Marshall University students will have the opportunity to purchase tickets for Huntington’s inaugural chicken wing festival from 10 until two this Wednesday, September 2.

Big Sandy Superstore Arena, in partnership with Kindred Communications, will host Wing Fling on Saturday, October 17.

Tickets for the event will be sold to the public for $20 a person. Students may purchase their tickets on campus for a discounted rate of $15 with a Marshall ID. Tickets include entrance to the event and all-you-can-eat chicken wings from a variety of vendors. Beer and soft drinks will be available for purchase at the event.

Along with all-you-can-eat wings, adventurous chicken wing-eaters can enter the chicken wing eating contest.

“Students will absolutely be eligible for the contest,” said Cara Hedrick, Marketing and Sales Manager for the Big Sandy Superstore Arena.

Those who want to enter the wing eating contest may sign up upon arriving at the event, then six applicants will be selected to participate.

Wing Fling guests will be able to sample many different types of chicken wings and different wing sauces, flavors, dry rubs and more.

Vendors will enter their best recipes into a contest to be voted on by a panel of judges. Visitors will also be able to vote for their favorite flavors at the event.

Local restaurants will take part in the festival including Gino’s Pizza, Mancini’s Pizza, Black Sheep Burritos and Brews along with many others. Nationally known restaurants Roosters and Marco’s Pizza will also have booths at the event to allow visitors to sample their wings. More vendors will be announced closer to the date of the event.’

Local restaurants not typically known for chicken wings, like Prime on Fourth and Christopher’s Eats, will also attend the event to bring a wider variety.

“Students [will] be able to check out places they might now have heard of before,” said Henrick.

Wing Fling will be held inside the Big Sandy Superstore Arena, located at One Civic Center Plaza, in Huntington.

Tickets can be purchased at the Campus Activities Board tent on the Memorial Student Center Plaza Wednesday from 10 until two. Non-student tickets can be purchased for $20 at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena box office.

Mackenzi can be reached at [email protected]