“The “Wing King” at the kick-off press conference talking about the original Buffalo Wing recipe of Frank’s RedHot and Butter invented 50 years ago at the World Famous Anchor Bar. ”
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Drew Cerza: (716) 479-6545 (Festival Founder)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WINGFEST TURNS Up the HEAT for 2014
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Chicken Wing, National Festival Features the Hottest Peppers in the World and the Hottest Wings in America
One of America’s favorite food festivals, The National Buffalo Wing Festival returns toBuffalo, NY’s Coca-Cola Field, Labor Day weekend, August 30th and August 31st 2014.
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Anchor Bar’s invention of the “Buffalo Wing,” festival organizers produced special commemorative items featuring the 50th logo, and plan a birthday cake presentation on the main stage by Chrusciki Bakery. President Ed Currie, the founder of the Pucker Butt Pepper Company from South Carolina will make an appearance to highlight the festival’s focus on HOT WINGS. Currie formulized and grows the hottest peppers in the world according to The Guinness Book of World Records!
This year’s event welcomes back popular features including the “Yuengling Beer Gardens”, the “Consumer’s Beverages Craft Beer Corner”, and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthy Zone.
One of the annual highlights of the festival weekend is The United States Chicken Wing Eating Championship which caught the attention of ESPN! This year, ESPN 3 will be broadcasting the contest Live on their web-based channel. The competition takes on epic proportions as Relative newcomer Miki Sudo attempts to reclaim her title she won last year in her first ever Wing eating event in Buffalo. Five-time Wingfest World Champion, Sonya Thomas and past Wingfest winner Joey Chestnut the #1 eater in the world are also favorites to win this year. Chestnut had to withdraw from last year’s championship due to an esophagus injury. On Saturday Night at 6pm, the professionals will compete in the Buffalo Buffet Bowl. Buffalo’s own (716) Food & Sport will provide a big 5-lb surprise for eaters.
For 2014, it’s not just the Wing Sauce Trophies at stake; it’s also the bragging rights for the first ever Wingfest adult softball tournament and Little League Baseball Tournament being held throughout the city with participants ending their competition with a visit to the Wingfest.
This year’s festival welcomes eight new restaurants to its ever growing roster – including another local favorite, Duff’s Famous Wings. Duff’s runs neck and neck with the original Anchor Bar for Buffalo’s most popular wing joints in many surveys throughout the years. Twenty Eight (28) local, regional and national eateries will be serving over 100 styles of chicken wings. The restaurants will also compete in the National Sauce-Off Competition for bragging rights to the best wing sauces in America. The competition will include seven different categories of wing styles.
Competition isn’t limited to the professionals at Wingfest, there is something for everyone this year; spectators and participants alike. Choose from the “Wing Sauce-off” competitions, amateur Chicken Wing Eating Challenge, the famous “Bobbing for Wings,” also known as the “Marie’s Blue Cheese Bowl,” the Miss Buffalo Wing Pageant, the Baby Wing contest, and a “College Cup” wing-eating competition of individuals from local colleges.
Also back for 2014, and keeping with the more health conscious mentality in America, Blue Cross Blue Shield is presenting a “Healthy Changes Every Wing” healthy “Buffalo Flavored” recipe contest. Many of the dishes will include Frank’s RedHot, the “Official Sauce” of the festival, which was the secret ingredient used to create the original Buffalo Wing sauce recipe at the Anchor Bar in 1964. Anyone interested in submitting a recipe is invited to do so on-line at www.buffalowing.com. Finalists will prepare their recipes on the main stage in the contest on Saturday.
This year’s entertainment lineup includes Master of Ceremonies, “Quiz Master”, Dennis George. For children, the always-popular “Kid Zone” sponsored by Tops Friendly Markets and Gymboree will be running throughout the festival. The Heavenly Chillbillies will bring “Blues Music” throughout the weekend and will once again serve as the festival house band. A complete schedule of events and information about the 2014 National Buffalo Wing Festival can be found at www.BuffaloWing.com
Thirty tons of chicken wings have been ordered for this year’s event. “The lineup of restaurants this year is stronger than ever with eight new additions. It always amazes me how many really good wing joints there are in the United States and we are proud to bring them to Buffalo, so they can show their stuff, says Drew Cerza, Festival Founder. Last year, attendees came from all 50 states and 36 different countries – showing again, what a great tourism magnet the festival has become for the city.
Having raised over $275,000 for local charities over the past twelve years, the 2014 National Buffalo Wing Festival will again give back to the community. This year’s beneficiaries include the Alzheimers Association of WNY, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Meals on Wheels of WNY.
Major sponsors include Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino, Frank’s RedHot, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Bunge Fry Oil, RuChDa Wings, Snyder’s Pretzels, Marie’s Blue Cheese Dressings, Sailor Jerry Rum, Wing Dings Boneless Wings and Yuengling Beer.
Festival hours are 12:00 to 9pm on Saturday and 12:00 to 7pm on Sunday. Admission tickets are just $5.00 per day and children under 8 are admitted for FREE courtesy of Tops Markets.