Funtown Chowdown Food Truck Festival returns for a third season of free family fun -- Bavarian Inn

The Cheese Trap is a popular choice.

FRANKENMUTH, Mich. - May 7, 2019 - PRLog -- The Frankenmuth Funtown Chowdown Food Truck Festival (https://www.facebook.com/FrankenmuthFoodTruckFestival/) returns the second Thursday of May and runs through September, with a delicious combination of family-friendly entertainment and a diverse lineup of food trucks from across Michigan.

Each food truck festival is from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., with the first event of the season taking place Thursday, May 9 in the parking lots surrounding Frankenmuth River Place Shops (http://frankenmuthriverplace.com/), 925 S. Main St. in Michigan's Little Bavaria. Festival admission and parking is free. The 2019 dates are: May 9, June 13, July 11, August 8 and September 12.

Each event features around 20 food trucks from across Michigan, a live music and beer tent, plenty of shaded seating, free children's play village, and additional activities for families like face painting, inflatables and Tri City Bubble Ball. The event is pet-friendly; animals must be on a 6 foot leash at all times.

The food truck festivals are located just steps away from River Place Shops, Frankenmuth's German-themed outdoor shopping mall with more than 35 shops and attractions such as SugarHigh Bakery, Season 7 winner of Food Network's Cupcake Wars; Bead Haven, the largest bead supply store in Michigan, and the Bavarian Belle, a historic paddleboat that offers one-hour narrated tours along the Cass River.

Thousands of hungry food truck fans are expected at the first event of the season on May 9, with a variety of cuisine available for purchase that ranges from deep-fried cheese curds, chicken from the Bavarian Inn Restaurant, vegan street-style tacos, barbecue, ice cream, and wood-fired pizza.

"We are excited to welcome guests to the third annual Funtown Chowdown Food Truck Festival, and to see families sharing meals and making memories while in Frankenmuth," said Michael Keller Zehnder, owner of Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn Inc., which owns and operates River Place Shops. "We made a big effort in 2019 to bring an even wider variety of cuisine to town, and can't wait for another great season of food trucks and fun."

The May 9 food truck lineup includes:

· The Cheese Trap from Frankenmuth

· Bavarian Inn Cluck Truck from Frankenmuth

· Robbie D's from Saginaw

· The Patty Wagon from Farwell

· Nosh Pit Detroit from Hamtramck

· 3 Lil Pigs BBQ from Midland

· Bad Wolf BBQ from Freeland

· The Fish Bowl from Royal Oak

· Kona Ice from Saginaw

· Fortune Cooking from Milford

· Sweet Whimsies from Davison

· Holy Smokes Food Truck from Grand Blanc

· Peace Love & Tacos from Brighton

· D&W Street Eatery from Fenton

· Wacki Shack from Caro

· Scalici's Wood Fired Pizza from Imlay City

Returning again this year is the Battle of the Breweries, with two craft breweries competing to be declared the crowd favorite for each food truck festival date. The winner takes home bragging rights and a custom engraved glass growler commemorating the brewery's achievement.

This year's lineup of craft breweries includes:

· May 9: Founders Brewing Co. from Grand Rapids versus Detroit's Atwater Brewery

· June 13: Winner of May event versus Saugatuck Brewing Co. from Douglas

· July 11: Winner of June event versus Odd Side Ales from Grand Haven

· August 8: Winner of July event versus Kuhnhenn Brewing Co. from Warren

· September 12: Winner of August event versus Wolverine Brewing Co. from Ann Arbor

In 2018, Wolverine Brewing Co. from Ann Arbor swept four out of five of the Battle of the Breweries events before falling to Founders Brewing Co. from Grand Rapids.

Also returning is the Masskrugstemmen Challenge. German for "beer stein holding," the contest includes up to 10 competitors who must raise a filled 1-liter glass Hofbräu München stein to shoulder level and be the last one holding it aloft. It is $10 to participate, and each person keeps the Hofbräu München stein they compete with.

The Masskrugstemmen Challenge take place at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. in the live music and beer tent at the Funtown Chowdown; first and second place winners will receive gift certificates from River Place Shops.

The 2019 entertainment in the live music and beer tent will include The Bromantics, a wide-ranging and rocking cover band in May, July and August; the Cass River Ramblers, a trio of country and rock musicians in June; and Polka Riot, an energetic multi-musician polka band in September.

For more information about the Funtown Chowdown Food Truck Festival and the Battle of the Breweries, go to http://frankenmuthriverplace.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/FrankenmuthFoodTruckFestival/

CONTACT:

Jessica Haynes

Director of Marketing and Events

Frankenmuth River Place Shops

989-652-6613, ext. 4

jhaynes@bavarianinn.com

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