FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Contact:     Meghan Behymer, Communications + Marketing Manager
mbehymer@downtownkalamazoo.org | 269-344-0795

The Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership is excited to announce the return of Downtown Kalamazoo Chili Cook-Off and Restaurant Week this February and March.

Downtown Kalamazoo Chili Cook-Off – Saturday, February 27

Downtown Kalamazoo’s Annual Chili Cook-Off is a fun outdoor community event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 27.  For 16 years, it has been an annual tradition to explore downtown, sample chili recipes, and visit new and familiar stores and restaurants.

With the pandemic in mind, the Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership and community partners worked to transform Chili Cook-Off into an outdoor event with tents set up throughout downtown. To provide the safest experience possible, the S. Kalamazoo Mall will be closed from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on event day to allow more space to walk and participants are expected to wear masks when approaching tents and follow directional signage.

Also, back by popular demand, commemorative tasting spoons for just $5. Participants can pre-order their spoons online or purchase the day of at any of the three information tents located at the corner of South St./Kalamazoo Mall, Michigan Ave./Kalamazoo Mall, and Portage St./Michigan Ave. Disposable spoons will not be offered.

While tasting chili, the community can text “CHILI” to 59925 and rate the chili. Winners are announced after all the chili is gone and results have been tallied.

Additional Chili Cook-Off details can be viewed here.

Downtown Kalamazoo Restaurant Week – March 5 through March 14

The Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership is inviting the community to show some love to our favorite local Downtown restaurants during Downtown Kalamazoo Restaurant Week, beginning Friday, March 5 through Sunday, March 14. For a fixed price, diners can taste the best of downtown’s featured dishes.  

Restaurants will offer both dine-in and takeout options this year, featuring menus at price points of$10, $25, and/or $35. Also returning this year is a $49 Family Meal option available for dine-in or takeout.

In addition to food offerings, restaurants are crafting up delicious cocktails as part of a March Mule Madness cocktail competition. Diners can purchase a featured cocktail and vote for their favorite at downtownkalamazoo.org. Check out the Downtown Kalamazoo Social District webpage to see participating Central Commons Refreshment Area businesses and enjoy your cocktail while strolling around downtown.

During these times and always, the health and safety of Restaurant Week diners and staff at each participating location and community are top priorities. Each restaurant is required to follow all local and state regulations, as well as CDC recommendations for safe dining practices. Diners can expect to see some modifications to the dining experience at various locations, including menus accessed via QR codes, limited condiments and utensils on tables, expanded outdoor seating, and hand sanitizing stations.

All are invited to experience Downtown Kalamazoo Restaurant Week, whether it be by ordering takeout, visiting an old favorite for a meal inside or outdoors, or grabbing a cocktail to enjoy with friends. We ask that diners be patient, respectful, and support participating restaurants and their teams as we all navigate these times.

Menus of participating Downtown Kalamazoo Restaurant Week locations can be found here.

About Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership

Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership is a 501(c)3, non-profit organization that works with both the public and private sectors in preserving and enhancing the economic health of Kalamazoo’s downtown area and, in turn, the Kalamazoo community. In conjunction with its affiliate organizations, it manages a full range of activities that include capital improvement projects, business development and recruitment programs, image marketing and event planning in order to establish Downtown Kalamazoo as an accessible, diverse, green, progressive and vibrant urban center. For more information, visit downtownkalamazoo.org, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or find more downtown news on our website.

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Chili Cook-Off Kalamazoo Restaurant Week