7328) or online, though you’ll pay a handling fee.
2. If everyone in your party is 21 and older, go VIP!
In addition to regular admission tickets, there are 300 Tequila Expo tickets available for those age 21 & older. For $35, that gets you into Taco Fest through a VIP entrance plus you’ll get admission to an exclusive area from 4:30-7:30 p.m. There, you’ll be given a commemorative shot glass and tastings of a variety of top shelf tequilas.
If not everyone is 21 & older, you can still get an advance ticket bundle that’s a good deal: for $10, you can get a ticket to the June 21 Wichita Wingnuts vs Sioux Falls Canaries game along with a ticket to Taco Fest on June 23.
3. Bring cash.
You’ll get through the lines much faster if you bring cash. Here’s how it works: once you’ve paid to get into the stadium, you can visit any of the 30 vendors and order $1 tacos or $2 chips and salsa, along with elote, a Mexican street corn, and sweets. There also will be options to buy water, soft drinks and iced coffee, and for those 21 & older beer, margaritas and sangria.
Popular Mexican restaurants in Wichita are represented, along with off-the- beaten-path taco shops District Taqueria, Emerson Biggins, Molino’s Mexican Cuisine and Ruben’s Mexican Grill are among the 30 confirmed vendors.
4. Sign up for the jalapeño-eating contest early.
Watch the Wichita Taco Fest Facebook page for sign-up details for the jalapeño-eating contest. There are only 10 spots!
5. Prepare to be entertained.
Besides the happiness you’ll get from a belly full of delicious tacos, you’ll be smiling and moving to the music from Kansas City-based Making Movies, a band that blends pulsing Afro-Latino rhythms, psychedelic jams and rock 'n' roll swagger into powerful live performances, full of theatrics and cathartic climaxes. They are scheduled to play from 5-7 p.m., right after DJ Marcobiotics and before DJ Carbon. There also will be areas with giant outdoor games and activities like face painting.
