The 69th Annual Manchester Chicken Broil set for July 16!

The 69th Annual Manchester Chicken Broil is Saturday, July 16, from 4 to 8pm at Alumni Memorial Field, Manchester. Tickets are $11 presale or $12 at the gate. Cash and debit/credit accepted.

submitted by Jeff Mann, Chicken Broil co-chair

The 69th Annual Manchester Chicken Broil is a decades-long, entirely volunteer-run tradition in the Village of Manchester, located 25 minutes outside Ann Arbor in Washtenaw County. Set for 4–8pm on Saturday, July 16, 2022, at the Alumni Memorial Field, this is the second year the Chicken Broil has taken place on a Saturday (previously it was the third Thursday in July), something Chicken Broil co-chair Jeff Mann is eager to build upon: “We switched to Saturday to draw more families who had a hard time making it during the weeknights because of work the next day. By making it more accessible to families on the weekend, the goal is to try and get more folks acclimated to downtown Manchester, where they can explore the community and make it a day trip. We also thought, if we’re going to make the date change, last year was the year because we missed 2020. It made sense to test the switch and we were pleased with the turnout.”

Tickets for the Broil cost $11 presale, which can be purchased from a variety of local businesses, or $12 at the gate. Credit/debit cards are accepted. You can also buy tickets online through the Chicken Broil’s website. Tickets include a delicious chicken dinner complete with half a chicken, a roll and butter, freshly made coleslaw from a secret local recipe, radishes, chips, and a beverage.

Drive-through and carry-out options are available, or you can dine on the field.

After having to cancel 2020’s Broil due to the pandemic, newly elected co-chair (taking over for his predecessor, Mike Tindall), Mann has great expectations for what the 2022 Chicken Broil has in store and hopes to keep the momentum from 2021’s successful year going. He says, “We want to sell out and for attendees to stick around and enjoy the live entertainment. Last year was great, but this year has the potential to be even better. Because at the end of the day, all the money goes back into the community.”

This year’s proceeds are going toward Chi-Bro Park’s expansion purposes, which include a disc golf course and a pickleball court, among other things. Mann concludes, “Each year we’re reminded why we continue this tradition. We can’t thank the volunteers enough for their dedication. It takes roughly 500 volunteers for the Chicken Broil to operate every year and without them, none of this would be possible. As they say, it takes a village.”

For more information, visit www.manchesterchickenbroil.com

Scan the QR code to purchase tickets.

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by Sara Swanson

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