Medicine Park restaurant holds annual Taco Run

Medicine Park restaurant Small Mountain Street Tacos is having it’s 7th annual Taco Run April 11-13 in Medicine Park.

The run brings long distance riders from all over the country and parts of the world to come together, catch up on life and eat delicious tacos.

There will also be a hot taco eating contest, where up to 20 participants can attempt to eat 3 tacos up to 5 million SHU and win the championship belt. If they tap out, throw up, or spit out the tacos, they’re out.

This years run will start Friday, with live music in the evening. On Saturday, they will kick off with the annual photo being taken at noon, with the Annual Hot Taco Eating Contest following at 2 p.m. To enter the contest, interested persons must pay $25. On Sunday, they will see the riders home.

“The Taco Run came to being when a group of long distance riders rode into Medicine Park back in 2018,” Chas Callich, owner and operator of Small Mountain Street Tacos said. “This special group of riders called themselves the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Riders and were made up from all walks of life. Back in 2018, they rode their own journeys which started and finished right downtown Medicine Park.”

Instead of a Poker Run, where riders check in, drive to a location checkpoint and continue until the run is over, the Taco Run riders will travel from their homes all the way to Medicine Park for the weekend to have a good time, then drive home, Callich said.

They have the run every two years, but there are off years for one year to accommodate other riders, Callich said. Every year, the event gets bigger. This year, they’re expecting around 400 riders to come.

“We have become such a big event that, last year, we officially became an Iron Butt Association Certified event,” Callich said. “If you ride 1,000 miles under 24 hours, you receive your IBA Certificate. At the end of the calendar year, riders add up their certificates to determine who amongst them has the best Iron Butt.”

All proceeds will go towards the hand picked charity for the event, Fishy’s Friends Rescue. The nonprofit is a foster-based rescue dedicated to saving homeless dogs. Anyone wanting to donate things like blankets, food or money can bring them to 172 E. Lake Dr. Mountain Park. from April 11-13.