Wing Dang Doodle Festival returns to Forest, Mississippi on Saturday, September 24th
2011 WING DANG DOODLE FESTIVAL IS “ALL ABOUT CHICKEN, MUSIC AND FAMILY FUN” IN FOREST, MISSISSIPPI
8th annual family-friendly festival continues to grow with expanded Southern music, food and a 5K run.
August 22, 2011 (Forest, Mississippi) – With the scent of barbecued chicken wings and the sound of Southern music in the air, the Wing Dang Doodle Festival will return to historic Forest, Mississippi, on Saturday, September 24th.
“This year’s Wing Dang Doodle is going to be awesome,” says Allyce Lott, executive director of the Forest Area Chamber of Commerce. “This will be our 8th year of the festival, and we really think this is our best event line-up yet. It’s all about chicken, music and family fun.”
Official events kick off with a popular 5K Run/Walk and 1/2-mile Kids’ Fun Run at 8am, beginning at Gaddis Park – also the location of the Wing Dang Doodle Festival itself. The balance of the festival events run from 10am to 5pm and include food vendors, kids’ activities, chicken wing cooking contest, arts & crafts vendors, and – of course – plenty of free live music.
“It all makes for an unforgettable, carnival-like atmosphere,” according to Gay Barnes, the festival’s publicity chairperson. “You can smell the food, see the kids running around and hear the music. It’s no wonder why it’s Forest’s most popular event of the year, and folks come from all over to check it out.”
More than ever before, this year’s festival will promote a diversity of musical entertainment with acts like Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, Tim Frith, Chad Wesley Band and South of 20 performing blues, gospel, country and rock.
“The Wing Dang Doodle Festival consistently offers a range of quality musical acts for tourists and locals alike,” noted Roger Stolle, a Clarksdale-based music promoter. “Forest has a strong musical heritage itself, so I guess it comes as no surprise. This year, there will be something for everyone.”
In addition to the music, the annual event also boasts another very popular offering – the annual chicken wing cooking contest.
“We host an excellent roster of talented cooking teams,” boasts Chamber of Commerce president Bill Freeman. “The food is amazing, and everyone has a really enjoyable day. Plus, we offer a $1,000 prize to the cooking contest winner. Not too shabby.”
The festival location – Gaddis Park – is an updated facility that includes lighted tennis courts, a tennis pavilion, ball fields, a walking trail, a playground, basketball courts, picnic tables, grills and an open air pavilion
According to Lott, the Wing Dang Doodle Festival began eight years ago as an offshoot of the now defunct Mississippi Broiler Festival which began in the 1950s before sliding into obscurity and eventually being revived in the 1980s. In 2003, the Forest Area Chamber of Commerce and City of Forest resurrected the event. The result is today’s successful and ever-growing Wing Dang Doodle Festival.
“We’re very pleased to present such a family and tourist-friendly event with an interesting history and strong ties to our community,” explained Lott. “We’re looking forward to our biggest and best edition yet.”
The Wing Dang Doodle Festival kicks off at 10am on Saturday, September 24th. For more information about the festival, go to www.forestareachamber.com on the web, call 601-469-4332, or drop by the Forest Area Chamber of Commerce.
More information about some of this year’s homegrown musical acts:
– Jimmy “Duck” Holmes (Blues from Bentonia, MS), www.arts.state.ms.us/folklife/artist.php?dirname=holmes_jimmy
– Tim Frith (Gospel from Pearl, MS)
– Chad Wesley Band (Soul-Rock from Jackson, MS), www.chadwesley.com
– South of 20 (Country-Rock from Florence, MS), www.reverbnation.com/southof20
CONTACT:
Forest Area Chamber of Commerce, 601-469-4332
Allyce Lott (executive director) forestareachamber@att.net
Gay Barnes (publicity chairperson) gaybarnes@bellsouth.net
Bill Freeman (chamber president) billfreeman@agent.shelterinsurance.com