SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Downtown South Bend will be host to Mactoberfest on Wednesday, Oct. 16, from 5 to 9 p.m.

The event will be a celebration of mac and cheese paired with locally brewed beer.

The community is invited to stroll from one restaurant to another, sampling varieties of mac and cheese, produced by some of the area’s best chefs.

Each sample will be accompanied by a beer chosen to enhance your experience of the cheesy comfort food.

Participating restaurants will compete for your vote to decide who wins the award for, Best Mac and Cheese, Best Pairing, and Most Creative Mac and Cheese.

Tickets are $45 per person and includes a mac and cheese and beer tasting at each location.

Wine pairing in place of beer is available upon request.

The $25 per person ticket includes food only, perfect for kids or designated drivers.

You can buy tickets online.

If you share your photos from the event, you could win restaurant gift cards. Just post your photo with #DTSBMactoberfest on Facebook or Instagram during the event. Winners will be chosen randomly.

Downtown Dining Association and participating restaurants cannot guarantee all dietary needs will be met. 

Participating restaurants include:

• Café Navarre
• Chicory Café
• Fatbird
• The Hideaway at the LaSalle
• Howard Park Public House
• Island Fusion
• LaSalle Grill
• LaSalle Kitchen & Tavern
• The Lauber
• Madison Oyster Bar
• PEGGS
• South Bend Brew Werks
• Spirited
• Studebaker Brewing Co.
• Tippecanoe Place Restaurant