(La Porte, IN) - Hundreds of tacos were served in just the first hour to a street full of people turning out on a cool and damp evening.

         

The wait from long lines at each food vendor was 30 minutes or longer, but Lori Larson of LaPorte and other people enjoying the festive atmosphere didn’t seem to mind very much. 

 

“We’re standing with our friends and the music is fun and it’s a good vibe,” Larson said.

The first-ever Friday night Taco Fest in downtown LaPorte was deemed an absolute success by Mayor Tom Dermody and others in attendance. Dermody estimated more than 400 people came out. 

         

There were concerns rain would keep people away, but the skies dried up just before food and craft beer started being served and Latin music began filling the air. The rain also stopped in time for judges to sit down at a picnic table without getting wet and decide which vendor served the “Best Taco.”

         

Taco Fest was the latest in a series of outdoor events drawing large crowds this year to Monroe St. just north of Lincolnway.

 

“It’s great,” said Javier Perez, who came with his wife, Maribel, and 10-year old daughter, Lily. Perez said the music played by a disc jockey added to the experience. 

 

“It’s a pretty authentic feeling,” he said.

Brealon Hervey, the owner of Social Que Barbecue and Catering in Michigan City, said he served roughly 200 tacos from his mobile kitchen in the first 60 minutes of the five-hour event.

 

“It’s working out good. The lines are still long and it’s nice everybody is getting business,” Hervey said.

The crowd also seemed to enjoy the lights strung above a one-block section of Monroe St. in the spring to host Friday night events when the bulbs came on at dusk.

 

Charity Hlavsa, the nearby Hot Spot Café, had to run out and get more bubble tea after selling out of the beverage just before the skies darkened. Unfortunately, Hlavsa didn’t bring more because it was raining while setting up her booth underneath a canopy.

 

“I didn’t expect anybody to be here.  I’m completely shocked,” Hlavsa said. 

The size of the crowd had not diminished much when the event was over at 10 PM.

 

Dermody said the idea for Taco Fest came from a desire to celebrate the city’s Hispanic population and send a message that LaPorte is a “welcoming community.”

 

A recent concert by Tom Petty and John Cougar Mellencamp tribute bands was also the first in a line-up of musical performances scheduled at the Civic Auditorium in the coming months.  Dermody said the events are in response to a demand expressed by citizens and to keep from going elsewhere for things to do.

 

“This is the new LaPorte. This is what we do,” he said.