This Saturday, April 20, while half the city bakes under the Coachella desert sun, a dream line-up of local taqueros is uniting in Downtown’s Grand Park for L.A.’s inaugural “Taco Madness” festival. Organized by L.A. Taco to coincide with the L.A.-centric website’s annual “Taco Madness” bracket, the day-long event will find such solid taco technicians on the scene as Mexicali Taco & Co., Tacos Leo, Mariscos Jalisco, Tacos Punta Cabra, Guerrilla Tacos, Yuca’s, Jalisco’s Mobile Taco Grill, and Katsuji Tanabe’s MexiKosher on the scene, each selling their unique tacos to the crowd, and with several more vendors still being added to the lineup. What else will you find there?
The festival, which is free to the public from noon to sundown, will also find the impressive Downtown park providing a backdrop for a strong lineup of local DJs like Azul (213) and Sweatson Klank, while L.A. street artists like Defer, Germs, Miguel Felipe and Ricardo Estrada, and UGLARworks will create live murals on two parked taco trucks. Meanwhile, Cerveza Indio will be in charge of a beer garden and Downtown’s La Cita is on cocktail duty in a drinks tent.
In addition, The Hit & Run crew will be screen-printing T-shirts on the scene with their one-of-a-kind designs. A judge’s panel, including Bricia Lopez of Guelaguetza, Bill Esparza of Street Gourmet L.A., and The Glutster’s Javier Cabral, will elect winners from the pool of participating taqueros, followed by a live announcement by L.A. Taco as to who is the winner of the “Taco Madness” tournament, getting crowned “L.A.’s Favorite Taco” live on the scene following weeks of voting.
Taco prices start at one-dollar, with entry completely free to all from noon to 7:00 P.M. on what promises to be a sunny day. Updates can be found on Facebook.
Taco Madness
Saturday April 20, Noon-Sunset
Grand Park L.A., 200 North Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012
Music from top DJs, live mural painting from up-and-coming artists, and bar by La Cita combining the best of Los Angeles in one free, outdoor, daytime party open to all.
TACOS: Guerrilla Tacos / Mariscos Jalisco / Mexicali Taco & Co / MexiKosher / Taco Punta Cabras / Leo’s Taco Truck / Yuca’s
DJs: Azul (213) / Aaron Byrd (KCRW) / B+ (Mochilla) / Coleman (Mochilla) / Destroyer (Umoja Hifi) / Seano (Soundwaves.KPFK) / Sloepoke (Fiesta Tropical) /Sweatson Klank (Alpha Pup.Project Mooncircle)
ARTISTS: Defer / Germs / Miguel Felipe / Ricardo Estrada / UGLARworks
