This Monday, the Perry community is invited to celebrate the start of the new school year and also partake in local cuisine at the first ever “Tacopalooza,” hosted by Des Moines Area Community College.

The DMACC VanKirk Career Academy in Perry will be the location for the event, which includes several local taco vendors. Eddie Diaz, Director of the Perry center, says the celebration is open to the public, though he says there’s some additional incentive for students to attend. Current students and staff at the VanKirk Academy will receive coupons for $1 off tacos throughout the evening. Diaz adds, students and the public will also be able to cast their votes for which truck provided their favorite taco, determining who has the best tacos in Perry.

“Tacopalooza” will run from 4-6 p.m. in the Railroad Street parking lot between the DMACC center and the Perry Public Library.