If you’re out and about in the Lehigh Valley, you’ve probably heard of boroughs or cities having a Restaurant Week, sometimes two a year. And if you’re a foodie, you’re probably very familiar with when those special events occur.

For Whitehall Area Chamber of Commerce, the decision to implement its area’s own Restaurant Week began two years ago. This year, the second annual weeklong event is April 2-8.

Jessica O’Donnell, senior vice president of central affiliated chambers, spoke with The Press about what residents can expect and enjoy during Whitehall Area Chamber of Commerce Restaurant Week.

“All the other communities do [a Restaurant Week]; all across the Lehigh Valley, there are Restaurant Weeks nonstop. It’s an opportunity to get new people in to a restaurant they may not have necessarily tried before. [Whitehall Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors] started it because there are a lot of restaurants - franchises and small mom and pops - so [the board of directors] said we need to do one specifically for our area,” O’Donnell said.

About four months ago, a chamber committee started the process for Restaurant Week. Some duties of putting together a Restaurant Week include initial planning and organizing, face-to-face interaction with restaurant managers/owners, community advertising and updating the website and Facebook page for the event.

“Restaurant Week is a no-brainer because it’s a fixed menu, it’s an opportunity to advertise, and it gives people a taste of what you offer. Any time you can give a discount or anything like that, it draws people in,” O’Donnell said. “There’s a proven success in Restaurant Week. Last year, [there was] a 40-percent increase in sales, which is exciting. So people like that, and our restaurants like that. It’s an easy return; they can track that.”

This year is specifically exciting for the chamber and Whitehall because of MacArthur Road’s 75th anniversary, O’Donnell said.

“This is all about supporting our businesses in this area and an opportunity to keep showcasing what we have here,” she said. “The momentum is exciting. It’s a good time to be in Whitehall, so I’m hoping that people will come out and support our restaurants and enjoy it.”

Because of the Whitehall Area Chamber of Commerce’s partnership with Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, O’Donnell said the exposure is greater during this second Restaurant Week.

“The sponsors are not necessarily in Whitehall; for example, WFMZ covers the entire Lehigh Valley. That exposure has been really great because of the partnership,” she said.

O’Donnell said the chamber is hitting all avenues of advertising - “billboards, print, social media, radio - to really try to hit all audiences we can.”

Sponsors of the event include B104, Fellow- ship Community, Kensol Airways, Sam’s Club, Working Dog Press, WFMZ 69 News, Stuart Benefits Consulting LLC, Adams Outdoor Advertising, Clipper Magazine and iHeart- Radio.

And restaurants participating in the event include Bonefish Grill, BRAVO Cucina Italiana, Chick-fil-A, Chili’s Grill & Bar, Dunderbak’s, Mission BBQ, Riley’s Restaurant & Pub, The Burger Shack, Whitehall Diner, YoFresh Yogurt Café, Blondie’s Cupcakes & Hot Dogs and Carmel Kitchen, Wine & Bar.

Once a restaurant has agreed to participate in the event, it creates a special menu. All of the restaurants have different price points, too, O’Donnell said.

April was specifically chosen because the directors didn’t want the event held too close to Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day, which also many times have special menus.

“We are very excited to announce we are going to be doing a second Restaurant Week in winter. Because winter is an offseason, people don’t venture out as much. We’re thinking some time in January,” she said.

For more information on Restaurant Week, check out the chamber’s website, waccpa.org, or its Facebook page, Whitehall Area Chamber. When visiting the website, you can see each restaurant’s special menu for the event.

Bon appétit!