The 54th annual Highwood Days returns with the much-loved Taco Fest for four days this month.
Taco Fest hours are from 5 to 11 p.m. July 21-22, 12 to 11 p.m. July 23 and 12 to 9 p.m. July 24.
The Highwood Days carnival hours are from 5 to 10 p.m. July 21, 5 to 11 p.m. July 22, 1 to 11 p.m. July 23 and 1 to 9 p.m. July 24.
Presented by Celebrate Highwood, Highwood Days is the city’s oldest festival, consisting of an expansive carnival and several bands performing. The addition of Taco Fest brings together taco-centric restaurants, caterers and food trucks, along with full booze tent with beer, cocktails and seltzers, said Ilyse Strongin, president of Ripple Public Relations, which represents Celebrate Highwood.
Celebrate Highwood is hosting the North Shore Taco 5K Family Fun Run, Walk and Stroll benefiting the Northern Suburban Legal Aid Clinic at 9 a.m. July 23. The start and finish line will be at the intersection of Waukegan and Walker avenues.
“We are in constant communication with the local Highwood police to ensure the safety and security of any events produced by Celebrate Highwood. As an organization we have always had a strong police presence at our festivals and will continue to be vigilant and coordinate any additional needs that are deemed necessary,” M. Brad Slavin, president of Celebrate Highwood said.
“People bring strollers, bring their dogs and then we have the serious runners,” she said. “It goes through a beautiful route along the lakefront and Fort Sheridan. What’s fun about that is, if you sign up for that run, not only do you get the goody bag and the T-shirt, if you’re over 21 you get a free margarita or one of our sponsored cocktails. And you get a free taco from the award-winning La Plancha Loca.”
Another aspect of Taco Fest is the competition, she said. While the more than 20 vendors share their unique takes on the taco, bragging rights are also on the line.
“They compete for the best taco in the Most Authentic and Most Unique categories,” she said. “It’s a people’s choice vote.”
There’s also a Best Healthy Taco category.
In addition to the traditional carne asada tacos, fest-goers will find tacos filled with braised short rib and brussel sprouts or sweet potatoes, she said.
The winners will be announced at the stage at 6 p.m. July 24. They will receive a trophy.
The contest started when Celebrate Highwood added Taco Fest to Highwood Days, she said.
“We have taco restaurants from all over Chicago and the suburbs,” she said. “We’ve had mahi mahi tacos and dessert tacos and authentic tacos. Tacos mean so many different things to so many different people these days. If you don’t eat gluten or corn chips or flour tortillas, people are making tacos in lettuce wraps. Everything can be put in a taco. Taco desserts, taco appetizers, healthy tacos, vegan tacos. This fest will have it all. There’s something for everybody to eat.”
In addition, there will be activities for kids, as well.
“There are things for kids to do like a petting zoo, bounce houses and mechanical bull rides. All the fun stuff. In true Highwood fashion, every festival and event we do we always have something for the kids and something for the adults. All of our festivals and events are family affairs.”
There are unlimited ride wristband specials throughout the four days. The carnival is in the Metra Station parking lot. Taco Fest, bands and food vendors will be across the street in Everts Park.
A complete list of bands is posted on the Celebrate Highwood website. Headliners includes Expo 76 July 21, Sneezy July 22, Davidson County Band July 23, and Spies of the World July 24.
“Highwood has become the destination for family-friendly festivals and events over the past 15 years,” she said. “You can’t do all of this in one day. The fact that this is a four-day festival (means) you can come, check it out, enjoy one day and come back for more because there’s always other stuff to enjoy.”
Highwood Days and Taco Fest
When: July 21-24
Where: Highwood Metra Station parking lot, 317 Green Bay Road, Highwood
Tickets: Free
Information: celebratehighwood.org/taco-fest-and-highwood-days
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.
