While excitement circled this year’s Tampa Taco Festival on Saturday, Feb. 29, most people who attended were disappointed in the event.
The event had 36 food vendors and 15 non-food vendors. There was more then just tacos available empanadas, and even ramen noodles.
The event was scheduled from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and many people were frustrated and felt as though most, if not all, vendors were unprepared as many ran out of food by 3 p.m.
“I was very disappointed in the Taco Fest. I was expecting to have a great time with amazing tacos but having to wait in line for nearly 45 minutes just to find out they ran out of most of their menu was very frustrating,” said Taylor Kopke, who was waiting in line for Jimmy’s Tacos at the time.
This was not Kopke’s first time at the Tampa Taco Fest. She attended last year as well and was hoping they had worked out kinks. She did explain it was a slightly better experience than the year prior, but she does not plan on going back in years to come.
“After waiting in line for about an hour at El Toro Loco, they were out of two of the four tacos they offered. Overall, I was not satisfied with my choice for the taco stand I picked,” said Baylee Rodriguez.
Rodriguez also said that she waited forever to get drinks and that she believed that the drinks and tacos were way overpriced, especially for waiting nearly an hour for them.
No line was less than 30 people deep and when tacos are being made right in front of you, it takes time.
Outside of the lines and lack of food parking was awful. Unless you got to the event right when it opened, you had to park about a half-mile away. It was even worse to leave the event. No signs were pointing you in the directions of the exit, so you pretty much had to guess and hope you were going the right way to leave.
After the festival, taco enthusiasts went to Facebook to express their feelings toward the event.
Many people said it was a waste of time and money and that they will never go back. One taco fan even stated that she left the festival starving. Others said they enjoyed the food but the wait for most lines was not worth it. Very few people said they will try again next year in hopes things will get better.
General admission tickets were $5 in advance and $10 at the door. VIP tickets were $25 and sold out online about a day after tickets went on sale.