Georgia Wing Fest set for Saturday at Exchange Club Fairgrounds

ALBANY — Once known as the Albany Wing Fest, the Georgia Wing Fest has gained momentum each year. It appears to be on track toward continuing that.

The wing fest will be taking place Saturday from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. at the Exchange Club Fairgrounds located at 810 S. Westover Blvd.

The 5th annual event, also serving as a benefit for the Cancer Coalition of South Georgia, will have several and acts on stage, events on the grounds well as wing contests in the pavilion area.

“It gives the community something to do, and raises money for the Cancer Coalition,” said Rick Schneider, event director for the festival. “Seven years ago, I lost my mother to cancer.

“We are expecting 12,000 people to attend.”

Since the name of the event changed to Georgia Wing Fest, Schneider said he has seen a broader reach in terms of participation — with families from as far away as Macon and Dothan, Ala., coming in and vendors from throughout the Southeast signing up. He did a similar event in Florida, and brought the idea to Albany when he moved to the area.

Since then, Albany Beverage, the U.S. Army and Verizon Wireless are among the sponsors Schneider said the event has been able to pick up.

“The size of the festival has doubled each year,” he said. “Last year we had 9,000. I don’t think we’ll have 18,000, but we probably will have 12,000.”

Out on the grounds, there will be train rides, archery, a petting zoo, a dunking booth, bouncy houses, face painting, horse and carriage rides, hay rides, arts and crafts, mechanical bull rides, bungee jumps, a variety of food and merchandise vendors and visits with the chickens ongoing throughout the day. From noon-2 p.m. and 4 p.m.-6 p.m., there will be photos with the Georgia Wing Fest Chicken.

On the band stage, each act will be performing for roughly 90 minutes. The opener will be Mean Mary at 11 a.m. At 12:30 p.m., there will be a welcome from Albany Mayor Dorothy Hubbard, which will be followed at 1 p.m. by the Evergreen Family Band before Cancer Coalition CEO Diane Fletcher gives a few words. From 3 p.m. onward, Larry Mallory and the Essence Band, Todd Sparks and the Shrimp Boat Cowboys and the Brooke McBride Band will be providing the musical entertainment.

The Cancer Coalition CEO said the event will hopefully serve as an opportunity not just to raise funds for its cause, but to allow people the chance to learn more about what it does.

“We are really happy that, once again, Rick Schneider has (decided that) part of the proceeds will come to the Cancer Coalition,” Fletcher said. “We are glad to be a part of it. It is a really fun, family event … this is a nice event that is safe and fun.”

There will be additional opportunities, aside from the ticket sales, to donate to the coalition. The money is expected to go back into the organization’s programs to assist cancer patients in south Georgia.

“It’s a way for the community to give back, but (also) for event organizers to consider donating a part of their proceeds … it helps all of us because (it invests) in health,” Fletcher said. “(It gives the chance for) thousands of folks to hear about the coalition.”

At the pavilion stage, also serving as a dining area, there will be prize drawings throughout the day for those attending. The chicken wing competition will be at 1 p.m., for which there will be winners selected in “Best Mild Wing,” “Best Hot Wing,” “Most Creative Wing” and “People’s Choice.” There will be performances by Uptown Dance Studios immediately afterward, which is to be followed by a wrestling show from Dab Savage — an event brought back from the festival’s third year — at 3:30 p.m.

At 4:30 p.m., there will be a chicken wing eating contest sponsored by Loco’s Grill and Pub to see who can eat the most wings in two minutes. Signing up before 1 p.m. may allow an individual to be one of six people drawn to go up against last year’s champion. The award includes a trophy, a festival T-shirt and bragging rights.

There will be a children’s chicken clucking contest at 6 p.m., with the adult contest to follow at 6:30 p.m. — which will include volunteers from the audience, and will be judged by applause.

Entry is $5, but there is no charge for those 8 year old and younger or for active military with a valid ID. Parking is also being provided at no cost. Blankets and lawn chairs are welcome, but weapons, coolers and animals are not. Attendees will get their hand stamped, so they can leave for a while and come back, Schneider said.

“We are trying to be cost effective, so everyone can come,” he said.

“It’s kind of overwhelming … but I think it will be great and the weather will hold out. We’ve got 20-plus food vendors and 25 or 26 arts and crafts vendors. We’ve got people calling about next year … I’m happy about it. I think it will continue to grow.”

The goal is to raise somewhere between $5,000-$10,000 for the Cancer Coalition, an endeavor Schneider said his mother would be proud of.

“She died young, at 65,” he said. “I think she would be happy that I’m doing it.”

The event has traditionally raised a couple thousand for the coalition. This will be the fourth year it has received a portion of the event’s proceeds, Fletcher said.

For more information, visit www.georgiawingfest.com, call (229) 869-0364 or email [email protected].