On November 17, 2018, from 3 to 10 p.m., twenty local restaurants will get together to cook more than 40,000 wings for the city’s very first “Wing Wars” festival, hosted by Central City BBQ.

Driving through the city, you can’t help but notice (and smell) at least a few of the defining scents of the city, indicating quintessential Southern culinary rituals taking place — the spicy aromas of local Creole and Cajun cuisine cookouts, fresh steaming gumbo and jambalaya served up to patio patrons, long drive-thru queues lining up for daiquiris. And of course, the smokiest among them: the revered American barbecue. Like any good bastion of Southern cuisine, the city of New Orleans has no shortage of eateries accommodating to wing-lovers. And as usual, there’s never a shortage of festivals here. So why not a wing festival?

Among the restaurants participating are 14 Parishes, Bayou Hot Wings, Bourrée, Brown Butter, Cafe Reconcile, Fharmacy, Fins and Feathers, McClure’s BBQ, Moe’s BBQ, Mopho, Picayune Social House, Tracey’s and the Ya-ka-mein Lady. Restaurants will compete for the title of the best wings in town, with the winner to be named as the “King (or Queen) of the Wing” and receive a people’s choice award.

The Wing Wars festival will feature live performances by Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Water Seed, Sexual Thunder! And The Marc Stone Band. For football fans, there will be a live screening of the Saints game on a 15-foot TV screen.

Early bird tickets for the event can be purchased for $10 (general admission) and $50 for limited VIP tickets. At the door, regular advance tickets can be purchased for $15, $20 at the door, and $60, $75 for Advance VIP tickets. The Wing Wars Festival benefits the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation.

More information on the Wing Wars fest can be found at their website.