Celebrate chicken wings at the South Florida Wing Bash this weekend

Eddie Ritz, Palm Beach Post
Updated ·3 min read

Though incapable of providing enough lift for flight, chicken wings definitely shine in other areas.

Baked, broiled, grilled, smoked or deep fried they can make taste buds shout "hallelujah," and are a simultaneous source of joy and comfort. Seriously, they CAN take a nothing day or night out and "suddenly make it all seem worthwhile!" (Yes, I just did that.)

Need proof that those crispy, juicy, meaty golden beauties can deliver true happiness? Then follow the masses to John Prince Park in Lake Worth Beach on Saturday, July 8, for the 1st Annual South Florida Wing Bash.

Held from 7 to 10 p.m., the event will feature thousands of wings from nearly two dozen local restaurants and food trucks including 40 Flavor’s Wings & More, McKenna’s Place, Bru's Room Sports Grill, The Green Baker, Windy City Pizza, Thirsty Turtle, Moore Fire Grill, Yen's Kitchen, Tucker Duke's Lunchbox, Lizzy's SoulFood, 21 Flavass, Allans Jerk Shack, Scarlett's Smoked BBQ, Fye Stars, Potbelly BBQ Grill, Halo Project, Sauwce’s Kitchen, Knockout Foods & Catering, Fin's Kitchen, TJ's Southern Kitchen, Smokey Bear's BBQ & Catering and Lantern Local Tavern.

Though there will be dozens of varieties, classic Buffalo with ranch is always a favorite with wing lovers. Sample wings from nearly two dozen restaurants and food trucks and find your true love at the 1st Annual South Florida Wing Bash on Saturday, July 8 at John Prince Park in Lake Worth Beach.
Though there will be dozens of varieties, classic Buffalo with ranch is always a favorite with wing lovers. Sample wings from nearly two dozen restaurants and food trucks and find your true love at the 1st Annual South Florida Wing Bash on Saturday, July 8 at John Prince Park in Lake Worth Beach.

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Consumed by hordes of happy wing lovers, these drumettes and flats, crafted by some of the finest wing makers in the land, will also be judged during a blind tasting to determine which can be declared "the best."

The judges will include foodie/traveler Giselle Chusan, chef Jeffrey Lemmerman of the Cheffrey Eats food truck (featured recently on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives"), digital creator/foodie Priscell Voll and digital creator/gourmand Scott Liberto.

Though bragging rights are always paramount, the first-, second- and third-place finishers will receive custom-made South Florida Wing Bash awards and window decals.

Tickets to the 1st Annual South Florida Wing Bash gets attendees unlimited wing samples, unlimited domestic beer and hard seltzer, axe throwing and more.
Tickets to the 1st Annual South Florida Wing Bash gets attendees unlimited wing samples, unlimited domestic beer and hard seltzer, axe throwing and more.

In addition to vying for the judges' favor, competitors will be seeking to woo the crowds as well. Attendees will be given a token that they can give to their favorite wing maker. The one with the most tokens earns the "People's Choice" award.

Many restaurants and chefs love to do pairing menus. They craft specific foods to complement certain beverages and vice versa. When it comes to wings there may be not be another more perfect pairing than beer.

In the grand scheme of pairings, it probably goes peanut butter and jelly, mac and cheese and then wings and beer. It just works, and it will be working overtime at the Wing Bash. Not only do event tickets provide guests with unlimited wing samples,the tickets entitlen guests to unlimited drinks as well.

Though there will be many different cooking methods and flavors used to turn wings into spicy, sweet manna from heaven at the South Florida Wing Bash, Nashville Hot will surely be popular.
Though there will be many different cooking methods and flavors used to turn wings into spicy, sweet manna from heaven at the South Florida Wing Bash, Nashville Hot will surely be popular.

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Providing the auditory entertainment will be a live performance by the band Hot Mess. This high-energy cover band will bring one classic after another from the 80s through today.

Fueled on wings and beverage and rocking to great music and full of energy, what better way to burn some of that off than with a little axe throwing?

The festival's game area, sponsored by 3 Axes Mobile Axe Throwing, will have cornhole and beer pong, and those are great games, but seriously if you never done axe throwing it's pretty awesome.

Offering a sweet cool down to all those wings and action will be vendors Tasty Freeze 2.0, V's Cakes (artisan cheesecake) and Churros & Cream.

Though not included in the ticket price, a portion of the proceeds will go directly to the West Palm Beach non-profit The Children's Healing Institute.

South Florida Wing Bash

The 1st Annual South Florida Wing Bash will be held Saturday, July 8 at John Prince Park in Lake Worth Beach.
The 1st Annual South Florida Wing Bash will be held Saturday, July 8 at John Prince Park in Lake Worth Beach.

What: 1st Annual South Florida Wing Bash

Where: John Prince Park, 2700 S. J St., Lake Worth Beach

When: 7 to 10 p.m. (V.I.P. entry at 6 p.m.) Saturday, July 8

Cost: tickets start at $55

Information: southfloridawingbash.com

Eddie Ritz is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He has lived in the West Palm Beach area for more than 30 years and, from mild to wild, will cover noteworthy community happenings. You can reach him at eritz@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Chicken wings near me: South Florida Wing Bash in Palm Beach County