TACO TAKEDOWN & CHARITY CAR SHOW: THE ULTIMATE SHOWDOWN OF FLAVOR AND HORSEPOWER
HOLLAND, MI – In a new, collaborative community partnership, the Holland Civic Center partnered with Holland-based global company, JR Automation and JR Automation’s Community Care Fund (JRCCF) to present a wildly successful community event, Taco Takedown & Charity Car Show on Sunday, May 25. The free community event was open to the public with attendance reaching 2,100 people.
The event featured the Taco Takedown with four local food trucks, and two family based catering companies with only a tent and grills, the opportunity to compete for best taco. Each vendor was limited to serving their specialty taco, and the public voted via QR code for their favorite. The winner, Sandy’s catering is a family based catering company that started less than two years ago, specializing in authentic Mexican food. It is Sandy’s dream to one day grow from serving in a tent to a full-service food truck, and with the popularity she gained from the event, is well on her way to achieving that dream.
The charity car show featured over 150 classic, custom, and muscle cars. This was the fourth annual car show for JRCCF, but the first year at the Holland Civic Center. With the new partnership and location, they increased the number of registered cars by over 70, almost double. In terms of dollars raised for charity, the first year JRCCF donated $3,000, last year $11,000, and this year with the new partnership were able to quadruple that number to $36,000 including a dollar-for-dollar company match through the JR Automation Community Care Fund. The 10 local charity recipients include the local children’s hospital, hospice, Make a Wish, 2 homeless charities, food banks, veterans services, and the humane society.
The family friendly event was sure to include activities for all ages. The City of Holland Fire Department took time out of their busy schedule for community involvement, allowing kids
to climb into the cab of the fire truck. Additional activities included face painting, cornhole, latter toss, and coloring in exchange for candy.
The Civic Center provided an entertainment tent, with a local band providing a mix of classic rock cover songs, and a few original pieces. The tent also provided a bar with tasty beverages including craft beers, canned cocktails, and the specialty beverage of the day, a keepsake mug with root beer floats.
Holland Civic Center’s General Manager Kelleigh Tanton comments “This event is the cumulation of months of collaborative planning with the JR Automation team, food vendors, the City of Holland Fire Department, and community volunteers. We are thrilled with the turnout and outcome of the event, and it is our mission to provide the community with top notch service. It was a great day for attendees, vendors, and the community as a whole.”
JR Automation’s Global Director of Continuous Improvement & Quality, Greg Pothoff added, “At JR Automation, we believe in the power of community and the importance of giving back. The success of this event reflects what can happen when people come together with a shared purpose. We’re proud to support local charities and create meaningful experiences for families in our community.”
Given the success of the event, plans are in the works for an even bigger and better event next year. The plan is for more cars, more food vendors, and more attendees, making the event “better every time.” What made Taco Takedown & Car Show 2025 truly special was its ability to bring together so many different facets of the Holland community. Whether you were there for the food, the cars, the music, or simply the chance to soak in the good vibes with friends and family, the event offered something for everyone. For the team at Holland Civic Center and JR Automation, the success of the event underscored the power of collaboration, creativity, and community support. It was more than just a day of fun — it was a testament to what can be achieved when businesses, families, volunteers, and supporters come together.
