The festival, typically held in June, was postponed until Aug. 14-16 and will proceed in a small-scale this weekend with meals to go.
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Credit: Tom Gilliam
FAMOUS BARBECUE CHICKEN TO GO
Individual chicken dinners will be sold through a drive-thru all weekend while supplies last each day. Event organizers recommend coming early. Festival organizers say they expect to sell 20,000 chicken dinners over the weekend.
Even during traditional festival years, it’s common for these dinners to sell out. What makes this chicken so special? It’s a slow-cooked half of a BBQ chicken basted with a secret blend of spices that falls right off the bone. The chicken is paired with Dayton-famous Mikesells chips, a roll with butter and applesauce, plus an orange-flavored drink.
The dinner costs $8.
Since 1952 this village of fewer than 3,000 people has sold 1,041,685 of these dinners, according to festival organizers. Last year 29,000 dinners were sold.
Individual dinners will be available through the drive-thru at Heritage Park, accessible from Klipstine Road in Versailles. Presale tickets are also available at Johns IGA, Versailles Savings & Loan and Second National in Versailles.
The drive-thru will be accessible for chicken dinner purchases until sold out from 3:30-7 p.m. Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
Presales were also offered for bulk chicken sales for larger gatherings, but those sales have already closed.
HOW TO GO
What: Versailles Poultry Days chicken dinner drive-thru
When: While supplies last each day from 3:30-7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14; 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15; and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16
Where: Heritage Park, 10200 Klipstine Road, Versailles
Cost: $8 per dinner. Single meal includes half a chicken, Mike-Sells potato chips, Roll, Butter, Applesauce and an orange-flavored drink.
More info: www.versaillespoultrydays.com
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