Manchester prepares for the 65th Chicken Broil

Manchester’s 65th Chicken Broil is coming up Thursday, July 19th from 4pm to 8pm on Alumni Memorial Field. This long-time community undertaking requires approximately 550 volunteers and is considered the largest event of its kind, serving approximately 10,000 meals in a four-hour period. Each meal includes half a chicken, a roll with butter, fresh made cole slaw with a secret local recipe, radishes, chips and bottled water.

Tickets for meals are $9 in advance or $10 at the event. In the Manchester area tickets are available for sale at Comerica Bank, Frank’s Place Restaurant, Gistinger & Gistinger Law Office, Keith’s Barber Shop, Manchester Market, Manchester Pharmacy, Manchester Village Offices, Marti’s Salon, Pyramid Office Supply, Sutton Agency, Old National Bank, Village Tap, River Raisin Antiques and Mercantile, Ash Auto, Fredonia Grocery, Linda’s Diner, Manchester Feed & Supply, Manchester True Value Hardware, Wacker’s BP, Hungry Wolf Restaurant, United Producers, Bridgewater Depot, and Chelsea Lumber Co./Bridgewater.

For the 4th year, there will be a drive-through line in addition to the walk-up carry-out line at the entrance of Alumni Field. The drive-through begins on Hibbard Street, then heads west on Duncan Street, then travels south on Wolverine Street. There will be signs. If you want to eat at the event but have trouble finding parking, there is free parking and a free shuttle bus from Riverside Intermediate School (formerly Manchester Middle School) located at 710 East Main Street. 

Michael Tindall, co-chair of the Manchester Chicken Broil reminds volunteers that the After-Broil will be at the Parish Center this year and that the Chicken Broil Committee would like to thank the Borek-Jennings administration for the very generous contribution they made in past years to our committee and community by allowing the use of their facility.

This year the Chicken Broil Committee will be donating $10,000 to the Manchester Community Schools and $10,000 to the Village of Manchester from last years Chicken Broil proceeds and another $10,000 to each organization from this years proceeds, for a total of $20,000 to each organization.

The Village will be using the funds to help complete phase 2 of the shared use trail which runs through the village on an old rail bed, and the Schools will use the money to add “Manchester” lettering in both end zones and an  “M” on the 50 yard line of the new artificial turf that will be installed on the  football/soccer field in the athletic complex.

Tindall stated, “We are hoping our weather committee will help out once again this year to ensure the weather is nice and comfortable for our patrons to enjoy their meals on the 19th of July.”

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.