Annual Music City Hot Chicken Festival

Until somebody can find a way to dredge the mockingbird in cayenne and flour, the city of Nashville will recognize only one state bird--and it comes toothpicked with pickle on plain white sandwich bread. Hot chicken has finally assumed its deserving place as an indigenous Nashville delicacy, thanks in part to this combination concert, neighborhood party and chicken cook-off. The first 500 people get free samples of fiery fowl from Prince's, Bolton's, 400 Degrees and Murfreesboro ringer The Chicken Shack; after that, food vendors include Eastside Fish ("The Crunkest Fish in Town"), the mighty Dee's Q, Otter's Chicken Tenders and the New Orleans-style snowball stand Fleur de Lis Flavors, with beer from Yazoo Brewing Company. Then it's on to the main attraction: the amateur hot-chicken contest judged by Mayor Karl Dean, Lorrie Morgan, Chris Ferrell, Scott Couch and John Dwyer--folks who know the difference in mild, medium and "beg for swift and merciful death." Stick around for kids' games and music from Shotgun Shooter, The Superficials, The Centennial Hiptet jazz quintet and blues-jazzers Bradford Electric. Admission is free--but should you accidentally rub your eyes, the ER trip is on you.
Sat., July 4, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 2009