The Memphis homegrown Southern Hot Wing Festival spread its wings in 2020. After wrangling interest in Memphis wings from around the world, the event changed its name to World Championship Hot Wing Contest & Festival. But the tasty festival’s wings were clipped due to Covid, forcing fans from 34 states, 14 countries, and four continents to wing it online. This year is the first in-person world championship event.
“It’s great to be back live again,” says chairman and founder of the festival, Paul Gagliano. “Everyone is excited, especially our international teams from Canada and South Africa.”
Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) sanctions the World Championship Hot Wing Contest & Festival. Wayne Lohman of KCBS garnered a lot of enthusiasm last year and into 2021 from international teams. Though all the international teams who added to the excitement last year wanted to participate this year, Brazil and Costa Rica had to fly the coop for the 2021 competition. This turn of events might be a good thing for Memphis-based New Wing Order who lost to the GRILLdroids from Costa Rica last year. The Costa Rican team won with a spicy strawberry wing dish.
More than 70 competition teams will be vying for the hot wing world championship this year, and you can sample their wings for a small donation to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Memphis. There will be live music, hot wing-eating and cornhole contests, a kids corner, and more.
World Championship Hot Wing Contest & Festival, Liberty Bowl Stadium, 940 Early Maxwell, Saturday, Aug. 28, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., $15.