On Thursday, October 9, Dewey Beach will be buzzing with flavor, music, and creative energy as the Developing Artist Collaboration (DAC) presents TacoMania 2025 at The Rusty Rudder. Far more than a taco and margarita competition, TacoMania has become a beloved community tradition – part festival, part fundraiser, and all heart.
Over 500 guests will gather on the Rehoboth Bay to experience unlimited tastings from 28 local restaurants and food trucks, chefs, and mixologists, each competing for titles like Best Taco, Best Margarita, Best Rim Job, Wildest Taco, and Best Team Spirit. Alongside the culinary creativity, 21 local artists will showcase their talents, with highlights including the Skull Gallery silent auction – featuring 15 one-of-a-kind ceramic skulls – and a playful raffle with handmade piñatas created by DAC artists. Live music, beachside energy, and a VIP tequila tasting experience round out the night.
But behind the party, there’s a powerful purpose. TacoMania is DAC’s only annual fundraiser, and every ticket sold directly fuels the organization’s Artist-First Movement. Proceeds support:
Artist Rising: a youth entrepreneurship program empowering young creators.
EMERGE: DAC’s flagship mentorship and workforce development program for emerging artists.
Community events: free and low-cost arts programming across Sussex County.
Supporting TacoMania means investing in the artists who shape the culture and character of our region. Local arts organizations like DAC play a vital role in sustaining creative communities. They provide resources, mentorship, and visibility for artists while making art accessible to everyone. In a world where creative work is often undervalued, events like TacoMania remind us that art – whether on canvas, on stage, or even on a plate – has the power to connect, uplift, and transform.
From rising chefs and innovative mixologists to painters, sculptors, and musicians, TacoMania celebrates the artistry of craft in all its forms. It is proof that when community comes together around creativity, everyone benefits.
So mark your calendars for October 9 and prepare to feast, sip, dance, and support the future of local art. Because at TacoMania, food becomes art, and community truly becomes the canvas.
