The second annual Blazin’ Burger Trail is underway in Denton, running through the entire month of August. Organized by the Downtown Denton Foundation, the event invites residents to sample specially crafted burgers from 12 participating downtown establishments. Participants receive a passport, which they can obtain at the UNT CoLab or at any of the participating venues, and collect stamps as they visit different locations.
Kristen Kendrick Bigley, president of the Downtown Denton Foundation, explained that the initiative began as a promotional campaign designed to differentiate itself from standard bar crawls. The goal was to focus on a specific food category while allowing each restaurant to interpret the burger in its own style.
Bigley noted that the event also serves to drive traffic during a typically slower period for the district.
This year’s format includes a new digital dashboard that allows participants to check in while dining. Additional points are awarded for uploading photos of the burgers, with rankings determining eligibility for various prizes.
Rewards are tiered based on the number of stops completed: three visits earn a themed bandana, five yield a T-shirt, eight add a raffle entry for a gift bag, and completing all 12 stops qualifies participants for a raffle for a custom cooler.
Restaurants paid a $25 entry fee to join the trail, with returning participants given priority before the list opened to new businesses. New additions for this year include Harvest House, Rooster’s Roadhouse, and Crisp Burger and Wings. Returning venues include Andersons, Boka Feliz, Cartwright’s Ranch House, County Road Burger Company, Dusty’s, Game Changers, Hannah’s, Queenie’s, and Shuck Me.
