Corbin Tourism sponsoring, ‘Finger Lickin’ Chicken Week’

Following up the success of Burger Week, the Corbin Tourism Commission is turning its focus to one of the things that put Corbin on the map – chicken.

At Tuesday’s regular commission meeting, Tourism Director Maggy Kriebel announced the first annual Finger Lickin’ Chicken Week to be held Jan. 21-26.

“We want to highlight our local restaurants while embracing the fact that we are the home to the original KFC,” Kriebel said.

Kriebel said she has spoken with representatives from each of the 18 locally owned and operated restaurants in Corbin to see which of them may be interested in participating.

“All of them seem interested,” Kriebel said noting she would like to finalize the list of participants by the end of December.

Unlike with burger week the inaugural Finger Lickin’ Chicken Week will not include a formal competition.

During burger week, customers may vote for their favorite burger. The winning restaurant received a trophy celebrating the victory.

“We just want to see how it is going to take off and work,” Kriebel said in explaining why there would be no official competition this year.

The restaurants are free to use the chicken in any type of dish including soup, sandwich, biscuit, chili, or pasta.

The only ground rule is the dish must be priced at $5.

“ We want to bring business in and show that the original KFC is not the only place that has the secret recipe in Corbin,” Kriebel said.

Kriebel said planning is continuing on the proposed Corbin Railroad Museum in the former depot building.

The topic areas, along with the artifacts and information to be included, have been resolved.

Kriebel said the topics will include the various maintenance shops and facilities at the Corbin yard, the tools of the railroad trade, the steam engine era, passenger travel, and how the train yard worked.

In other business:

• Kriebel said the request for proposal for the splash pad has been sent out to all Kentucky-based companies that are involved in building splash pad projects.

The deadline to receive bids is Dec. 17.

• Changed the date for the January meeting to Jan. 24. The change was necessary because at least three commissioners will be out of town.