New sights and scenes at the Chicken Broil in 2023

Nick from Iorio Gelato is getting “the goods” to Jeff Mann, co-chair of the Manchester Chicken Broil!

by Marsha Chartrand

Even after 70 years, there can always be something new at the Manchester Chicken Broil.

And in its 70th year, some new partnerships are developing, new activities are in store for the kids, and new Chicken Broil merchandise will be available on the field only the day of the Broil! Don’t miss your opportunity to get out of the car and take a stroll around Alumni Field to see what’s new and cool as the Broil enters its seventh decade.

The MHS Robotics Team will be selling Iorio Gelato, made in Manchester at the Manchester Market location, during the Chicken Broil. Three flavors will be available — vanilla, chocolate, and lemon. All the gelato (Italian ice cream) is made locally right here in Manchester. Two Manchester Originals in one location!

“Gelato is healthier than ice cream because it contains less milk fat,” says Jeff Mann, co-chair of the Chicken Broil. “It uses milk instead of heavy cream; but it’s also more dense than ice cream because it contains less air.

“It is pretty exciting to be able to sell something a little different at the Broil that is made right here in town,” Mann continues. “This gelato will only be available on the field, so those in the drive-through line will not be able to purchase unless they come on to the field.”

Also driving foot traffic onto Alumni Field will be a new children’s area, the “Kids Coop,” which will include a coloring area and stickers. Those kids who color a picture and leave it for the display will receive a small prize. More activities are still being worked out, so stay tuned for more information throughout the week.

And … a brand-new style of Chicken Broil hats, by popular request, along with new sweatshirts and the standard Chicken Broil apparel, will be for sale only on the field for your browsing pleasure.

Do you usually just hit up the drive-through lane or walk up and get your boxes of chicken? You just might want to change your habits this coming weekend. There’s a whole new way to celebrate “charcoal-broiled chicken cooked to perfection” this year. Bring the family down to the field and have a tasty gelato for dessert, enjoy a shady respite in the Kids Coop, or get yourself the latest in Chicken Broil swag at the Original Site of the 1954 Broil (and the fence that was built with the resulting profits).

Get your tickets ahead of time at most local businesses for just $12, online for just $13, or pay when you get there. It’s definitely a bargain, any way you look at it!

See you at the 70th Annual Manchester Chicken Broil … THIS Saturday … July 15 from 4 to 7:30pm.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.