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About the event
Georgia’s Official Chicken Cook-off!
Over a dozen teams and over 7,000 lbs of chicken!
Activities:
- People’s Choice Awards; vote for your favorite Pitmaster!
- Fun and exciting music brought to you by JB Jams!
- Wing Eating Contest!
- Egg Spoon Race!
- Bounce House for kids!
Dates
Oct 17, 2026 · 11:00 AM - Oct 17, 2026 · 4:00 PM(GMT-04:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)
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Location
3105 Clarks Bridge Rd
3105 Clarks Bridge Rd, Gainesville, Georgia 30506-3721, United States
Directions
Parking instructions
Free Parking:
- Off-site parking location for 2025: New Horizons Lanier Park – 675 White Sulphur Rd. Gainesville, GA 30501
Shuttle Hours: 10:45am – 4:45pm
Shuttles will transport attendees from this lot to Lake Lanier Olympic Park.
Animals are not permitted access to the shuttles; exceptions being Service Animals at work.
- On-site parking at Lake Lanier Olympic Park is LIMITED!
- Large parking lot for vehicles and overflow parking available across Clarks Bridge Road, accessible via pedestrian tunnel.
- Courtesy dock, if arriving by boat! About 15 spots available in total.
- Handicap accessible and public restrooms.
Tickets
Price: $6.00-25.00 + Applicable Fees and Taxes
Single Ticket
$6.71
Includes Base Price: $6.00, Processing fees: $0.71
NON-REFUNDABLE
Non-Refundable Ticket
This ticket is non-refundable, non-cancellable, and non-transferable
after purchase. The delivery of the service is completed upon
receiving this ticket by email.
Choose time slots for the selected tickets to continue
Cluck Pack - 5 Tickets
$26.90
Includes Base Price: $25.00, Processing fees: $1.90
NON-REFUNDABLE
Non-Refundable Ticket
This ticket is non-refundable, non-cancellable, and non-transferable
after purchase. The delivery of the service is completed upon
receiving this ticket by email.
Choose time slots for the selected tickets to continue
Schedule
Artists, vendors & exhibitors applications
Interested in applying:
1 active application
Deadline:
Sep 17, 2026
The 21st annual Gainesville Chicken Festival takes place from 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at Lake Lanier Olympic Park.
VITAL INFORMATION
- Hours of cook-off are 11am-3:45pm. This is the time that samples will be served. Be ready by 10:45am for the opening rush.
- Wristband sales end at 3pm, you will end food service at 3:45pm.
- Awards are from 4pm-4:30pm.
- Wing category is sub-divided into Fried & Other.
- Each team will receive 10 cards/wristbands to give to team members/family for chicken samples. If more are needed, they can be purchased before the event at $3 each.
- ONE SAMPLE per punch. SAMPLES defined in cook-team meeting. *1 piece of chicken.
- All tents must be properly anchored. We encourage teams to decorate tents and to be creative, however, please keep any music to a minimum.
- No pets in cooking area.
- All teams are eligible for People’s Choice award and voting will be by QR code placed at each cook team tent. QR code for festival attendees only. *You may not share this with anyone not at the festival, keep it fair!
- Grand Champion is overall high point winner and can be either from Professional or Backyard Division.
- Winner is awarded $1500 and Chicken Cup (1 year possession).
- Grand Champion must have an entry in Wing (either fried or other), Chicken and Specialty to be eligible for title of Grand Champ.
- You may have 2 entries per category with a total of 8 entries max.
Volunteers
Interested in applying:
1 active application
Deadline:
Oct 01, 2026
Welcome to the Gainesville Chicken Festival!
Browse through our applications and the different opportunities available.
Other applications
Interested in applying:
1 active application
Deadline:
Sep 03, 2026
As a competition judge, you will play an important role in selecting the festival's champions by evaluating entries fairly and impartially based on established judging criteria. Judges will sample a wide variety of chicken dishes throughout the day, including but not limited to. wings, bone in chicken, boneless chicken, and specialty creations.
We are seeking individuals who are dependable, open to a diverse range of flavors and cooking styles, and committed to providing thoughtful, unbiased evaluations.
Thank you for your interest in helping us uphold the integrity and tradition of the Gainesville Chicken Festival.
Hosted by City of Gainesville CVB
Joined Eventeny in December 2025
13 events
Gainesville, Georgia, United States 
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