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	The Manchester Enterprise A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

Chicken Broil preparations under way

Manchester's largest event slated to take place July 17 at 4 p.m.

By Ed Patino, Staff Writer

PUBLISHED: July 10, 2008

Good food and civic pride will be on display July 17 as the Manchester Chicken Broil takes place at Alumni Field.

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The event, which celebrates its 55th year, is regarded as Manchester's largest and most famous community festival. The chicken dinners will be served from 4 to 8 p.m.

Advance tickets for dinners are $7 and can be purchased at various businesses around Manchester. Visitors can also purchase tickets at the gate for $8. Businesses in Bridgewater, Chelsea, Clinton, Brooklyn, Grass Lake, Napoleon and Saline are also selling pre-sale tickets.

Each dinner features a chicken half, roll, chips, radishes and a special cole slaw featuring a "secret ingredient" that is well guarded by the community.

An estimated 11,000 chicken dinners were served in a four-hour span last year. The event record is 14,000, set during the Chicken Broil's 50th anniversary in 2003.

"We had 12,500 (chickens) ordered last year," chairman Karl Racenis said. "Hopefully the weather will be favorable this year and we can do better."

Despite loosing over half their equipment to a electrical fire in October 2007, Racenis said the equipment has since been replaced and preparations for the event are running smoothly.

"Preparation has been going well," Racenis said. "We have a few last minute things to work out, but everything is getting ready to go."

About 240 volunteers from Manchester work the Chicken Broil. They are divided into several committees, including firemen, charcoal pits, chicken testers and take out.

"We've also had some turnover and new people are stepping up," Racenis said. "We've been successful in getting new volunteers."

The Chicken Broil committee has also expanded its advertising. This year, about 5,000 brochures were sent to Michigan Welcome Centers along I-94, I-75, I-69 and U.S. 23 with hopes of attracting more visitors. The Broil usually draws crowds from various parts of the country.

Last year, the event had visitors from Ohio, Indiana, Massachusetts, Texas and California. It also drew people from Germany, Sweden, Chile and Australia.

Along with the chicken dinners, musical groups Sweetwater Jack and Sweet Adelines will perform for waiting diners. The Cottonwood Cloggers from Adrian will also perform, and Adrian radio station WLEN (103.9 FM) will have a live broadcast.

Also returning this year is the classic car show. Participants who bring a vintage car to the Broil will receive a free meal.

The first Manchester Chicken Broil took place Aug. 12, 1954. The event was hosted by the Manchester Exchange Club and served about 1,000 dinners. Funds from the event paid for the Athletic Field's fence. Proceeds still go toward various projects and organizations throughout Manchester.

Staff Writer Ed Patino can be reached at 428-8173.