Last Thursday, May 8th, 2025, Manchester was alive with energy, flavor, and music and I had the chance to experience it all. As a Manchester Proud intern, I spent the evening with my family and best friend enjoying one of the city’s most beloved spring traditions: the annual Taco Tour, followed by an incredible performance at A Night of Jazz, hosted by the Manchester School District Music Department at the Rex Theatre.
The Taco Tour has brought together local restaurants, food trucks, and small businesses to transform downtown Manchester into a vibrant culinary celebration. Elm Street buzzed with activity as families, friends, and food lovers gathered to try $3 tacos of every variety each uniquely crafted by the city’s own chefs and taquerias. Some stands even sold t-shirts and desserts, adding extra flavor and flair to the evening.
This year, more than 100 restaurants competed for the highly coveted titles of Best Taco and Most Creative Taco. But what made the competition even more special was the trophy itself, a symbol of excellence that was crafted by local students. The Greater Manchester Chamber, which hosts the Taco Tour, collaborated with the Manchester School of Technology (MST) to create a one-of-a-kind award. Students Megan Shamer of MST High School and Corah Daigle of Londonderry High School designed and built the trophy using Autodesk Inventor software and 3D printing technology.
The result? A stunning piece featuring Manchester’s iconic City Hall, topped with a hard-shell taco—a creative and meaningful tribute to both the city and the festival. “This was a highlight of the school year,” said Daigle. “Knowing we were designing something that is going to be part of such a large event in Manchester.” Shamer added, “I would like to receive this as a trophy! It’s cool to see the outcome of the work.”
Dan Colburn, Advanced Design Technology teacher at MST, praised the project for giving students a real-world experience, from client request to final product. “This experience replicated what professionals do in industry,” he noted. Superintendent Jennifer Chmiel also expressed her appreciation, calling it “an amazing way to bring a real-world experience into the classroom.”
After enjoying some of the many incredible tacos and soaking in the excitement on Elm Street, we headed to the Rex Theatre for A Night of Jazz. The performance by Manchester School District’s student musicians was a perfect finale to the evening filled with talent, passion, and pride. The music carried the same spirit of community and creativity that the Taco Tour celebrated just blocks away.
Nights like these remind us why Manchester is such a special place: where education, small business, art, and culture come together to create something unforgettable. From the hands that crafted tacos to the students who designed a trophy, and the young musicians who brought down the house.
