New downtown festival pairs tacos, live music

Los Cocos Mexican Restaurant will be one of more than 30 taquerias participating in Taco fest. Los Cocos Mexican Restaurant will be one of more than 30 taquerias participating in Taco fest. Photo: Mike Sutter /San Antonio Express-News Photo: Mike Sutter /San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 140 Caption Close New downtown festival pairs tacos, live music 1 / 140 Back to Gallery

How do you improve any party? C’mon now, everyone in San Antonio knows that. Add tacos, natch.

Organizers of Taco Fest: Music y Más certainly have that figured out. The new music and food festival will be noon to 11 p.m. April 14 at La Villita.

Tortillas and tunes will be plentiful, with more than 30 taquerias and 20 live bands and DJs slated to appear. All participating food vendors have agreed to offer at least one $2 taco in addition to other menu items.

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"There have been taco festivals springing up around the country," festival spokeswoman Faith Radle said, citing Dallas' Taco Libre and the Tropicália Taco & Music Festival in Long Beach, California. "It's something we've been talking about because San Antonio's signature food is our tacos. We wanted to celebrate that and have some fun."

Taco Fest creative director Jimmy Mendiola has been attached to several other festivals, including Día de los Muertos Fest, Maverick Music Festival and the Texas Salsa Festival.

Taco Fest will be in the same venue, and around the same date, as last year’s Maverick Music Festival.

Radle, who serves as spokeswoman for both events, said Taco Fest was not conceived as a replacement for the Maverick Music Festival, which launched in 2013. Organizers, she said, are still working on plans for Maverick but do not have any details to release at this time.

Restaurants participating in Taco Fest include Chela’s, Chisme, Don Pablo’s Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant, La Casa de Barbacoa, Los Cocos Mexican Restaurant and Frutería, Mr. Meximum, Soluna, Tacos and Marioli, Tomatillos, Tommy’s Restaurant and others

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The music lineup includes San Antonio rockers Girl in a Coma, conjunto great Santiago Jimenez Jr., Grammy-nominated Los Angeles band La Santa Cecilia, Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath, Money Chicha, El Conjunto Nueva Ola, Piñata Protest, Femina-X, Bombasta and Eddie & the Valiants.

Tickets now cost $15 to $75, with children ages 10 and under free. Sale prices will rise through the day of the event. More at tacomusicfest.com.