It took them 27 years to reach their 25th annual event but Wingfest will go off as planned Saturday, March 19th. New location, same fun. Here is a portion of my chat with Joe Cain, Special Events Coordinator for Hilton Head’s Island Rec Center.
Jesse: You were part of Wingfest number 1, right? What do you remember about that day?
Joe: Well, it took 27 years to get to the 25th Wingfest. We only had maybe 8 restaurants. It was over in Shelter Cove Harbor. Which was nothing like it is now. It was just a small marina. It has grown as it has moved to different parks.
Jesse: So you started with 8. How many are you expecting this year?
Joe: We are expecting 16. Some of the issues restaurants are having are staffing issues. We’ve still got Wild Wings and One Hot Mama’s. The firemen and the police are doing it this year, so it should be fun.
Jesse: Describe the scene for us. For those who have never been to Wingfest.
Joe: It’s really a big party. There’s live music and the bands. Multiple beer trucks. Then you have the restaurants serving up the wings. There’s the judging but then there is also the People’s Choice. So there are two awards that you can win.
Jesse: Tell us a little more about the Island Rec Center. You host these events year round. Can you tell us where the money you raise goes?
Joe: We are a non-profit organization. We provide recreation for the island of Hilton Head. Whether it be soccer or Summer camps. Moneys raised go to scholarship funds for the kids who may not be able to afford that. Everybody thinks Hilton Head is rich, but there are a lot of families that need help. Recreation is an important part of any family.
Jesse: Participation wise, has it been harder to get restaurants to commit this year?
Joe: Yeah, it really has. Some restaurants don’t have the staffing capability to man a restaurant and send a team out to participate in Wingfest. 15 is a solid number. There’s only so much room at (Celebration) Park. There’s other things besides chicken wings, you know.
There will be ice cream, sodas, multiple beer trucks. Different sponsors and things. That quickly takes up space, so. We will still have a great time.
Jesse: Tickets can be purchased in advance, right?
Joe: Yes. We have admission tickets and tickets to purchase wings available in advance on our website. Hilton Head Wingfest.com
Jesse: Before we go, I’m going to put you on the spot. I’m going to ask you to pick two spots for Chicken Wings that you love in the area.
Joe: Well, you know…One Hot Mama’s. Orchid, She does a great job. Another sneaky one and I think you mentioned it in something you wrote recently. Is R Bar in Bluffton. The owner is a Buffalo girl. They have sneaky good wings.
