Salsa and Tequila Challenge

Had a great time tequila was very good, love that some of the vendors were very informed on the tequila.

This was a very well organized event. Had at least 20+ vendors all serving up specialty drinks, food & salsa. Despite the rain every vendor seemed to do ok & didn't seem to bother them.

An incredibly unique and delicious event for all the foodies. The perfect outdoor venue, at La Encantada Mall. Live music and taco, salsa, tequila, beer, and even tea sampling's from many restaurants and caterers. So many varieties to try and vote on. It's not easy picking the best, because they are all fantastic. Some unique twists that are mouth watering. It rained but that didn't stop the band from playing or the patrons from dancing. A must visit event!

A perfect night to enjoy salsa, tequila and tacos at La Encantada. Although it was very crowded - the wait was longer than desired at a lot of the booths - there was some great, creative food and drinks. The live music was a welcome bonus. The wife and I enjoyed ourselves and look forward to next year's event!

17 tacos to try, tequila, margaritas and salsa. Fun flavorful event, I hope the continue to hold this event. The only downfall is craming that all in to 2 hours.

WHOA!One of the best events I've ever been to. You should definitely start with getting a uber/lyft drive to the event because you will leave drunk. You should also arrive early because once the voting is done, most vendors start leaving. So if you are trying to get a taste of everything, you need to arrive early. There are two levels worth of vendors and I barely got to finish the bottom floor. They have everyone from small locally owned restaurants to chefs from top rated hotel chains. There is a lot of creativity, everything from infused tequila to dessert tacos to smoked salsa. Bring some cash because there are some vendors that are not part of the challenge but have awesome food and drink to sell.Will definitely attend next year.

This is a must try for everyone in Tucson! It was so much fun and worth the ticket price! I went with a couple of friends and their 6 year old. I'm very glad we brought water with us. They had bottles, but you had to look for booth that still had them. My friends' son had fun even though the event isn't as kid friendly as it could be. There was plenty of food for him to try and the booth with the tequila snow cones thankfully had virgin options for the under age attendees! He liked the dancers and the music! The quantity and quality of the food and beverages was amazing! I ate way too much and the drinks were great! The music and performers were excellent and beautiful! I was beyond full by the end of the night and we didn't even get to the upstairs booths. It was nice to see some familiar Yelp faces at their booth! And I was very appreciative of the fans they were handing out! The event was very crowded but everyone was moving pretty well. The booths were professionally and exceptionally efficient at telling about their samples and keeping the tables stocked! My tip: bring water and keep a plate! Your hands will get full of yummy-ness fast!

Great food, cocktails and a showcase of Tucson's best chefs! This event is a great venue to experience some unique salsas and drinks made especially for this one-time event

Annual event sponsored by the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance. What better way to have fun than to celebrate your key food groups, salsa, tequila and tacos? Held at the La Encantada Shopping Center with vendors spread out among the facility. Rain threatened to pose an issue but it really just helped keep the heat at bay and we fortunately didn't get too wet. Lots of tasty samples of the previously mentioned categories. The one standout of the evening was a total shocker for me. It was the Tecate Travelling Taco from the Tequila Factory (Casino del Sol). It was Tecate braise birria over Fritos with a few other goodies added served in the Fritos bag. It was actually one of the tastiest and most convenient foods to walk and eat. That raises a recommendation for organizers, more standing tables please. It became awkward at times carrying a bag of chips, salsa, a drink and trying to stand and eat. Also signing was not always readily visible so it was hard to determine who some of the vendors were. There were lots of great offerings whose creators didn't get the proper recognition because people were trying to figure out who they were. Some people would ask, but not everyone. Overall it was a fun event worth checking out.

The festival is back after several years. It's as good as ever. This year the venue was at the El Conquistador. It's a bit pricey so next year be sure to register early. If you sign up for the emails there will be a discount coupon code. I loved it at La Encantada but there's some advantages to an indoor site. No weather concerns, ample parking, and all the conveniences of a experienced operation. The mariachis had brief and enjoyable slots and were relevant to the theme but some of the other entertainment was a bit loud. The food was fabulous. It was so fun to check out each table. There was such an array! Some restaurants went all in with beautiful decor and lively servers. I enjoyed each margarita - from the simple ones to the cocktails with more complexity. There were long lines for the tequila tastings so you have to do some pacing and some planning! My husband and I spread out and got samples from different sites then met up to consume several samples. We also got recommendations from people at the shared tables. There's not generous seating, nor do you have much time to lounge, so wear comfortable shoes. Make sure to vote because these restauranteurs take the competition seriously. We had a great time, sampled delicious food and drinks, and got some new ideas for date night locations. You can check out the Facebook page for Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance to see the competitors and winners. I highly recommend this event.