The ultimate chicken wing showdown: Wing Fest, is returning this September, to celebrate its 10th anniversary, and pay homage to one of the world’s favourite dishes. Taking Place this year at brand new location, the iconic Victoria Baths, on Friday 20th, Saturday 21st, and Sunday 22nd of September.
The festival will continue to champion independents from across the UK, who will display their culinary talents and compete against each other over a whopping 100,000 drums and flats. All of which want to be awarded the accolade of Best Buffalo Wing, Best Wild Wing, and the Best BBQ Wing.
Manchester Wing Fest will be divided into sessions starting with Friday evening, followed by afternoon and evening sessions on Saturday, and finishing with a bang on Sunday afternoon. This means less time waiting, more wings, and a more seamless festival experience. Expect profound poultry eating, music thumping, axe throwing, beer and bourbon drinking of epic proportion.
Guests can expect a seriously saucy line-up for 2024, with wings from local favourites Honey Buns. For those wanting wings from further afield, the award-winning Eat the Bird will be showcasing their skills alongside Jack Blumenthal’s famed Ginger Wings. All traders will be competing to win your vote and guarantee their spot in the Hall of Flame, chicken wing fans will have the opportunity to cast their votes across each of the two categories.
Entertainment includes an array of epic eating competitions, flame fuelled theatrics, and BBQ demonstrations from some of the best in the business. It’s set to get seriously heated with the deadly Lava Wing Challenge – the UK’s hottest wing challenge and renowned for the carnage it causes. If you’re a true wing aficionado, then it’s time for the Flying Goose Wing Eating Competition, where festival goers compete against each other to see who can eat the most chicken wings in the fastest time.
At the heart of the festival ethos is the story of wing enthusiast and founder, Richard Thacker, who is from a family of chicken farmers, and started off as a chicken wing street-food trader. He created Wing Fest a decade ago to champion independent food businesses and up-and-coming brands, and their love of chicken. Wing Fest now showcases a curated selection of street food traders, restaurants, BBQ teams and pop-ups from around the country at each festival.
This year’s 10th anniversary awards are being sponsored by the delivery company Deliveroo, who is offering prizes for all of the winning traders. Not just a festival for Wing aficionados, expect plenty of beer from Tiny Rebel, whiskey from The Busker, and utter sauciness from the Flying Goose Brand. Entertainment includes axe throwing, challenges and competitions, arcades, alongside live music – best enjoyed with a wing or two in hand.
Manchester Fest tickets are now on sale. Tickets include a Wing Fest signature trucker hat, axe throwing, all entertainment, competitions, and live music.
– Friday Evening – £19.50 (over 18s only)
– Saturday Afternoon – £22.50 (free for under 5s)
– Saturday Evening – Over 18s only – £22.50
– Sunday Afternoon – £22.50 (free for under 5s)
