Taco Fiesta returns to Lakeside Mall this weekend with a tribute to shopping center

A woman receives her order from a taco truck at a previous event. (PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHIGAN TACO FIESTA)

A huge celebration takes place this weekend at Lakeside Mall featuring taco and food trucks, live entertainment, pro wrestling, yard games and even a trivia contest for the soon-to-be-closed shopping center.

Michigan Taco Fiesta runs Friday-Sunday in the mall’s parking lot near JC Penney along Lakeside Circle on the Hall Road (M-59) side. It’s one of the last public events before Lakeside formally shuts down July 1 as the owners move forward on a $1 billion redevelopment plan.

“Being that this will be one of the last events, we’re putting together an impromptu trivia contest about the mall, sort of a tribute to Lakeside,” said event producer Kim Mellon.

Mellon, of St. Clair Shores, said the three-day celebration is a fundraiser for Youth Sports Scholarships, which helps families who can’t pay for youth sports, particularly soccer. The organization also donates money to four different clubs.

The Taco Fiesta includes taco trucks and vendors from approximately 20 area eateries, including some offering several dishes aside from tacos. One will be voted as the winner of the “Best Taco” award.

Other highlights include:

• Live entertainment on two stages
• A Fantasia Folklorico dance exhibit and salsa dancing lessons
• Lucha Libre Wrestling
• Retail vendor booths
• A hot pepper contest, taco competition, and a cutest dog contest
• Yard games
• Adult beverages

Organizers say they aren’t sure if future Taco Fiestas will be held in a different location or if they will return to Lakeside’s property.

“We are hoping to continue to do events until they officially get going on the demolition,” Mellon said. “It’s a great location, centrally located in the heart of Macomb County.”

Fiesta hours are 4- p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and noon-7 p.m. Sunday at Lakeside Mall on Hall Road (M-59) and Schoenherr roads in Sterling Heights.

Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the gate. For a full schedule and more information, visit michigantacofiesta.com.