By Eileen Buckley & Melissa Ortiz
Buffalo, NY – The City of Buffalo is gearing up for the National Buffalo Chicken Wing Festival. A kick-off party was held at City Hall Tuesday.
Labor Day weekend, September 1st and 2nd, will mark the 6th annual National Chicken Wing Festival. Creator Drew Cerza, known as the "Wing King", was joined by Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown Tuesday at City Hall. Mayor Brown says the event benefits the local economy.
The Mayor says over the last five years, the National Wing Festival has drawn more than a quarter of a million people, served up more than one million wings and raised $95,000 for local charities. Brown says the wing fest also puts a national spot light on the City.
Cerza says those who attend the festival realize Buffalo has much to offer. As WBFO reported yesterday, there will be a live tree carving, as part of Carvings for a Cause. Tree trunks from the October storm are being used to create large sculptures of famous historical figures. A carving of the creator of the original Buffalo wing, Theresa Bellissimo of the Anchor Bar, will be carved in front of the public at the festival. Plus a Miss Buffalo Wing will be crown, a new U-S Chicken Wing eating Champion will be discovered, and more than 15-tons of wings with 100 varieties of sauce will be served at the festival. The festival will take place at Dunn Tire Park in Downtown Buffalo.
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