Fans of Nashville’s famous hot chicken are in luck. The annual Music City Hot Chicken Festival will continue this year, on July 4, in spite of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. To keep everyone safe, while allowing Nashville locals and visitors to enjoy one of the town’s favorite foods, a few changes have been made this year, including switching the Music City Hot Chicken Festival to a take-out event.

According to the Music City Hot Chicken Festival website, the event will be “COVID-aware, deconstructed, take-out, curbside, ‘coop-side.'”

“Just as the 4th of July will always be the 4th of July and can’t be rescheduled, so goes the day that Nashvillians have traditionally come together to eat Hot Chicken and celebrate each other,”  former Mayor and festival founder Bill Purcell said of the event.

Those wishing to take part in the event are strongly encouraged to order their food ahead of time.

“We are bringing this take-out, curbside, coop-side event because our beloved Hot Chicken dish still compels us to stop and celebrate its important, historic, and also legendary history not only for Nashville, but for our country,” Bill explained.

Participating restaurants include Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack, Bolton’s Spicy Chicken and Fish, 400 Degrees, Party Fowl and Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, with more expected to be added. The Music City Hot Chicken Festival benefits the Friends of Shelby Parks and Bottoms.

The Music City Hot Chicken Festival is just one of the food events that will continue in Nashville, in spite of COVID-19. The Nashville Scene announced earlier this week that they will continue their annual Burger Week, held July 13 to 19. The annual Nashville Food and Wine Festival is currently still scheduled to take place on August 8.

The Music City Hot Chicken Festival will be held on Independence Day, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Find more details at hot-chicken.com.