The National Buffalo Wing Festival will return to Coca-Cola Field in less than two weeks for its 17th year. It will feature over 25 eateries from all over the world serving over 100 styles of chicken wings. This year, the “Wimbledon Wing” will be coming to the festival all the way from London.
Annoited “Wing King” Drew Cerza said they spend months researching unique wing places around the world when deciding who to bring to Buffalo.
“You do a lot of it online," said Cerza. "There’s a lot of Buffalonians that are transplant in different parts of the country. We talk to them. We see where the Buffalo backer bars are. They usually have good wings.”
Cerza said it’s about finding owners who carry a true passion for Buffalo wings.
“Are they totally dedicated to chicken wings? I met a guy from Ohio. Millie’s Café. He inherited his mom’s restaurant 10 years ago. Converted the diner to a wing joint because he loved wings. That’s passion,” he said.
Wingfest is also asking wedding parties to hold their bachelor parties there. It’s open to anyone is getting married in the next 12 months.
Cerza said they got the idea after recently seeing Buffalo featured on the ABC show, The Bachelorette.
“That was kind of the stimulus for it. Then I read online how Buffalo is one of the top four most underrated bachelor party cities. By two different websites online. So I thought, why don’t we change that around and make it a bachelor party destination on Labor Day weekend at the wing fest,” he said.
Registration for what they are calling the “World’s Coolest Bachelor Party” can be found online at www.buffalowing.com.
Admission for the event is $5. Children under 8 are free. The festival will be held Saturday, September 1st 12PM-9PM and Sunday, September 2nd 12 PM-7PM.
Other events to be held that weekend include the US Wing Eating Championship, the Chicken Wing 5K, and the Miss Buffalo Wing Pageant.
