*TRADITIONAL WINGS ARE PROVIDED*   *FREE Registration*   *$1000 to OVERALL CHAMP*

***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 5am 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:

1. There are 4 Categories for competition.
   1. TRADITIONAL WINGS CATEGORY – (Split, Bone-In Wings)
      ***WINGS DONATED by BELLARD’S POULTRY***
      Reg Fee: *FREE* (Commitee accepts the teams committment to prepare and serve the provided wings as the registration fee.)
      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.
   2.  BONELESS WINGS CATEGORY – (Chunks of thigh meat or breast meat)
      ***Wings are NOT provided in this category.***
      Reg Fee: *FREE* (Commitee accepts the teams committment to provide, prepare and serve wings as the registration fee.)
      Boneless Wings = 1 Small chunk of thigh or breast meat. (About 1 in. x 1 in. in size.)
      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 NOT contribute to the overall score needed to win the WWA TOTAL KNOCKOUT CHAMPION title and Belt trophy.
   3. LAGNIAPPE “Anything Chicken Goes” CATEGORY – (From chicken tenders to chicken cracklins)
      Reg Fee: *FREE* (Commitee accepts the teams committment to provide food as registration fee.)
      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 NOT contribute to the overall score needed to win the WWA TOTAL KNOCKOUT CHAMPION title and Belt trophy.
   4. SIDE DISH CATEGORY – (Hotdogs, mac n cheese, seafood nachos, etc.)
      Reg Fee: *FREE* (Commitee accepts the teams committment to provide sides as registration fee.)
      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 NOT contribute to the overall score needed to win the WWA TOTAL KNOCKOUT CHAMPION title and Belt trophy.
2. There is NO Cook-Team Registration Fee for the 2026 event. 
3. All Traditional (Bone-In) wings that will be served at the Wing Wars of Acadiana event are being generously donated by Bellard’s Poultry, Inc. Meaning, each team’s minimum commitment of 500 Traditional wings will be given to the team at the mandatory Captain’s Meeting on the Thursday morning prior to the Saturday event. If a team desires to receive more wings than the 500, it must be notated on the application.
4. Cook-Teams can compete in the Professional Division or Amateur Division for the Traditional/Bone-In Category. (This is sometimes determined on a case by case basis depending on experience and history. Please see Festival Rules and Guidelines linked to this page in the YELLOW banner.)
   1. Professionals = Food Trucks, Restaurants, Caterers, Seasonings Companies that compete on a regular basis in cook-offs, etc. 
   2. Amateurs = Home cooks, companies that have salesmen that cook for large groups, Real Estate companies, etc. 
5. This is a sampling event. We do not allow full-size plates of food to be served from any Cook-Team.
6. Booth space will be approximately 10’X10’. Tent’s or coverings are strongly encouraged. 25lb weights are required to be on all 4 corners of your tent. 
7. Cook-Teams can begin setup on Friday, May 15th, 2026 between 12 and 7pm at Parc International.
8. Cook-Teams can return on Saturday morning after 5am to complete setup and begin prepping at Parc International.
9. Food Trucks / Cook Trailers are allowed to be used by Cook-Teams to prepare, cook their wings. All Cook-Teams should serve their wings and other dishes from a tent or booth space in the park. ***Food-trucks must be notated on the application.
10. If a team prefers to NOT compete in the cook-off but would like to serve their wings for $2 tickets to help us fundraiser, we will allow it on a case by case basis. Please contact David Owens at 337-321-3356. We want this festival to involve everyone…not just the competitors.
11. All wings that are given to a Cook-Team is the property of Gifting Grace Project and the Wing Wars of Acadiana chicken wing festival and cookoff. It is understood that the Cook-Team may receive the wings in advance of the Event however is required to return with the product for the event to trade with attendees in exchange for a ticket. 
12. There are no tickets that are collected at this event that a Cook-Team can receive money from. All food is served in exchange for one or more tickets at the event. All tickets are given in exchange for a predetermined amount of money at the ticket booth which is a donation to the Gifting Grace Project, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization supporting homeless and needy children in our communities. 
13. It is preferred but not required that Wings be cooked on site the day of the event. This is allowed on a case by case basis. 
14. You may pre-marinate or pre-season your chicken.
15. Cook-Teams will provide ALL ingredients for their wings, cooking equipment, ice, tables, chairs, tent, sanitation supplies (hand sanitizer/paper towels).  May want to also bring an extension cord. 
16. ALL COOK TEAMS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE THEIR OWN FIRE EXTINGUISHER. Please make sure that it is rated for your particular use. 
17. The Team Captain or Representative MUST attend the “Captain’s Meeting” which will be scheduled on the Thursday prior to the event. May 14th, 2026 at 9:30AM at Parc International.
18. On May 16th, 2026, Each Team Member must check-in upon arrival at the CHECK-IN TENT.
19. Cook Teams can arrive on the morning of the event beginning at 5am but not later than 8:30am. 
20. At least one Team member must be present under the Cook Teams tent from 10AM to 4PM.
21. There will be a brief Team Captains meeting at 8:30 AM the morning of the Event.
22. Samples should be ready for serving to the public between _10:00_ AM  and  _4:00_ PM 
23. Turn-In Time for ALL TEAMS for ALL ENTRIES in the first Category, Traditional and Boneless Wings, is at 9:10 – 9:30am. 
24. Judging for the first Category (Traditional Wings and Boneless Wings) will begin around __9:30__ AM.
25. Ballot: Judge’s will score the submitted entry in the following areas:
    1. PRESENTATION (1-20 points)
    2. AROMA (1-20 points)
    3. TASTE (1-20 points)
    4. TEXTURE (1-20 points)
    5. ORIGINALITY (1-20 points).

*NOTE: A MAXIMUM HIGH SCORE of 100 points per judge per category. ALL categories are HIGHLY important. Please do not disregard one for the other.

1. Acadiana’s Choice Award voting will end at 3:45pm. 
2. Awards are as follows: 

OVERALL WINNER – “TOTAL KNOCK-OUT CHAMPION” – WWA OFFICIAL BELT AND $1000. 1st Place ONLY. (This award is given for the highest cumulative score between 3 areas: Traditional Wing Category, Acadiana’s Choice Award and Spirit Award.)

“ACADIANA’S CHOICE AWARD” (Voting by Festival Attendees) – 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place.

“BEST TRADITIONAL WINGS” – PROFESSIONAL DIVISION – JUDGE’S CHOICE AWARD – 1st, 2nd & 3rd Place.

“BEST TRADITIONAL WINGS” – AMATEUR DIVISION – JUDGE’S CHOICE AWARD – 1st, 2nd & 3rd Place

“BEST BONELESS WINGS” – JUDGE’S CHOICE AWARD – 1st, 2nd & 3rd Place

“BEST LAGNIAPPE CHICKEN DISH” – JUDGE’S CHOICE AWARD – 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Place

“BEST SIDE DISH” – JUDGE’S CHOICE AWARD – 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Place

“FUNDRAISING CHAMPION” – JUDGE’S CHOICE AWARD – 1st Place ONLY

“BEST PRESENTATION” – JUDGE’S CHOICE AWARD – 1st Place ONLY

“SPIRIT AWARD” – WWA COMMITTEE’S CHOICE AWARD – 1st Place ONLY

Judging:

• Every Team will be given the same turn-in Time which is determined by their participating Category. Each team must have their entries ready and turned in at the turn-in times. There will be WWA volunteers on site to help with entry turn-in so that other Team members do not have to leave the tent. 
• Traditional Wings Category Only. One plate is allowed to be “Displayed/Presented” in some type of format. This will be for show and not necessarily be eaten. It will be judged for creativity and originality and set on a separate table for Judges to look at and judge. This can be as elaborate or as simple as you would like.
• All other Judges tastings will be placed in a small, hinged top, to-go box with the Cook-Teams Code on top. These plates will be provided by the Committee at the 8:30 Captain’s Meeting. 
• Here is the Turn-In Time Schedule:
• 9:10 – 9:30 – Turn-In Traditional AND Boneless Category (ALL Teams, ALL Entries – 20 mins) (Each Category plated separately.)
• 9:30 – 10:00 – Blind Judging (No Live Presentations) (30 mins)
• 10:00 – 10:15 – Opening Ceremonies with Judges
• 10:15 – 10:30 – Turn-In Lagniappe “Anything Chicken” Category (15 mins)
• 10:30 – 10:45 – Blind Judging (No Live Presentations) (15 mins)
• 10:45 – 11:00 – Turn-In Side Dish Category
• 11:00 – 11:15 – Blind Judging (No Live Presentations) (15 mins)
• 11:30 – All Judging Completed
• If a team is not ready within the Turn-In time window, that team forfeit’s the chance to enter your wing/food into the judging competition. We will not allow entries following the times stated unless due to extenuating circumstances and decided by the Committee Chair. 
• EVENT PRODUCERS will give each Cook-Team a Code for their food entry that is to be written on the top of every entry’s box. 

1. Winners will be announced beginning at __4:00PM__.
2. Teams can start tearing down following the awards ceremony – NO EARLIER.
3. The Team’s Captain will be held responsible for the conduct of his Team and his guests. Under NO circumstances are wings, beverages or side dishes to be distributed (given away or sold) to the general public by any Team Member without the exchange of an appropriate ticket. 
4. The Wing Wars of Acadiana Festival Committee and Gifting Grace Project, Inc. emphasizes that this is a “family-friendly” event and expects the Cook-Team members to conduct themselves in a professional and respectful manner. 
5. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL WE TOLERATE ANY VULGARITY, PROFANITY, SEXUAL INNUENDO, HARASSMENT OR OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOR. Yes we will have fun but those kinds of actions are unacceptable. 
6. NO SMOKING within the tent area.  Each Team should provide their own bucket of sand for cigarette butts disposal outside of Parc International. If cigarette butts are left on the grounds of the park at any time by any of your Team Members, the Festival Committee and Gifting Grace Project, Inc. reserves the right to impose additional fines as necessary.
7. This is a rain or shine event. The Event will be held as scheduled, regardless of weather. Cook-teams and vendors should come prepared to protect themselves against the elements (i.e. sun, rain, wind, etc.). 25 lbs. (minimum) sand bags or comparable are highly recommended to anchor tents, canopies, etc. 
8. No refunds or exchanges will be given due to a weather event.
9. No refunds will be given due to failure to comply with Health Department codes.
10. Violations of rules and regulations of the contest will result in disqualification, expulsion, and/or  disqualification from future participation in the Festival. 

***Please feel free to call/text David Owens, Event Founder and Chairman at 337-321-3356 or email at [email protected] for any questions, thoughts or suggestions.***