Jess Nelson Okay so Tacos & Tequila Festival took over Colorado Springs on August 8, 2026 with Petey Pablo, Bubba Sparxxx, Chamillionaire, Chingy, Ginuwine, and T.I., aka the most nostalgic lineup ever. The music was SO good and the crowd was unreal, but it was also hot enough to ruin my life, and the festival could’ve done a little more to help us survive it.
Not gonna lie, I spent a good chunk of this festival trying not to pass out. It was SO hot. I actually had to step away to find food and shade, which means I missed Petey Pablo. But even while I was melting, I was having the time of my life. The lineup alone was worth the drive down from Denver to Colorado Springs.
The Atmosphere
Okay, first of all, the people. Everyone was having such a good time. It felt like being back in college, at the club, dancing to songs you somehow still know every single word to. Everyone was in their feelings and so, so happy to be there. That energy was my favorite part of the whole day.
Now, the heat. I was SO miserable. I tried to be smart and bring a reusable water bottle, but it was the wrong kind and they wouldn’t let me in with it, so RIP to my bottle. Someone was nice enough to give me a water, but I couldn’t find a single refill station anywhere, so I had to preserve b/c I refused to pay for more water LOL. Even after the sun went down and we were getting close to T.I.’s set, I couldn’t cool off. And as more people packed in, it got even hotter. A few water refill stations and some cooling spots would’ve made such a difference at an outdoor August festival. I know some of that might be venue restrictions, but still!
And the food. There were taco trucks everywhere, which, duh, it’s Tacos and Tequila. But I was starving and desperate, so I just went to the truck with the shortest line. Girl. The tacos were AWFUL. Like so bad and NO FLAVOR. Thankfully for them I don’t remember the name so they are spared this public outrage I’m having. Lesson learned: there’s a reason the line was short.
But I need to give a huge shoutout to 98.9 Magic FM, one of the festival sponsors and a local Colorado Springs station. They let me hang in their shaded tent and even kept my water in their cooler so it stayed cold, which genuinely saved me. They were so kind and I’m so grateful. S/o Soliyah & Jeff!
Okay, and photographer rant for a sec. They let a lot of people photograph and cover the festival, which is probably why there was no photo pit. We were stuck in a sectioned-off area by the front of the stage, right next to people standing at the barricade, so I was basically shooting through the crowd. Not exactly ideal when you’re trying to actually cover a show. No space to move around was SO limiting. I made it work, obviously, but I would have loved better access (I’m snobby now when I cover shows *sassy hair flip*).
The Music
Okay, the music. Like I said, I missed Petey Pablo because I was off trying not to die, but everyone else was incredible.
Bubba Sparxxx opened up my night, and his songs were literally everything in high school. Hearing them live took me right back. He also had someone on stage with him rocking a blue fashion hat and it was ALL I COULD LOOK AT. Such a vibe. Hi, blue hat man!
Chamillionaire absolutely crushed it. He pulled fans up on stage to rap with him, and I LOVE when artists do that. It makes the whole crowd feel like part of the show. Oh, he also noticed and shouted out a long time fan and member of his fan club and even invited him backstage to hang with him after his set. I’ll say it again, I love love love when artists acknowledge and elevate the fan experience in this way.
Chingy. Oh my god. I was LIVING for his set. It got cut short because he went over his time, so he just started rapping a cappella, and it was amazing. Honestly iconic and I loved his “fuck you” and kept going anyways.
Ginuwine was probably my least favorite set of the night, but only because I didn’t know as many of his songs, and since he’s more R&B, it was slower than everything else. But he made up for it so hard. There was a little walkway with stairs that jutted out into a gap in the crowd, and he walked right down the middle saying hi to so many people. He literally stopped right in front of me. I could’ve hugged him! But I was in photo mode, trying to get shots of him and the fans, so I had to stay professional (but like, fuck professionalism, I be having fun while doing this).
And then T.I. He was great, but by the time he came on, I was SO drained. More people had crowded into where I was standing, so it was even hotter, and I had an hour-long drive home. I stayed for maybe 30 minutes and then had to tap out. I would love to see him again when I’m not miserable so I can actually see the whole set.
Photo Credit: Jess Nelson Media
Final Thoughts
No hate on the festival, I promise! The lineup was amazing, the crowd was so fun, and the throwback vibes were exactly what I needed. But the heat, no water refills, and no real space for photographers made it harder to enjoy than it should’ve been. A little more planning around heat and hydration would make this festival so much better. Would I go back? Honestly, yes, for the music alone. Next time I’m just coming more prepared.
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