MLB All-Star Summer Pepsi Block Party adds to MLB All-Star Week festivities

A new interactive event will help fans in Minneapolis next week gear up for the MLB All-Star Week events at Target Field, as MLB and Pepsi today announced the debut of the MLB All-Star Summer Pepsi Block Party. A unique tailgate-inspired event featuring celebrity chef dining, music and interactive attractions, the Pepsi Block Party will set up shop in Minneapolis' Butler Square from July 13-15 prior to All-Star events at Target Field.

Celebrity chefs attending and cooking at the Pepsi Block Party include Andrew Zimmern of Travel Channel's Bizarre Foods; Nick Elmi, the winner of Top Chef Season 11; Bryan Caswell, Food & Wine's Best New Chef winner in 2009; Graham Elliot, one of Master Chef's judges; and Michelle Bernstein, a James Beard Foundation Award Winner.

As part of the MLB All-Star Summer Pepsi Block Party festivities, former players, along with these celebrity & regional chefs will be on hand to serve ballpark-inspired food for fans in the Twin Cities. In this tailgate-style setting, chefs from Minneapolis and around the country will serve their specialties from 2014 MLB All-Star Game food trucks.

On Monday, July 14, in advance of the Gillette Home Run Derby, the MLB All-Star Summer Pepsi Block Party will host an inaugural hot dog cook-off. In this judged competition featuring celebrity chefs and the Minnesota Twins food truck, each contestant will create their own one-of-a-kind hot dogs to be judged by fans and a panel of media and celebrities, including former New York Mets pitcher Doc Gooden.

In addition to dining out at the MLB All-Star Summer Pepsi Block Party, MLB sponsors Chevrolet, Anheuser-Busch, Target, MLB.com and FOX will also have a variety of interactive attractions for fans to enjoy, such as an exhibit featuring the world-famous Clydesdales, a special Target Retail Tent and a new car display.