An all-you-can-eat party missing from Wichita’s roster since 2019 is making a comeback

Five years have passed since Wichitans last gathered on the floor of Intrust Bank Arena to stuff themselves with chicken wings.

But today, the arena announced that its once-popular summertime event — Wingapalooza — would be returning for the first time since 2019. It will happen on Saturday, Aug. 10, and will feature all-you-can-eat chicken wings prepared by Wichita area restaurants.

Back in 2015, arena officials announced that Wingapalooza would replace its Wichita Ribfest — an event it put on for three years but that never quite took off.

But Wingapalooza did: During its first run in August 2015, the event drew a sell-out crowd of 2,000 people, who feasted on wings prepared by 23 different restaurants and enjoyed adult beverages at a beer garden.

Wingapalooza continued every year through 2019. But in 2020, COVID kept it — along with nearly every other public event — from happening, and big events still weren’t really happening in 2021.

“Then our summer months were very busy in 2022 and 2023,” said Christine Pileckas, the arena’s director of booking and marketing. “So this is the first year it made sense to bring it back.”

This year’s event will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will again offer unlimited wings and a beer garden along with music from a live DJ. More than 20 restaurants are expected to provide wings and will compete for two awards: People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice.

The event will also feature wing-eating and stein-holding contests.

Early bird tickets, available today through May 9, are $25. Advance tickets, which go on sale starting May 10, are $30. Admission at the door will be $35, and a limited number of VIP tickets, which include early entry, two drink tickets and more, are $60. Tickets are available at www.selectaseat.com, by phone at 316-755-7328, or in person at the Select-A-Seat Box Office at INTRUST Bank Arena.

Restaurants interested in participating should fill out the online form at www.intrustbankarena.com/wingapalooza

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