Get tickets now for May 10, 2025! Find your new favorite taco in town, with options from over 15 different local vendors—including El Trompo Mexican Grill, Mazunte, El Caporal Mexican Bar and Grill, J’s Fish Tacos, El Cardenal Taqueria, Jenn’s Hot Tamale, El Vaquero, Casa Mexico, El Taco Veloz, El Asadero Bar & Grill, and more—all in one beautiful location: Smale Riverfront Park on the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, OH.
Margaritas will be flowing, as well as an exclusively brewed Mexican Lager from local sponsor Fifty West Brewing Company ( FiftyWestBrew.com ) and canned cocktails from local sponsor Canvus Premium Cocktails ( Facebook.com/DrinkCanvus ).
Tickets are required for entry and are $10 in advance ($15 day-of), but it should be noted that Entry Tickets are limited to help prevent long lines. Attendees will be able to choose from one of two available sessions: 12–4pm or 5:30–9:30pm. The first 250 people through the gate at each session will receive a 2oz sample bag of “Covington Gold Dust” by Farmer Nate’s Hot Sauce. Tickets to attend are now on sale at CincyTicket.com/RealTacoFest or via our website.
Once inside the fest, attendees can purchase food and drink tickets for $4 each that will be redeemed by Vendors when ordering. A “Super Taco Pack” in the form of 11 food and drink tickets for $40 is also available for advanced purchase with an Entry Ticket—that is to say, a free taco awaits you for planning ahead. Vendors will have a limited menu focusing on street tacos, however, premium options, additional side items and desserts may be found. Rest assured, the formula will largely remain the same across the festival from all food Vendors: 1 Ticket = 1 Taco. A complete list of Vendors and offerings will be provided closer to the date of the festival, but an up-to-date list can be found on our website.
Additional entertainment includes a live DJ and a small assortment of lawn games. The event is very much family-friendly with children 10 and under free to attend, as well as access to the park’s built-in playground attractions and frozen paletas for sale by Streetpops. For the brave of heart and iron of stomach, this year’s festival will introduce a spicy eating challenge, where a small group of attendees who have placed their name in a hat at the Farmer Nate booth will be chosen to speed-eat 5 tacos doused in a uniquely formulated “criminally hot” sauce, with the winner receiving an assortment of prizes (to-be-announced).
A portion of the proceeds from The Real Taco Fest 2025 will benefit their non-profit partner, The Ion Center for Violence Prevention, in their mission to support all survivors who have been impacted by power-based personal violence (sexual and/or intimate partner violence) by offering 24/7, free and confidential responsive services, as well as survivor-centered advocacy programs that engage with individuals and local communities to prevent violence.
Also check out other Festivals in Cincinnati, Nonprofit events in Cincinnati.
