The 2025 Tacco Festival is known as the Viva Taco Fest or Festival depending on what sign or…read morewebsite you are looking at. It's held in North Las Vegas at Craig Ranch Park on Craig Road. Tickets were $15.00 this year but you could purchase tickets early and pay $13.00 a person. This got you in but other purchases are separate. Besides tacos this also is a Dia De Muertos Festival and other activities. Parking was free and close. As you enter there are LOTS of venders selling all kinds of things. Then you see all large section of Day of the Dead displays. Then you finally get to most of the food venders. A little further is a stage with blaring loud Mexican Music and nearby are covered seating areas and more venders and porta potties. Th is billed as the largest taco festival in the country. I didn't count the actual amount of different taco venders but it seemed like a lot less than other taco festivals I've attended. A lot of the food venders weren't even selling tacos. Also for some odd reason you can't do any research on the taco venders. A list of the venders doesn't appear anywhere so you have to pick what you try blindly. By FAR the very best tacos we tried came from Mr Papas. But we had to wait terribly long for them in the sunny sun. It was only 80 degrees but if felt like 100 since it was sunny. There were only a few people in front of us but it seemed like it all took forever. This spoiled it for us because after we tried their amazing tacos that were so mighty flavorful everyone else's sucked. I'll be on the look out for Mr Papas tacos but might be passing on future taco festivals. I like the Dia De Muertos Displays and it's nice that they have so many merchandise venders. I don't like that they don't publish a list of venders. Our local newspaper and local TV should do stories on the taco festival. They sure don't do enough. I find it strange.

I love Viva Taco Fest. There is so many food choices and desserts, and the watermelon margaritas…read moreare the best I've had!! Pricing isn't bad for the food rider and it's nice to get to try different places you normally wouldn't. The music is always fun and festive, and everyone is super nice. There's tons of shopping and activities going on everywhere you go. This year has been the biggest yet and it was great!! I'm glad the paved the parking lot too!!

The Great Las Vegas Taco Festival in 2023 was held at Craig Ranch Park in North Las Vegas. Tickets…read morein advance were around $15. each. This was a three day event. Besides tacos they had carnival rides, margaritas, eating competitions, a chihuahua Beauty contest, a car show, craft venders, and more depending on the day and time you were there. We tried a bunch of tacos. They were all different. They were even different sizes. Most of the tacos were very good. Only from one place they were so over salted I couldn't eat them. Maybe one of the things they could have done better was to set up some standing tables around the place. They had an area of covered tables but depending on where you were it was a long walk. You also had to be careful where you walked because the ground is uneven in several places. Parking was close, free, and easy.

We have been coming to G and H every year. It's hard to believe it's been ten years! It has eve…read morelived through the years and you have your regulars that you enjoy seeing and tasting their food. The beer and wine can very, but you have the regulars there too. This was the first year, I felt it was a little off. Not the food! We loved mon ami gabi , strip burgers and el Segundo. No it was the over all venue. Hmmm how do I say this, it was a little bit more crowded and I don't think there was a good flow. I think partially because they closed the back garden area down. They said it was because of the wind. They were probably write. Flow and crowd control is essential. Maybe next year it will be different. The clusters of people were because the tastings were moved to several inside spaces. You would think, "isn't that a good idea?!" In part it is because it shelters the individuals who are tasting, but the issue is they were not moving through the spaces fast enough causing huge clusters in the rooms. The rooms had four to six tastings, so that meant more. And more people congregating. In the garden area, they are spread out more, so the distance elevates the clustering. Again, not a show stopper. The music could have been better.

This was my second year going. The lines were a lot shorter compared to last year. But I had lots…read moreof fun both years. I just talked and drank with my friends while waiting so it didn't feel that bad. It's a fun experience and they have a pretty good selection!

Bad Day - The one day in Las Vegas that it is pouring rain for an outdoor event. We got there 30…read moreminutes before the VIPS were suppose to be there and there was no parking. We were told that we could find another lot somewhere but decided that we didn't want to eat pizza slices in the pouring rain so we lost our money on this and ate at Bagelmania that is nearby. I will not take a chance on this festival again.

Founded in partnership with the Las Vegas Pizza Alliance, Novmber 15th marked Las Vegas' 5th Pizza…read moreFestival, and with participants including Good Pie, Pizza Rock, Metro Pizza, Signora and others the event at The Industrial Event Space was a tremendous success both for vendors and those fortunate enough to attend. Truly a showcase for local talent, and well-spaced across the outdoor venue downtown, it was shortly before noon that VIP guests gained entrance to taste more than twenty different Slices, each place showcasing their unique signature style, from classic Sicilian and Grandma to modern and even Gluten-free or Vegan. More celebration than competition, Metro's John Arena having long-fostered collaboration amongst would-be competitors, which Slice was "best" became moot almost immediately, though truth be told that honor would be a two-way tie between Signora Pizza Truck's Cacio e Pepe and Metro's faultless 86th Street Sicilian.

The Art Festival of Henderson takes place every Mother's Day Weekend (two days) on Water Street…read more It's Arts, Crafts, Music, and FOOD.And it BIG be prepared to walk a lot. It might be one of the biggest festivals near to Vegas. Don't worry about getting hungry because you walk by several restaurants and at the festival we saw over a dozen food trucks. I tried GBD Food Truck and got a Falafel Bowl. It was an extra generous amount of OK food. My husband made a really great find and tried the Hot Honey Chicken Sando from Goodhood Food Truck. WOW that was that great!!!! This is a Food Truck to look for. This is a pretty good festival to try. It's free to park and attend. We got lucky and found a close parking spot in the parking garage.

I may be a bit biased on this one, because even as I write this, my wife, Meldy Ibayan Ruado…read moreDesouza Shull, is at home in the Philippines tending our farm in Kimamon Parok 1 near Sto Tomas in Davao. But I must say that the Filipino American Museum is one of the best shows in Las Vegas. And this up-close-and-personal event is certainly one of the most cost-effective at $10 per person -- $5 per person if you are a senior person like me. You can't get anything with more heart here -- whether you're here for a visit while in Las Vega -- or whether you're a full-time resident. One of the reasons that this is the best show in town is because the board and staff here are some of the best in the business as far as ethnolinguistic cultural curation goes. Everyone here, even the young Coral, who sometimes greets folks at the door as part of her part-time work as a high-school student, brings the same heart that beats inside of this great city, because this metropolitan area is the one place outside of the Philippine Islands where you will find more Filipinos and Filipinas per capita in any city in the world. The excellence of this part museum, part live show starts at the top, of course with Mrs. Rozita Villanueva Lee, who is -- even now -- at an age most of us only hope to attain, a Las Vegas-based community leader and activist who at one time served as the leader of President Barack Obama's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. And that was not the pinnacle of her career, because she has been essential in getting the district cornered by Flamingo and Maryland Parkway officially designated as Filipino Town, not only because of its importance to the people of the Filipino diaspora that now call Las Vegas home, but also because the Filipino contribution to the glitz of this place we call the show place of the world is as incalculable as Mrs. Lee seems unstoppable. Even yesterday, when I had great fortune to meet her in person, Mrs. Lee was still attending to the blocking and tackling of the everyday operations that will make the celebrations of Filipino contributions to the world fabulous again this year. If you are as fortunate as I was, please make sure to shake Mrs. Lee's hand and say thank you. And if David Tupaz happens to be on duty as the chief tour guide the day you visit, you will be in for a treat... because he knows things that most curators and guides only hope to know. He is modest of course, because those who truly know often are. And these two luminaries are backed by folks like Rachel, the chief financial officer, who has deep ties into the Cebuano region even now, yet still takes the time to keep the inventory of the gift shop at tip-top shape -- and by a gentleman named Carl Magno, the rising Rupert Murdoch of all the Philippines, who runs the Mindanow Network (aka Mindanow.tv) back home, while he tends to raising the communications profile of the Filipino American Museum itself. And if things go well... you might even meet me there reading some of my Mabuhay Stories aloud (MabuhayStories.com) and inviting you to become receiver givers filling in the liminal spaces that are intentionally left in the stories per the Spirit of Kadayawan... a celebration of receiving our differences as a gift that makes us all stronger in the end, which is a key practice I have learned from being married to Meldy and having the opportunity to witness the fabulous spectacle of community unity that is the yearly Kadayawan Festival Celebration in Davao City. I offer this review to you -- bias and all -- my dear readers, so that you might not miss out on either the wonders you shall find at the Filipino American Museum at the Boulevard Mall just one or two bus stops North on Maryland Avenue from the Flamingo and Maryland corner (that's a 202 bus east from the strip at the Horseshoe, and a Red Line (old route 109 -- another improvement Mrs. Lee has helped make happen here) to the mall stops. Or if you happen to be stuck at the airport some Friday, Saturday, or Sunday afternoon, you can just take the Red Line up to the Boulevard Mall and back. And if you do, please note as does Mrs. Lee that this was once both the major thoroughfare through Las Vegas, and the heart of the city, because it's where the Rat Pack and company and friends and followers used to go back and forth from this city by air. And if Mrs. Lee and the rest of the folks here at the museum have anything to do with it... this place will be the cornerstone of the various Las Vegas neighborhood communities again -- for many years to come.

The Filipino American Museum is incredibly beautiful! They're located inside the Boulevard Mall…read more You'll find them near El Mercado and Galaxy Theatre. Grand opening was on June 12, 2026. Museum hours are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 12 noon to 6pm. General admission is $10 donation. Seniors and Students with ID is $5 donation. Children below 12 are Free. Inside is very clean and organized, I met Ron and asked if it was okay to take photos, I appreciate he is so welcoming! I explored the museum and love that they include a description on every display especially for the Maria Clara Dress and Barong Tagalog. There's a lot of wood furnishing, and the breakfast China cabinet, dining room, piano, vases, candles, and Filipino decor remind me so much of home. Plus there were various artifacts featuring indigenous collections and portraits that were interesting and educational. A lovely tour of the museum was presented by David. I listened as he gave a wonderful description about Spanish and China connection, he is knowledgeable, thorough, professional, and so polite in responding to questions. I highly recommend visiting The Filipino American Museum, the displays are amazing and it was nice learning about the history, culture, and people, especially the legendary Kalinga tattoo artist Apo Whang-Od, who is well-known in the Philippines. Everyone in the staff is very kind, friendly, and welcoming!

Vegas REALLY loves Brazil, judging by the number of people attending this festival! Vegas Loves…read moreBrazil made the Peruvian Independence Day Festival look like a PTA meeting in an elementary school cafeteria, or maybe a church potluck that permits dancing. Discount marketing (Groupon) and advertising go a long way. I arrived soon after the gates opened at 1:00 pm, and found that none of the vendors were really prepared to open. The beverage vendors weren't selling guarana yet, and they were waiting until 3:00 pm to get cups and pour caipirinhas. Soon, the inflatable games were up to entertain the kids, and a band from San Diego, Sol e Mar, took the stage and played a very enjoyable set. I stopped by the acai stand once they opened for business, and luckily got there before the long line of people. For $5, I enjoyed a generous serving of acai sorbet topped with fresh blueberries, bananas, strawberries, granola, and honey. The assembly took some time, as fruit was being cut to order! Hopefully, more assistants came to help them serve their tasty acai product after I left. Food was also available from Via Brasil and Texas de Brazil, staying true to the theme. Another vendor offered pizzas with toppings like hard boiled eggs. No funnel cakes, tornado potatoes, or corn dogs here! Prices seemed very fair for a festival, with most food options under $8. Waiting times in lines may have been an issue, but I left before most of the crowds arrived. The ampitheater is a great venue, and I will be back next year! The unique lineup of musical talent and opportunities to check out hot Samba ladies are well worth the $5 admission fee.

I saw an ad for Vegas Loves Brazil Festival on Livingsocial sometime last month and immediately…read morebought the deal. The deal was 2 for $45 and included admission, six food & drink tickets, t-shirt, flag and cd. Not bad for $22 a person. I knew it there was going to be plenty of people there, but fortunately we found parking. When we got there I had no issues with my deal and received everything, even a t-shirt in my size! When we went inside, it was like South America hit the desert! The smell of food in the air, live music playing, people dancing, laughing and having a good time. My mom and I took a stroll to see what other vendors were there. Vendors included Texas de Brazil, Via Brazil, Hawaiian Shaved Ice, Rio Soul Heineken, Acai stand, jewelry, apparel and more. All of the vendors were posted on the sidewalk, and the space was limited. Lines were very long and there was difficulty distinguishing what line was for what vendor. Since we had the food tickets, we could only use them at certain booths. Since I don't eat meat anymore, I had pizza, which used up all my tickets -$6. It was pretty good, and really big. My mom ate Brazilian food, I don't remember the name, but one of them had a similar name of Pasteles, which is a Puerto Rican dish. Wrapped beef and fried, then there was something else which was a thicker breading with chicken on the inside. My mom said she really liked it and said it reminded her of home, only it was a little bit too crunchy for her. We ate, chatted with the people around us, and watched the entertainment. The live entertainment was awesome! I loved watching the Samba dancers, they move so fast. They also had the little ones out there shakin' it as well, which was super cute. Different bands played and people danced right along with them. Before we left, Zumba dancers performed and they had the crowd dancing along with them. For the kiddies there were bounce houses, pony rides and they had a kids samba dance off. There was act after act and no down time. All in all, we had a great time and came home trying to samba dance to the cd we got. I can't wait for next years event, till then, I'll be playing the songs on my iPod.

After chowing down at Du-Pars, we walked across the street to check out the festivities…read more.. free admission to the public, people were able to enjoy free entertainment and enjoy some ono Hawaiian grindz like Kalua Pig, Poi Mochi, Huli-Huli Chicken and even Wayne's Sushi was there!(He hasn't found a definite location yet) there were some cool vendors, from polynesian tattoo artists, Hawaiian lei makers, and even a *Gyotaku artist. A great way to enjoy Hawaiian culture with friends and family. Next time I'll save room for some Poi Mochi!....ALOHA!!! *Gyotaku-The art of fish paintings on rice paper. The artist/fisherman takes the actual fish, paints the fish its natural colors, and presses it onto rice paper resulting in beautiful color and detail, and a pretty pricey piece of art.

You can't beat FREE!…read more California Hotel and Casino presents an annual Lei Day Polynesian Festival - this year marking their 15th one. I've attended a few and it makes for a nice day out with the family. It's held at the California Hotel Parking Lot Venue at Stewart and Main Streets. There are various booths selling almost anything you can find from the islands along with food vendors offering eats from Hawai'i, Samoa, and even the Cook Islands! Entertainment is ongoing, and what a supportive group of people that show up for this! There is definitely a lot of love for those performing and you can easily find shaded seating in the covered tent areas. It's not as congested as some of other (not free) aloha festivals in town, which I definitely appreciate. I would even suggest they have a few more vendors next year since it looks like they have the space for it. They could make the vendors booths a bit larger though because it's crowded and hot in those little booths. There is event parking ($5?) right next door or you can search around for some free downtown parking (good luck finding any at any of the nearby hotels). There are no ATMs at this location, which is a huge bother. You'll have to cross into California Hotel to use their old school ATMs. Overall, I always love anything that brings more culture and family-friendly activities to Vegas and much love to California Hotel for continuing this tradition.