The lovely and gracious and radiant Mrs. Yelper and I were in Buffalo for a wedding. We like this area! Downtown has its sketchy parts, but hello--look at LA or NYC...every major city has creepy parts. The vendue was in the Buffalo Bisons ballpark, a great venue location and a short walk from our hotel. But we were tired...do we really want to go there? HECK YEAH! When in Buffalo and it's THE WING festival in the home town birthplace of said wing, you have Yelp duties! -1* for the venue setup: Nowhere to sit (w/o a purchasing a VIP pass) and it was a very hot day with no shade throughout, except for VIP areas. What, we working stiffs can just suffer and you don't care? We would have had more wings, but eating them standing up was awkward. read more

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I really, really love volunteering at the wing fest, but honestly, the prices here are quite outrageous. Admission alone is $20 (8 and under are free), and then you have to purchase food tickets once you're inside. A sheet of 10 tickets is $15, and it costs more if you're paying by credit card. Parking is another $25 if you choose to park in the ramp nearby. (Definitely look for street parking because it's free on weekends). By the time you get in, park, and buy tickets, it adds up quickly. There are food options other than just wings: baked goods, ice cream novelities, mac and cheese, pierogis, and pizza ranging from 1-4 tickets. Each wing is 1 ticket, which equates to $1.50. That said, my son had a great time and was a big fan of the whole experience. He especially enjoyed independently going to the stands and giving me a full review of each item he tasted. Personally, my favorite food item was the boneless chicken bites from Springer Chicken (sold at TOPS) shaken in classic Frank's. Overall, I appreciate the effort that goes into putting on an event like this and supporting the Buffalo community, but I do think the overall cost is getting pretty high for families. read more

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How can you charge for a single wing. The prices are outrageous for lousy food. This festival does not represent the chicken wings of Buffalo. Just a cash grab. read more

This festival is a blast, especially the competitions like the Chicken Wing eating competition and the bobbing for wings competition. This is such a great opportunity to try new restaurants and types of wings from different states.Always a fun time to be had by all,great for families or just by yourself. Lots to see, do, explore and listening to some great music. I always have a winging good time !! read more

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Always a tasty time when the wing festival is going on.So many restaurants come in from different states to participate plus our favorite local restaurants, there's something for everyone to try and enjoy.I really enjoy watching the wing bobbing and chicken wing eating competitions. Nothing to cluck about at this festival ,just a good time to be had by one and all.Plus there's entertaining music to enjoy.You'll have a chicken lickin' good time. read more

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This really was a cool event! But honestly year after year it's an unbearably hot weekend to be standing in the sun eating hot wings. This is the reason I havent gone in previous years. This year I was in the mood to check it out. It was what I expected as far as just sweating in lines the majority of the time. The wings were good though! And I really loved having an opportunity to try wings in quantities less than a single order of ten. Overall I really likes doc Sullivan's Smitty wing and wing army's Cajun wing. The price wasn't horrible at $1 per wing and you must purchase food tickets ahead of time. Waters were $4 then prices go up if you want adult beverages. They put on a disgusting contest for bobbing for wings in a kiddie pool of blue cheese but the wing eating contest was fun to watch! TLDR: this festival would be 10/10 if held later in the fall or indoors with AC read more

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You don't play Chicken when you're driving something that has Wings. Not even if you're from Buffalo. Remember that. This should be much, much better. It's massive in scope and has wing places from as far away as Rhode Island (I wonder if they Rhode here on bikes?) and Australia (yes Australia) (yes I said Australia) making wings for people from all over the country, continent, and even world. But that's where the positives end. Negatives... You have to pay just to get in here, and then... You have to pay an ugly amount for tickets just to get a few wings, and then... You have to wait in lines anywhere from 15 minutes to 45 minutes for the more popular wing stands, and then... When you finally get your wings, they were made awhile before you bought them, so they're lukewarm, and lukewarm wings have nothingggggg on fresh wings. So like I said, the concept is great, but the execution is greedy, and not public-friendly at all. Hence it scores 3, when it really should be a 5. read more

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If you missed the Buffalo Wing fest, it's not to late. Wing masters across the country and now the world came to have their wings tested and approved by the Buffalo master taste testers!! So, our party of three went on our quest to find our favorite wing of the event. Since, we already tried and love Anchor Bar and Buffalo Wild Wings, we skipped these vendors. We were curious to see what states and countries dared to compete with Buffalo. (See pic for vendors. Anything marked with an "X" were not favorites, check marks means good and initials were faves) Noteworthy Scallywags Restaurent- Derby, NY-Bad Ass Bourbon BBQ J.B Quimbys from Rochester, NY-Cajun Honey and the Hot wings were a huge success. Wing's Army, Mexico -Lemon Pepper Legend Larry's Sweet Thai Chili and Legend Larry's Teryaki Didn't make the cut Fire in the Mountain Portland, Oregon (soggy,ugh!) Buffalo Lime Cilantro- didn't taste the lime or cilantro- it tasted like a mild buffalo wing. Voodoo Ranch dry rub- we stopped eating it on the first bite. Not for us. Overall we had a great time at wing fest. We got to witness the "The Bobbing for wings" contest and the "Amateur Traditional Sauce Challenge". Also, you can win some freebies if you visit the Yelp Booth, Geico Booth and Franks Hot Sauce Booth. Feeling satisfied with our wing tastings, we ended our day stopping at Perry's Ice Cream booth and taking a kettle corn popcorn to go. The one vendor I was hoping would be there was The corn on the cob vendor. Maybe next time. read more

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I heard about the National Buffalo Wing Festival from my coworker and was really excited to check it out with my friends before I leave Rochester. It was held at the stadium and was scorching hot that weekend. It was my first and only time so my view may be skewed. There were a bunch of vendors, but I was never blown away by the wings. Some of them were even a little cold. Worth the experience to check it out but I could get better wings at Buffalo Wild Wings. They had a bunch of competitions on stage - eating challenge, fishing wings with your mouth out of a big tub, etc. I did a challenge of my own at the Quaker's 5X Triple Atomic Wing, for which I won a T-shirt that was 4 sizes too big for me (they either ran out or didn't have smalls). I could eat really spicy but I gotta say, 5 of those were up there, 10/10 for me in terms of spicy. It didn't hit you right away but right after that fifth wing, your tongue would feel it. Get some milk ready. read more

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A great way to spend a Sunday! Wings at $1/each or 1 ticket each really isn't so bad. One sheet of 20 tickets happily fed my boyfriend and I for the afternoon. It was fun to watch the college chicken wing eating contest while eating chicken wings from around the country and from here in Buffalo, too. There was beer AND WINE SLUSHIES, both at reasonable prices. It was also fun to roam around on the baseball field. I have been to the wing fest previously a few years ago but this was a huge step up from my last experience. Definitely something to return to...a summer version of my other favorite thing, soup fest! read more

Buffalo Chicken Wing Festival - Festivals Near Me - Buffalo, New York

We went for this festival, it was nice, got to try many flavors of chicken wings, some were very spicy (but tasty) , I liked Cajun. I went with lot of enthusiasm, but at the entrance the tickets were $5 each, I had to pay $20 for 4 people, looking at the set up of the festival I think it was too much, keeping the parking in mind too, and then inside one tiny wing was for a dollar. The entrance fee could have been something small because inside we had to pay for everything. Drinks were rather expensive. The bathroom facility was at a distance and very dirty. read more

Chicken Wing fest was a good time overall. Wish they had a set up to pay by card. Probably could bring in more money if folks don't keep cash on their person and want to avoid ATM fees. The variety of wings flavors and vendors from across the country/world was impressive and I enjoyed all my samplings. The festival activities going on were also nice and seemed to be enjoyed by all. If you are visiting Buffalo during labor day weekend or have never been as a local, it's worth experiencing at least once. read more

The Buffalo wing fest is a Buffalo experience like no other. People come from all over the world to make (and eat) every kind of chicken wing you could imagine. From mild, to medium, to Mountain Dew, anything you can imagine can be put onto chicken wings for flavor and the Buffalo Chicken Wing fest is proof of that. Things we tried ranged from Brown Sugar Dry Rub wings, to Pomegranate Whiskey BBQ, to Mac and Cheese and even S'mores wings. They also had bands, eating contests, and more. Overall, a trip here makes for a unique and delicious afternoon. read more

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I hope you didn't eat breakfast, you're going to want an empty stomach to get in all those wings. If you're a win lover or just a festival lover, this is a good one to partake in. There's quite a few local restaurants-but really you can get those anytime, my strategy is skip those-you'll want to check out the out of towners and even a few international options. This year the longest line seemed to be Wing Army, a restaurant that came up from Mexico. Turns out Mexico knows wings! They had tons of unique flavors. Other favs were Windjammers from Rochester and Sticky Wings from London. The only cons are $4 water when there is only one area you can go for shade and a $5 admission. The folks collecting admission were all volunteers from Meals On Wheels so hopefully they are getting a portion of that revenue. If they are, the festival should advertise that. It would make the admission price in addition to buying tickets a little more palatable for people. read more

In the past I might have only have given the wing fest 3 stars because of the crowds and the prices, which have continuously went up over the years. But, I went to the festival this weekend after taking a hiatus for a few years, and I ended up having a blast! First of all, try to take advantage of all the entertainment besides the wing consumption (chicken wing eating contest, bobbing for wings in blue cheese, trivia with Dennis George, live music, etc.) Then test out some wing flavors you have never had the courage to try or never wanted to commit to an entire order (PB&J , lemon pepper, suicidal, etc). Buffalo's own Bocce pizza provides a delicious enormous slice for 4 tickets to give you a tasty buffalo alternative other than the wing. Blue cheese, ranch, carrots and celery are available free of charge. Only suggestions to make it better are ....more bathrooms (especially for VIPs) and more organization once the lines get longer (maybe some ropes or volunteers to round up visitors to get in the proper lines for smoother service). Overall, if you have an out of town guest here during the Labor Day weekend, take them to Sahlen's Field (preferably early) and give their tastebuds some Buffalove!!! read more

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When I was in college I have fond memories of Volunteering at the first couple Wing Fest events and remember that being such a great time - Now 10 yrs later I have continued to go to the Festival most years. I have noticed over the past 2-3 years the quality of the wings is starting to decline. This year at all locations the wings were small and soggy. Overall the wing fest is a costly day. $5-10 parking, $5 admission and $4 Water, $1 Wings - starts to add up fast. Lines at some of the more popular locations were really long this year and really not worth the wait in the heat. I will say that it was so nice to have Lloyd's Taco truck there with their buffalo chicken taco being my favorite thing that I ate at the event. I missed Dinosaur BBQ this year, but Duffs was there which I haven't seen in the last few years. The Casino bucks with your ticket stub is a great touch and actually made back some of the money that was lost at the event. I really hope next year the quality starts to pick back up otherwise just better off picking up some wings at your fave locations for 1/3 of the price. read more

Doc Sullivan's has the best beef on weck wings Legend Larry's Thai chili and teriyaki was amazing The blind rhino tograshi brown sugar u can have it as a desserts and garlic Parmesan toooo much garlic but delicious Eat dirty the super stupid is crazy hot For ghedaboudit New Mexico has awesome bourbon bbq and New Mexico green Chilies . The only bad things their wings were cold Boneheads wings the Mac and cheese one was wow too good , felt like I had a Mac and cheese the raspberry one was okey not so much fan of that Center street grille the bbq one was super good , it was just cold wish they served hot The sticky wings their queen's choice which is a strawberry wing was so good and totally different Let's finish it with some dessert at Simply pierogi , eclairs super sweet and really dry not worth 4 tickets read more

It makes sense to have a festival like this in Buffalo, but it's a one stop shop. I can't imagine going back with the same enthusiasm as this year being this was my first time. I did participate in the Triple Atomic Wing Challenge. That was a lot of fun but very challenging. If you haven't gone, go. Otherwise I wouldn't necessarily recommend it being in your top priority of things to do. read more

If you love buffalo wings this is a must go, I mean Buffalo is the birth place so why not pay homage and help grow this festival? They have tons of vendors, you buy tickets and the wings cost $1 at the stand which is 1 ticket. I found this to be a simple system and keeps the lines moving, you can try just 1 wing if you want. Vendors come from all over to showcase their wings and some other food, it will make for a wing filled day with music and events ongoing. This place was super fun, I would love to go back here again if I am in the area! read more

Another good time and Buffalo Wing Fest. Between the amazing variety of flavors - Apple to ghost pepper - this is a great festival to try out new flavors and some of your old standby's. And do not forget the people. Vendors from all over the US. And people from all over the place from all walks of life coming together to enjoy a good chicken wing. My favorite - the maple bacon. Nothing better than bacon and then to put is on a wing with maple syrup- amazing. Also liked the classic buffalo wing with the blue cheese already mixed in with the wing sauce. Saves time on the dipping! Other than charging an arm and a leg for a bottle of water or soda ($4.00). A good time as always was had. See you next year!!! read more

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I go to Wing Fest almost every year. I'm just a medium sauce type of guy so I use this event as an excuse to try to the wackier flavors. $5 to enter and essentially $1 per wing isn't too shabby. Cons: Price for drinks - I mean you really need to drain $ out of folks you sell pop and water for 4x the price of a vending machine? Paying for parking is bad enough. Lines - For the best wings or the vendors that come from out of town, the lines can be a mile long. The Boneheads line truly reached across half the venue and I spent majority of my time at this event waiting for food. This is where the "why didn't I just go to restaurant and order wings at half the price" idea comes to mind. No tables - It can be a wee bit difficult eating wings with a drink in one hand and plate in the other. You have to set everything down just to eat. Peanut Butter and Jelly Wing - No, just no. Tasted like sweaty peanut butter with chicken. Bobbing for wings in blue cheese and the amateur eating contest - I will never get the image of the man exploding during the wing contest out of my head. Pros Would obviously be the wings, vendors and ambiance. It seems like the weather for this is always perfect. People are extra happy to be out eating wings outside on a summer day. Vendors from literally all over the world come. This year's had a vendor from Australia. Ranges from the wings at Pizza Hut to local restaurants that might not be known for selling wings to places like the Anchor Bar. It may not be the perfect event but I certainly continue to go. read more

Well, that was fun. Believe it or not, I'm a Buffalo native and this was my first time to the Chicken Wing Festival. At first I thought that $1 per wing was a bit much, but then I considered that a single order goes for close to ten bucks at most places and all of the wings at the festival were truly jumbo sized. In conclusion, I feel that price was fair and I had a great time sampling a dozen different wings. I'm only knocking off a star because, $8 for a 22oz beer?!?! Come on guys, really? My personal winner for local favorite goes to Gabriel's Gate for their BBQ wings. I also really enjoyed the BBQ wings from Brickyard Pub & BBQ (Lewiston, NY), the Peanut Butter & Jelly wing from Abigail's Restaurant (Waterloo, NY), the Peanut Curry wing from Fire on the Mountain (Portland, OR & Denver, CO), and the Bacon Maple Mustard from Real Sports bar & grill (Toronto, ON). But my absolute favorite and my last wing to taste was the Tropical Thai, courtesy of Even Flow Bar & Grill from Long Island, NY. I slowly ate my second one trying to delicately dissect the ingredients with my tongue because I need to recreate this sauce at home! It's a good thing we circled in the direction leaving them last, because if that had been my first wing, I would have dropped all my tickets right there. read more

Buffalo Chicken Wing Festival - I may be bad with directions, but...??? - Festivals Near Me - Buffalo, New York

First time at the festival and the 6:30hr drive was so worth it! We waited in line for our tickets ($5) which was organized and went by fast. Loved all the stands giving out free key chains, magnets, sun glasses, all sorts of things. No lines for the food tickets which were a dollar a ticket. Each wing was one ticket can't pay in cash for the wings gotta have your ticket. Had a blast tried so many different flavors which were amazing some sweet spicy or weird ones. The only thing I found expensive were 3.75 waters but other wise had so much fun can't wait for next year! LOVED THE YELP KIOSK! thanks for the sun glasses read more

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Traveled from Pittsburgh, PA to attend with my boyfriend. We enjoyed it. There were many flavors of wings and non-wing options to indulge in. It was well organized for such a large event. My only complaint was the high cost of bottled water. It was very hot on day one and 4$ was a little steep. We plan on returning for future festivals. read more

After my Saturday visit I remember why I stopped going. This is a fun festival if you like the blazing sun beating on you while wating in long lines to try wings that have great flavor but range from soggy- sitting in sauce to dried out and leathery. While I love the idea of this festival and the attention it brings to our city and would tell people to experience it at least once, I myself won't be making it a tradition. The best part was the upgrade to VIP! That provided a box to transport wings, a commemorative mug and free beverage, seating with shade and a full cash bar. read more

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This was a miss for me. Charged $5 for entrance per person and then had to buy tickets for $1 each. Wings could be bought with these tickets for 1 wing per ticket. That means $1 per wing.. which is overkill. The 4 of us got 5 tickets each. The wings were good but nothing special. Some better than others.. the seating area was unkept and only one set of washrooms were open. There was a wing eating contest which was entertaining however, overall it wasn't worth the visit. read more

This was my second time here. Race- In the morning, I did their 5k that was managed by Eclipse sport. I arrived to get my packet 10 minutes at the Buffalo news lobby. They could have said no (as they were packing up) but they did not. They have me my bib and bag. Very nice of them. Next when I went to the start line (where people had already started) Dan who happened to be the race instructor took my bag as I could not run with it. After I finished my race they gave us celery and carrots and banana and water. Also, Dan made sure I got my stuff. He did not have to do that but he did. This was extremely nice of them. Wing fest- so I entered the grounds and there were all the sponsor stalls that had free goodies. Barefoot wine and bubbly and some I love ny counter had caps and goggles and there was also a ninja gym for people to compete. I got our complimentary post party beer and then off I went to stuff my face with wings. Wings- the saddest part is when people serve you cold, rubbery chicken wings. It no longer matters how nice the sauce is. Quaker steak and lube had the worst of the lot. Their chicken wings were cold and rubbery and we could barely eat them. Bootys had decent wings with nice and spicy flavors. There was the Australian king of the wings that had nice wings with their Aussie bee sting flavor. And then my best pick would be scally wags. Try their caribbean heat. Definitely going back there to try more :) We also had some ice cream and then left. There was this crispy pepper something that was the best thing in that entire fest. It wasn't even wings. It's $5 to enter and 1$ for 1 Wing. Pretty reasonable. Drinks and soda are ridiculously priced. 3.75$ for water; 7$ for a coke which is 1.5 at a vending machine. Overall it's a good day activity. But I have done it twice. And that is enough. read more

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Went down to the festival with husband yesterday, it was his first time. We got there shortly after opening (opens at 11am) and it great. Lines were reasonable , it wasn't too hot. Food tickets are required to purchase any food. All the chicken wings are a dollar each! What a bargain! Other food (pizza, crunch rolls, baked good items) is priced individually. Blue cheese is free at a station in the center. I gotta say this festival is genius. I always want to be adventurous when ordering wings but you're running a risk ordering a full order of a crazy flavor. What if you don't like it?! We tried wings from all over the country- Ohio, New Mexico, Arizona, Oregon and some local type places as well. Our favorite place was from Portland Oregon. Get the spicy peanut wing and the Buffalo lime cilantro. Life changing. Seriously. This is a great festival to check out with family friendly fun! read more

Buffalo Chicken Wing Festival - Festivals Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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I've been wanting to come up here to this festival for years, and decided to make a weekend of Niagara Falls and this festival. Unfortunately, the Sunday we went to the festival was a bit rainy with a few strong showers. Overall, the festival was ok. I think that I had envisioned something a bit bigger with more vendors. There were probably about 15-20 stands with wings from various parts of the country. The stands had anywhere from 3-10+ sauces available. Each wing cost $1, and there were some really interesting favors. I even tried a peanut butter and jelly wing. Probably wouldn't order a dozen for myself, but actually not bad. A few other type of food stands with pizza, crunch rolls, and pastry. Also probably about 10-15 non food tents with the likes of T-mobile, State Farm insurance,..etc. I think that one of my biggest complaints was that for most of the vendors used food tickets that you had to purchase, but some only took cash, and others provided some items for tickets, but other items were cash only. I think they need to get some better consistency with the vendors there. Overall not a bad festival, but did have expectations of something a bit bigger scale. They also had a ninja warrior course for the kids, which cost $5 for 2 runs. My kids enjoyed this as they are big fans of the show. read more

I enjoy Chicken Wings, Buffalo Wings in Particular. They've become a staple here in Buffalo. But for some reason this Festival left a bad taste in my Mouth. located in Coca-Cola Field (we thank the Brave Chickens for giving up there Wings for this event). We waited 45 minutes in line to even get in, they made us throw out the Water bottles we brought from Home (which I thought was stupid). We had no idea where to begin so we decided to "Wing" it. We started with Fire on the Mountain with their El Jefe Wing (Spanish for The Boss), the wing was smothered with Habanero Sauce (one of the Hottest Peppers in the World). My mouth was on Fire, the pain was so intense, I spent 7 Bucks on 2 Bottles of Water to try and cool my mouth Down. That kinda ruined a bit for me the rest of the Day, Dad's felt the same way. I had to wait about 25 minutes for to have another Wing as the Heat was Lingering on my Tongue. The next wing that I tried was Dinosaur BBQ's Sensuous Slathering (Sweet, Rich, bit of a Zing on the End). Next I tried a Medium Wing from the Anchor Bar (It had subtle heat to it), then I had a Bowl of Chicken Wing Soup from Danny's (the pieces of Chicken were perfectly cooked, it was Moist, I thought the soup was a bit Thick but it had a mild finish to it From Smokey Bones I tried the Memphis Seasoned (Deep Smoky flavor), then I had The Bacon Maple Mustard from Real Sports Bar & Grill (The maple enhanced it with some Richness but the Bacon kept falling off). The next one I had was the Spicy Asian Peanut from Abigail's Restaurant (the Heat wasn't as strong as that 1st wing I had and the Peanut sauce wasn't overwhelming). The only other Wing that I remember having (believe it or not this was 4 Years ago when I went to this Event) was the Buffalo Chipotle Garlic from Booty's Wings, Burgers & Beer (Smoky, Piquant flavor with some nuttiness from the Roasted Garlic). This was also the first time I ever had a Deep Fried Twinkie (I took my first bite of it and the filling came gushing out, I think some got onto my Shirt). My only problems were the lines were really long and the Wings were over sauced (I mean for a Chicken Wing its all about biting into that Crunchy, Crisp Exterior into that Soft tender meat). So that to me & my Dad was a bit of a let down, on the way out thought I purchased a Chicken Wing Hat. Out of all the Food Festivals/Events so far in my life this was the worst one yet. If they keep doing that I think this Festivals chance of staying open is on a Wing and a Prayer. read more

Alright, well let's see where this review ends up because I have A LOT to say. I attended the Buffalo Wing festival on Sunday 9/6 for the first time ever. My daughter (4 yr old) and I were SUPER excited because we are chicken wing fanatics. In fact, if you read my reviews, a large percentage of them are probably pizza and wing places. I know my wings! Below, I have several different categories by which I will rate this festival. I hope that whoever organizes this event reads this and values what I have to say. The Venue: The festival takes place in the Buffalo Bison's Minor League Ballpark. This space is undoubtedly a nice open area, and in terms of space, it seems to fit the bill. The problem with the venue is that there is ZERO shade. I mean ZERO -- it is a Baseball Field! All of the vendors are set up around the perimeter of the ball park, and toward center was the ticket station. Labor Day Weekend is typically a hot weekend in Upstate and Western NY. With zero shaded areas (with the exception of the beer tent which was packed and crowded because there were only a couple dozen tables), that makes this festival difficult to enjoy. It is very hard to pack down a large quantity of wings when you are sweltering in the sun and chugging water. (Venue 2/5) The Water Issue: This PISSES me off SOOOOOOOOO MUCH! Alright, I get it, you want to make money. But extorting people who already paid an entrance fee, who are burning in the sun, and who are eating wings that range from spicy, to salty, to molten is completely unethical. What do I mean by 'extorting'? You know people are going to need drinks. You label this as a family-friendly event. You know that kids are going to need something to drink, AND YOU JACK THE PRICE OF A BOTTLE OF WATER UP TO $4.00 PER BOTTLE!!!!? That is WRONG! At the NYS Fair, water was $1.00. It is a basic human necessity to have water! Gouging people for a basic human necessity when you know that they will need it is completely unethical on so many levels that I have ZERO respect for this Festival, for the people that run it, and for the City of Buffalo -- along with anyone else who claims to be affiliated with this. Shame on all of you. The Wings: They were adequate. They were about what you would expect from mass produced wings. Most of them were soggy. Some were chewy. Some were dry. Some were above-average; but none were great. Essentially, I had to completely forgo seeking a crispy wing, because they did not exist. They were all sitting in whatever sauce was on them, in a banquet pan, atop a warmer. So they were a combination of tough, chewy, and soggy. In terms of the flavor: The flavor of some of the wings were good. Most of the flavors at Boneheads were above average; but the best wing in the whole place was the Et Tu Brute featured from a place (I believe) that is out of Arizona. I kind of wish I had found that one first, and Just spent my $40 worth of tickets eating that all day. Some of the 'sensationalized' wings were unique and good. The PB&J wing was good, there was also another caramel dessert wing (of sorts) that really impressed. Payment: They only accept CASH. Some select vendors (beer vendors) accept credit, but it is all cash. Expect to shell out $20 Cash for water -- (that was just for my party of 3). The ticket system is OK. Essentially you pay $1 per ticket, bring the ticket to the booth, hand them 'x' number of tickets, and you get an equivalent number of wings based upon the quantity of ticket-tender you used. A Better System: 1.) Only allow vendors to make 3 different types of wings -- maximum. Provide all attendees with a card, or placard of sorts with 'x' number of empty spaces on it. These card/placards could be different prices. Maybe there is a $10 card, a $20, and a $50? You walk around to each booth, get a stamp (or some other denotation that you stopped) depending on how many wings you wanted. On the card / placard, you are allowed to place a rating of sorts. At the end of the day, you can turn in your card and...(next point) Rating System: People who attend these events are foodies. Cater to them! On that jumbo screen that you infrequently used, have half of it displaying a 'leader-board' so that everyone can see who has voted for what place, and what wing. Example Purposes Only: 1.) BoneHeads: Breakfast at Tiffany's (4587 votes) 2.) Quaker Steak and Lube: Haute Parmesan (4499 votes) 3.) Anchor Bar: Medium (4211 votes) This would make the event WAAAAY more interactive, would drive some more buzz, and I think elevate this event to a new level. Overall Thoughts: I think that this event has a VERY LONG way to go, and I won't be back. From extortion-like and unethical practices with the water, to a complete lack of organization, to holding it a a venue that is (literally) completely inappropriate for the event, to a questionable ticket system that could be so much better. Either way, this was a very disappointing experience. read more

The Buffalo Chicken Wing Festival has always been a favorite of mine in the Summer. The reason why I gave it four stars instead of five is because the wings aren't crispy. My favorite wings were the wings from Bonehead. You'll wait 10 minutes on their long line but it's worth it. They have a flight of wings (12 wings with unique sauces) that tastes wonderful! As a bonus, you get a foam beard if you try all 12. They all come in one box so by the time you find a table to sit down, you end up playing wing roulette when tasting them. I also enjoyed the Cajun Ranch wings from the Hot Rod Cafe. I wasn't impressed with the wings from Anchor Bar even though they are one of my favorite wing places in Buffalo. There's more to do at the Buffalo Chicken Wing Festival than just eat chicken wings. There are wineries that give you lots of samples (visit Cupcake Winery to find out how to get a $10 Amazon gift card), samples of Sailor Jerry's spiced rum, games to play (including a ring toss at the Red Hot tent), and giveaways. Take the time to walk around everywhere! read more

This was a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon in Buffalo :D. Parking was a breeze - I actually could have parked much closer to the ballpark but did not want to take any chances. Finding the main entrance was a bit confusion - I assumed we would enter from the front, but they actually have you enter through the back of the stadium. They should at least post some signs telling us where to go! Once we checked in, we went right through security and saw entire perimeter of the ball field had booths with restaurants from all over. I was surprised to see that there was even a restaurant from New Mexico that made the trip! I was disappointed that and Bar-Bill and Duffs were not in attendance. Anchor Bar was there, so my friend was able to enjoy their delicious wings for the first time! Prior to munching down some wings, we purchased our food tickets - $1 per wing - but drinks you pay for in cash. I do not know if they accepted credit, but we played it safe and used cash. We went right ahead and bought $20 each in tickets. The lines for all of the booths were fairly quick, usually under 5 minutes. There were at least 4 different flavors to try from most of the booths, and WOW they were good. The employees serving the wings in each booth were kind and were definitely happy to be there. They had tented areas with plenty of seating so you could cool off. However, here's my complaint: they sold water for $4 per bottle - come on man, really? Serving wings under the hot sun WITHOUT cheap or free water is a recipe for a potential health crisis. Sure, charge whatever you want for the booze, but the water should be MUCH cheaper for kids and adults to stay cool. It's just rude to charge that much. I also hope all of the bottles and cans were recycled... read more

3rd year attending and it gets better! Went there Saturday afternoon and lines were not as long. Tried all the vendors and was satisfied with the mouthwatering flavors. Cannot wait for next year! read more

I love this festival it is so wonderful to go and we go home with alot of wings in the end who can beat 5 dollars to get in love it love it love it read more

Had a great time. Some lines were very long but that was expected. Surprised to see vendors from Mexico, US Virgin Islands and England.

Let's just start with i drove up from NYC to attend this event. I have gone the last 4 years in a row. And love it every time! The amazing wings speak for themselves, the free blue cheese keeps you coming back for more, and the flow of things is great! Will be back again! read more

Attended the wing fest today with my family (Courtesy of yelp) hadn't been there in a few years so this was a nice change. Let's start with the Cons: 1.wings were advertised as "jumbo" they most definitely were not! Very small in size 2. There was the smell of garbage in the air (way to hot for that) 3. The lady at the media tent was kinda rude as if she didn't want to be bothered just threw her hand in the air telling me to check in @ the yelp tent in the corn once I got in.....well the average place has 4 corners so once I got in and wondered around the outside area, I then went in & wondered around the inside (with my hubby & kids in tow) but to no Avel ,so I went back out (alone ) back to the media lady(still rude,still unhelpful) finally the Cupcake wine guy told me the yelp tent had packed up & left awhile ago then invited me to sample the wine (absolutely )whewwww 4. Not 1 restaurant had Lemon Pepper Wings ????? (Not 1!!!!) Pros: 1. the "jumbo " wings were only $1.00 (thank heavens)and most were very tasty 2.many craft styles to choose from 3. Not to crowed ,which made it comfortable considering the heat. read more

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This year a crowd of over 80,000 hungry fans attended the 2013 Buffalo Chicken Wing Festival. Some of them came from: Australia, South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, Bulgaria, South Africa, The Philippines, Spain, Nicaragua, Jamaica, Romania, Italy, Switzerland, India, Japan, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, The Netherlands, and a whole armada of wing loyalists from Western New York. As a localvore I'm always going to vote for the home teams. Period, end of story. But I did want to recognize our brother and sister wing-masters in training visiting from outside of wing central. So this review (while steadfastly supporting our local boys) is mostly about the visiting teams. To begin, there were a few franchises represented at the Wing-fest (like Wingstreet, a TX franchise located in Jackson, Mississippi) or steadily expanding companies (like Fire on the Mountain with 4 stores in Oregon and Colorado) and I simply didn't try them. How can you be that far away from the recipe and expect wing greatness? Okay, that may be rigid but it's how I feel. The exception to this (yes I broke my own rule - call me fickle) was Wisconsin based Legend Larry's whose Hot Garlic wings were respectably - excellent. From The Depot Restaurant (Oneonta, NY) I sampled the Mild Buffalo Style which I thought was (meh) okay but rather thin as sauces go. Contrary to that their Garbage Wings were pretty darn tasty. Meaty wing, good, rather course on the tongue, sweet and tangy coating. I would order these again. From Sliders Grill & Bar (Plainville, Ct) I tasted the Medium Buffalo Style which again was okay and was consistent with an average low-level Buffalo wing. They redeemed themselves with their Strawberry Jalapeno sauce which had great, exotic flavor but their chicken was bland and lacked seasoning. (Keep working on it guys.) Let's look at Parrots Cay Tavern & Grill (Grand Forks, ND). All their wings are stock breaded and prepared in the same manner, and sauce is added simply as a surface coating. I really think the 'wing meat' should carry some flavor with it, don't you? I tried the Buffalo Bliss which had a buttery, creamy but grainy texture - not very impressive. Their Shark Sauce however was excellent with a peppery after bite. I'd definitely use that sauce for something. How about a round of applause for some of the visiting teams! Now let's get down to business. The business of Buffalo Wings! Danny's "Tailgate Wing" was hot with Cajun spices, great texture and a high octane bite. Loved it! And their Buffalo Chicken Wing Soup - one of my favorites - was also a hit. The Nine-Eleven Tavern's Medium Buffalo Style was, unfortunately, pure overwhelming butter with chicken flavor. I couldn't finish it. (Sorry guys). Quaker State's "Smokey Gold BBQ" style was light, sweet and a little smoky. Very nice wing. Their "Louisiana Licker" had Cajun spice, nice texture, and good flavor throughout. Another very nice wing. La Nova Pizzeria got my vote for one of the best with their "Garlic Parmesan" and a very tasty "Golden BBQ". With heat levels from BBQ to Inferno - some very nice wings! Congrats to the home teams! Wing-fest wouldn't be complete without the semiprofessional and professional wing eating challenge which - this year - was completely eclipsed by our female competitors. Wine, beer, deep fried "everything", bucking bronco wing riding, a complete kids area and even a Healthy Zone (featuring watermelon, baked green beans, baked gouda, mac-n-cheese and wing dip) courtesy of Blue Cross/Blue Shield made the event complete. Now, to serious stuff. Please guys, can we change the venue? It's like a deep fryer in the stadium! Imagine how many wing fans would come if we could fix that. read more

I was excited to attend this festival as I have a habit of adding things to my 'live life list' and this was one of them. Arrived ready to eat on Sunday towards the end of the festival but at the beginning of the eating contest. PROS: Met some really friendly folks, Weather was perfect, Loved the American Ninja Warrior competition with the kids, price was affordable, some of the wings were delish! CONS: The lines at the better places were VERY VERY long, some of the wing places were terrible, customer service wasn't that great as we were never presented with a 'map' of the wing places, drinks were priced really high and the field smelled really 'off' in certain areas. I've been to wing festivals in other cities and this one needs some improvement but it's off to a good start. My favorite wing ended up being from a place called Boneheads which funny enough isn't based in Buffalo at all but Rhode Island! Would I attend again, maybe, but in a few years. read more