KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership (KDP) has announced the return of the Downtown Kalamazoo Salsa Cook-Off and Summer Restaurant Week.
The Salsa Cook-Off is a free community event from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 24.
Officials say that for the past six years, the event has been an annual tradition to explore downtown, sample salsa recipes, and visit new and familiar stores and restaurants.
Similar to the set-up for Chili Cook-Off, the Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership and community partners worked to transform Salsa Cook-Off into an outdoor event with tents set up throughout downtown.
While tasting salsa, the community can text “SALSA” to 59925 and rate the competitors. Winners are announced after all the salsa is gone and results have been tallied.
During a virtual city meeting Monday, Mayor David Anderson encouraged residents to engage with the event, as well as others available during Summer Restaurant Week.
“As anybody who has paid any attention to what’s happened with restaurants right now, we have several that have unfortunately gone out of businesses or are temporarily on hold downtown,” Anderson said. “So whatever any of us can do to take advantage of that to support our local businesses, not just downtown but anywhere in the City of Kalamazoo, is very very important.”
Downtown Kalamazoo Summer Restaurant Week takes place from Friday, July 23 – Sunday, August 1.
More details on events throughout the week, as well as more information on the Salsa Cook-Off, can be found online at www.downtownkalamazoo.org.
