14th annual WingFest held at Beacon Hotel
FORWARD TWP — The grounds of the Beacon Hotel were filled with hundreds of people for the 14th annual Butler WingFest on Sunday, June 1.
For a cost of $35 at the door, participants could taste and vote on different wings served by vendors. Vendors could win in three categories: hottest, most creative and best all around.
The event started at 1 p.m. and winners were chosen at 4 p.m.
Lindsey and Matt Davidson attended the festival for the first time this year, but said they already know they’ll be back again.
“It was just fantastic,” Matt Davidson said.
The highlight of the event for the couple, besides having all-you-can-eat wings, was getting to try new flavors outside of the ordinary.
“They had an apple cinnamon one,” Lindsey Davidson said. “My favorite was the peach bourbon.”
Nick Krelow, one of the Beacon Hotel’s co-owners, expressed pride at the success of this year’s event. He said it was the biggest one yet, at least since after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I don’t want to harp on it, but after COVID, the numbers definitely took a dip,” Krelow said. “It’s good to see it getting back up.”
He said the hotel went through their entire stock of wings for the event, over 3,200 pounds in total.
“I think it’s a good deal,” Krelow said. “You come out here, get as many wings as you want and then you end up leaving here stuffed.”
Some vendors offered more than wings, however. Some offered products like cigars, while many offered adult beverages.
After the competition wrapped up, the remaining crowd moved to the hotel patio, where a DJ continued to play music.
WingFest is expected to return next year and Krelow said he hopes the crowd continues to grow.
