The National Buffalo Wing Festival in Buffalo, New York

The National Buffalo Wing Festival will be held in Buffalo, New York this Labor Day weekend. The Festival will be September 5-6 in Dunn Tire Park (now known as Coca-Cola Field). Last year, 78,000 people attended, 500,000 wings were served, and $15,000 was raised for charity.

Admission tickets are available in advance from the Buffalo Bison ticket office or at the gate for $5 per day. Food tickets must be purchased in order to buy food items inside the festival. Each food ticket costs $1. Throughout the festival, wings can be purchased 3 wings for $2.00.

Restaurants from all over the country bring their wings to the National Buffalo Wing Festival. This year, the restaurants coming are: Alliger's House of Wings, Anchor Bar, Aroogas Grille House and Sports Bar, Barber Foods, Bocce Club Pizza, Buffalo Wings & Beer, Danny's South, Falletta's Restaurant, Hurricane Grill & Wings, Jack Astors, Legend Larrys, Melanie's Sweets, Mrs. Coffee, O'Connels Amiercan Bistro, Pesci's Pizza, Pop 'N Bobs, Quaker Steak and Lube, Wing Coop, Wing Zone, Wings To Go, Wing Street, and World of Wings.

Many events are happening on the Main Stage throughout the festival. The .5k Running of the Chickens kicks things off at 1PM Saturday where people dressed in chicken costumes race around the ballpark. The race is open to all age groups and is free to anyone with an admission ticket. At 4PM is the United States Chicken Wing Eating Championship. At 5PM, people will compete in the Blue Cheese Bowl where they will try to pull as many wings as they can out of buckets of bleu cheese just using their mouths. Cooking demonstrations will also be held on the stage throughout both days of the festival.

For the kids, The Electric Company is coming to the festival. Chilren will experience a 90-minute performance with a cast member of Shock, a multi-media Electric Company show, giveaways, and educational materials. This happens at noon on Sunday. The festival gates will be opening at 11AM Sunday for families with children.

If you will be traveling from out of town to attend the festival, some hotels will be offering you a discounted rate for the weekend. Mention the festival to the Holiday Inn Buffalo Downtown, Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites Buffalo/Airport, and Hotel Indigo for a savings on your hotel room.

If you are a fan of chicken wings, the Wing Festival is a great place to celebrate the food and sample new kinds.