COOK TEAM

**PLEASE READ THE “FESTIVAL RULES AND GUIDELINES” LINKED TO THE WINGWARSOFACADIANA.COM WEBSITE BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR REGISTRATION.**

***PLEASE NOTE*** The Festival Committee understands that there are businesses and/or professionals that wish to participate in this fundraising event without competing in the cook-off. We would still love to have you at this event and we would be happy to speak with you regarding accommodating your specific preferences and needs. Please contact David Owens at 337-321-3356 – [email protected].

FESTIVAL PURPOSE:

• This chicken-wings & more festival and cook-off is a fundraiser for the 501(c)3 nonprofit, Gifting Grace Project, which supports homeless and vulnerable children in the community. Money raised by this event will support their efforts in providing essential resources, support services and community advocacy for these children and youth in need. 

DATE. TIME. PLACE

• Date: May 16th, 2026
• Event is 10am – 4pm. Setup begins at 6am and Tear down by 7pm. 
• Location: Parc International in Downtown Lafayette, Louisiana

Address: 200 Garfield St., Lafayette, LA 70501

WAYS TO PARTICIPATE:

• BECOME A COOK-TEAM IN ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:

• TRADITIONAL WINGS CATEGORY
• Reg Fee: $75
• Traditional Wings = Bone-in, split, drummettes and flats. 
• Minimum of 500 servings to participate. 
• Maximum 3 flavor/style options for attendees. 
• Maximum 1 flavor/style entry for Judging. 
• 1 Wing Serving will be given in exchange for 1 RED Ticket at your Booth. 
• 500qty of 4oz souffle cups provided by Event Committee for serving to attendees.
• 1 – 90” x 50” fire-retardant, grease-resistant, slip-proof mat for placing under your cooking equipment provided by Event Committee. 
• This Category is the only category that requires a team to register in a Professional or Amateur Division. All other categories of competition are in the same Division. 
• This Category will have a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winner chosen by the Judges in both Divisions. 
• The scores received in this category will contribute to the overall score needed to win the WWA TOTAL KNOCKOUT CHAMPION title and Belt trophy. 

• BONELESS WINGS CATEGORY
• Reg Fee: $50. Only $25 if also competing in an additional Category.
• Boneless Wings = 1 Small chunk of thigh or breast meat.
• Minimum of 500 servings. 
• Maximum 3 flavor/style options for attendees. 
• Maximum 1 flavor/style entry for Judging. 
• 1 Wing Serving will be given in exchange for 1 RED Ticket at your Booth. 
• 500qty of 4oz souffle cups provided by Event Committee for serving to attendees.
• 1 – 90” x 50” fire-retardant, grease-resistant, slip-proof mat for placing under your cooking equipment provided by Event Committee.
• This Category will have a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winner chosen by the Judges. 
• The scores received in this category will contribute to the overall score needed to win the WWA TOTAL KNOCKOUT CHAMPION title and Belt trophy.

• LAGNIAPPE CATEGORY
• Reg Fee: $50. Only $25 if also competing in an additional Category.
• ANYTHING CHICKEN dish. (Ex: tenders, whole fried chicken pieces, chicken sandwich, chicken jambalaya, chicken eggrolls, etc.)
• Minimum of 300 servings.
• Maximum of 2 options for attendees. 
• Maximum of 1 entry for Judging. 
• 1 Serving will be given in exchange for a predetermined number of  RED Tickets at your Booth. 
• NO Traditional and/or Boneless Chicken Wings ALLOWED in this Category.
• Serving cups, bowls or plates the responsibility of the Cook-Team. 
• This Category will have a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winner chosen by the Judges. 
• The scores received in this category will contribute to the overall score needed to win the WWA TOTAL KNOCKOUT CHAMPION title and Belt trophy.

• SIDE DISH CATEGORY
• Reg Fee: $25. This Category is only an addon to another category. 
• ONLY Non-chicken dish. (Ex: red beans and rice, mac n cheese, french fries, hot dogs, etc.
• Minimum of 300 servings.
• Maximum of 1 entry for Judging. 
• Maximum of 2 options for attendees.
• 1 Serving will be given in exchange for a predetermined number of  RED Tickets at your Booth. 
• Serving cups, bowls or plates the responsibility of the Cook-Team. 
• This Category will have a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winner chosen by the Judges. 
• The scores received in this category will contribute to the overall score needed to win the WWA TOTAL KNOCKOUT CHAMPION title and Belt trophy.

• BECOME A VENDOR – DESSERT ONLY

• Registration Fee: $150 per business.
• A TOTAL of 7 Dessert Vendors will be approved and allowed to participate in the WWA Event. 
• Vendors will keep 100% of profits made at the event. (*As this is a fundraiser, we ask you to please find a way to help us increase our support in some capacity. Thank you!)
• Vendors are expected to promote the event and invite their followers, customers, family and friends to attend and participate.
• We will work diligently to not have duplicate items sold at the event by Vendors. 
• Only 1 Vendor per booth is preferred. If 2 different Vendors desire to share a tent/space, both Vendors must register and pay separate registration fees. 
• No refunds will be given due to failure to comply with Festival Rules and Guidelines. 
• No refunds will be given for those who do not show up.
• Prices of items must be clearly stated.
• Vendors are responsible for all chairs, tables, tents, etc. 
• Access to electricity will be limited. Vendors need to be prepared to be fully autonomous and self-sufficient.

• NON-COMPETEING CATEGORY

• We understand that there are some highly recognizable National and Local businesses that would like to participate in our event to help us fundraise and increase visibility and awareness for our cause but cannot participate in a cookoff-style competition. As we understand that this is the case, please reach out to David Owens at 337-321-3356 – [email protected] to discuss how we can accommodate your needs and include you in this wonderful event. 
• There is a separate registration form online under the Cook-Team page. 

**PLEASE READ THE “FESTIVAL RULES AND GUIDELINES” LINKED TO THE WINGWARSOFACADIANA.COM WEBSITE BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR REGISTRATION.**

***Please note, all wings and other food and/or supplies purchased, prepared and served for the Wing Wars of Acadiana are a donation to the fundraiser for Gifting Grace Project, Inc. A receipt of donation is available upon request.***

COOKING, FOOD SAFETY AND EQUIPMENT

• Cook-Teams and Vendors must provide their own tables, chairs, cooking utensils, cooking equipment, chafing dishes, cooler with ice, paper towels, booth setup and display items and all other necessary equipment. The Festival Committee will provide serving cups for wings if the Cook-Team would like them. 

• ABSOLUTELY NO alcoholic beverages may be consumed, sold or given out by a Cook-Team, their Team Members or Vendors. 

• No smoking is allowed in the cooking area due to fire and health department regulations. These are major safety risks. 

• Electricity will be limited so please plan to use propane gas, charcoal or  as much as possible.
• Trash cans and Trash bags used by the Cook-Teams and Vendors must be provided by themselves. The Wing Wars of Acadiana will have trash cans throughout the park for attendees, however each Cook-Team and Vendor MUST have their own plan and supplies for their trash. A large dumpster will be on site for participants to place their bags of trash in. Absolutely no grease is to be placed in this dumpster. 
• BY REGISTERING AND PARTICIPATING IN THE WING WARS OF ACADIANA EVENT, EACH PARTICIPANT AGREES TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR COOKING OIL/GREASE DISPOSAL. NO COOKING OIL/GREASE WILL BE ALLOWED IN TRASH CANS, DUMPSTERS, TREE BASES, STORM DRAINS, ETC.. PLEASE NOTE, the Festival Committee will provide commercial grease traps on site for Cook-Teams to properly dispose of their grease, however it is the Cook-Teams responsibility to be sure to keep the area around the grease traps clean and free of debris. . DO NOT pour cooking oil/grease on the curb or in the street. DO NOT pour cooking oil/grease in the trash dumpster or at the base of a tree. If it is discovered that cooking oil/grease or any other environmentally harmful substance is disposed of incorrectly, you will be responsible for all fees, fines and/or additional damages imposed upon Gifting Grace Project, Inc. or the Wing Wars of Acadiana Festival UP TO $5000 and potentially risk all future involvement in this event. 
• Every Cook-Teams is REQUIRED to have a fire extinguisher specific to the cooking equipment you are using. Cook-Teams must provide all appropriate extinguishers. Here is a guide to determine which one you need. 
• Teams using deep fryers must have a K-Class fire extinguisher.
• Teams using Charcoal Grills or Wood Smokers; Propane or Gas Grills; Electric Grills / Griddles / Fryers must have an ABC fire extinguisher. 
• It is the Cook Team’s responsibility to check and make sure they are charged and not expired. You will not be allowed to cook if you do not have an appropriate extinguisher.

AWARD OPPORTUNITIES

• There are several ways to win awards this year. Here are the different areas:
• OVERALL WINNER – “TOTAL KNOCKOUT CHAMPION”
• 1st Place only. 
• Total sum of all scores from categories you’ve participated in. 
• ACADIANA’S CHOICE AWARD (Attendees votes)
• People’s Choice. 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
• TRADITIONAL WINGS CATEGORY (Professional and Amateur Divisions)
• Judges Choice. 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
• BONELESS WINGS CATEGORY
• Judges Choice. 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
• LAGNIAPPE “ANYTHING CHICKEN” CATEGORY
• Judges Choice. 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
• SIDE DISH CATEGORY
• Judges Choice. 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
• FUNDRAISING CHAMPION 
• (Each Cook-Team, Vendor or other Participant creates their fundraising page through our website and encourages others to give.)
• 1st Place only. 
• SPIRIT AWARD
• Judges Choice. 1st place only. 
• PRESENTATION AWARD
• Judges Choice. 1st place only.

**PLEASE READ THE “FESTIVAL RULES AND GUIDELINES” LINKED TO THE WINGWARSOFACADIANA.COM WEBSITE BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR REGISTRATION.**