The Music City Hot Chicken Festival is almost here, and this year’s lineup is looking extra hot.
Hosted annually on the Fourth of July, the free-to-attend celebration kicks off with a parade before taking over East Park (700 Woodland St.) with hot chicken, live entertainment, and an amateur cooking competition. Let’s get a taste of the fiery festivities.
Fire truck parade
The festival’s signature kickoff event is led by former mayor Bill Purcell, followed by a host of vintage fire trucks (plus a few modern ones), marching bands, mascots throwing beads, and more. The parade departs from the corner of Woodland Street and 9th Street at 10:30 a.m.
The main attraction
This year, the 18th annual Hot Chicken Festival Amateur Cooking Competition makes a spicy comeback to the festival site after a stint at the Nashville Farmers Market. Watch five teams battle it out at 11:30 a.m., followed by judging at 12:30 p.m. and the winner announcement at 1:30 p.m. Aside from watching the hot chicken showdown, attendees can purchase hot chicken from the following vendors.
- Chicken Shack Express
- Eugene’s Hot Chicken
- Hattie B’s
- Hurt’s Hot Chicken
- Momma Joy’s Hot Chicken + More
- Nashville Chicken & Waffles
- Party Fowl
- Prince’s Hot Chicken
- Slow Burn
Plus, order food and drinks from Yazoo Brewery, The Loveless Cafe, Retro Sno, The Lemon Spot, and Buns on the Run.
Pro tip: Check out the FAQ page before your visit for a list of prohibited items and other need-to-knows.
