by Craig H. McFarland, Mayor, City of Casa Grande
Photo by Matt Herman
The Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Office’s first Southwest Taco Fest took place on Saturday, March 30 at our tree-lined, shady Dave White Park.
The month of March came in like a lamb and out like a lion this year — with a very windy day that provided a few challenges. Despite the wind, more than 2,000 hardy festival-goers showed up, listened, lived it up and enjoyed our signature Casa Grande Love It! brand of fun, food, culture and music.
Chamber member Jason Castano of The Cleaning People emailed to say: “Several family members and friends joined us, and we had a great time. The music was excellent, and the food was fantastic. The family-friendly atmosphere was perfect.”
Past Chamber Board Chair and Casa Grande City Council member Matt Herman wrote a note to “tell you and all the staff and volunteers how great the Taco Fest was! Despite the obvious problems with the wind, everyone had a great time. I am so glad we were able to make the inaugural Taco Fest such a great event. SO many people were telling me they could not wait for next year!!!”
We are already thinking of ways to make the Southwest Taco Fest even bigger next year and a celebration of authentic Southwestern food, music and culture for fun-lovers of all ages.
In addition to the SW Taco Fest event, Casa Grande complements the festival with our very own Southwest Taco Trail. It is an unforgettable culinary adventure; indulge in the rich flavors and diverse taco creations found in Casa Grande’s local restaurants. From classic tacos to unique variations like taco pizza and choco tacos, this trail promises to tantalize your taste buds and celebrate the vibrant culinary culture of the city.
The Casa Grande Taco Trail is an ongoing experience, but don’t wait too long! Participants have until Sept. 2024 to complete the trail and become eligible for fabulous prizes.
Once you dined at any five restaurants, stop by or mail your passport to our visitor center to receive a T-shirt or $20 gift card. One prize per participant. Download the app — https://experiencecasagrande.com/casa-grande-southwest-taco-trail — and drop by the Chamber to pick up a Taco Trail Official Passport.
