ROCK FALLS, ILLINOIS (September 14, 2026) — Who loves tacos and wrestling? Rock Falls Tourism is bringing both together for an exciting evening of food, entertainment and family fun at the Taco Throwdown Festival on Friday, September 25, at the RB&W District.
The Taco Throwdown Festival will take place 4-10PM at the RB&W District, located at 201 E 2nd Street in Rock Falls. The event celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month and will feature food vendors, live wrestling, music, dancing, local businesses, nonprofit organizations, craft vendors and low-rider cars.
One of the highlights of the evening will be the Best Taco Contest. Local food vendors will compete for the title of Best Taco, and attendees can purchase $2 sample tacos from participating vendors before voting for their favorite. The vendor receiving the most votes will take home $100 cash, a trophy, and bragging rights. Returning as the two-time reigning champion is Brito’s Grill, which will be looking to claim the Best Taco title for a third consecutive year.
For those who like their tacos with a little competition, the Taco Eating Contest will begin at 6PM on the street in front of the RB&W District Park. Ten brave contestants have signed up to compete to see who can eat the most tacos in ten minutes.
Winner will take home $100 cash, a trophy, and bragging rights. This year, spectators will have a much better view of the competition thanks to Boss Roofing-Siding Experts, who will provide a trailer for the contestants to compete on. The elevated setup will allow everyone to see the contestants throughout the competition and cheer them on.
ZOWA Live Wrestling will also return to the RB&W District by popular demand, bringing high-energy wrestling action to the festival. Wrestling matches will take place at 5PM and 7PM.
The entertainment will continue 8–10PM when DJ Pelon takes over, playing favorite hits and inviting everyone to grab their friends and hit the dance floor.
“Events like the Taco Throwdown Festival are a great way to bring our community together and provide something fun for the entire family,” said Rock Falls Tourism Director Melinda Jones.
“We are excited to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month while showcasing local food vendors, businesses, and organizations and providing a night of entertainment that people of all ages can enjoy.”
Rock Falls Tourism extends its appreciation to the event’s sponsors for helping make community events like the Taco Throwdown Festival possible. Their support allows Rock Falls Tourism to continue bringing fun, family friendly entertainment to the community. The Taco Throwdown Festival is free to attend, with food, vendor activities, and other attractions available for purchase.
Event Schedule:
• 4PM — Festival begins
• 5PM — ZOWA Live Wrestling
• 6PM — Taco Eating Contest
• 7PM — ZOWA Live Wrestling
• 8PM — Announcement of “Best Taco” winner
• 8–10PM — DJ Pelon
For more information about the Taco Throwdown Festival, contact Rock Falls Tourism at 815-622-1106 or visit us on FB at VisitRockFalls.
