Derby Wing Fest 2024: Epic three-day chicken wing festival with axe-throwing heading to city

Bibs at the ready, a food festival with a twist around the corner is a must for fans of chicken, beer and good times. 

Wing Fest, said to be the world’s largest chicken wing festival, is returning to the Midlands to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

The humble chicken wing is celebrated in a three-day long festival at  Bustler Market from May 17 to 19, 2024.

Derby Wing Fest will be divided into sessions running on Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and evening, and finishing with a bang on Sunday afternoon. 

Organisers say foodie fans can expect ‘profound poultry eating, thumping music, axe throwing, plus beer and bourbon drinking of epic proportion.’

Best Chicken Wing Competition UK

The festival will showcase a range of independents, who will display their culinary talents.

They will compete against each other over a whopping 100,000 drums and flats (they are two parts of a chicken wing), to answer the crucial question…who makes the best wings in the UK?  

The competition is split into three categories meaning there is a chicken wing out there for everyone.

The best BBQ wing is one for those who like to revel in smoky goodness.

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The best buffalo wing will be a battle for who can execute the perfect classic spicy sauced wing.

The best wild wing is where the traders can let their creativity run wild with ingredients, toppings and techniques to transform a simple chicken wing into a flavour eruption. 

10 stellar traders include the award-winning Shwings from Chelmsford, Eat the Bird from Cardiff, Chatty Patty from Birmingham and Nottingham’s favourite neighbourhood wing slingers, Dirty Chicken. 

All will be competing to win votes and guarantee their spot in the hall of flame. 

Thousands of chicken wing fans will have the opportunity to cast their votes live across each of the three categories. 

Hot Wings set to cause carnage

Wing Fest’s legendary eating competitions will be held on all days, and it’s set to get seriously heated with the deadly Lava Wing Challenge hosted by Clifton Chilli Club - 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.

Hosted by Food Review Club, ticket holders who are hungry and brave enough, compete against each other to see who can eat the most chicken wings - easily the messiest spectacle across the two days.  

Festival goers can expect plenty of beer from Tiny Rebel, alongside utter sauciness from Flying Goose Brand.

For those who like to end on a sweet note, Project D will be on hand to dish out their famed doughnuts. 

Entertainment includes live music, axe throwing, bourbon masterclasses, competitions, games and arcades – all best enjoyed with a wing or two in hand. 

The festival started off with a simple idea from a wing enthusiast, Richard Thacker who 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 an array of street food traders, restaurants, BBQ teams and pop-ups from around the country at each festival.

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Dates for Derby Wing Fest 2024

• Friday May 17, Evening - over 18s only - £19.50
• Saturday May 18, Afternoon - £22.50 (free for under 12s)
• Saturday May 18, Evening - Over 18s only - £22.50
• Sunday May 19, Afternoon - £22.50 (free for under 12s)

Derby Wing Fest tickets are now on sale.

Tickets include a Wing Fest signature trucker hat, free access to axe throwing, games, arcades, competitions and live music.

For more information visit their website by clicking here.