It’s time again to eat your way around Alabama.

For the third consecutive year, the Alabama Tourism Department has organized Alabama Restaurant Week, which will run Aug. 15 through Aug. 24.

This year, more than 200 restaurants from across the state are participating in Alabama Restaurant Week, including five Selma eateries; EvMarie’s Cupcakery, Mark’s Mart, LLC, Sandbar, LLC, Selma Family Restaurant AKA All In One and the Tally-Ho Restaurant.

Ashley Mason, Tourism Director with the Selma-Dallas County Chamber of Commerce, said the event, which features special prices on meals at all the participating restaurants, is a chance for people to taste the best dishes their local chefs have to offer.

“It’s crucial to let people know what we have here in town,” Mason said. “Yes, it is an event that is all about promoting local owned restaurants all across the state, but I think people sometimes overlook the amount of quality restaurants we have in and around Selma.

Mason said people sometimes forget how their patronage at a local establishment can benefit the entire community.

“I hope this event can help remind people that whenever you go out for lunch or dinner and support these businesses, you are supporting your community and the local economy,” Mason said.

Of the 51 other cities that have restaurants participating in the event, only eight had more than Selma’s total of five.

Mason said she was proud to have five local restaurants take part in this year’s event, the first she has worked to organize locally as tourism director, but she is hopeful more restaurants will take part in the future.

“I’m very thankful for all the restaurants that are taking part,” Mason said. “I know there are cities in Alabama that have dozens of restaurants taking part in the event, and since I’m very competitive, I want to get as many local places to take part as I can.”

More information about the event, including a complete list of participating restaurants, can be found online at alabamarestaurantweek.com.