Print

Gainesville Spring Chicken Festival moves away from downtown to Longwood Park

Posted 5:00PM on Saturday 27th April 2019 ( 5 years ago )

For years the annual Gainesville Spring Chicken Festival was held downtown Gainesville on the square, but Longwood Park served as this year's location for the growing event.

The new location gave visitors a view of Lake Lanier and offered shade to people and four-legged festival-goers, a luxury not found at the previous location downtown.

Several food vendors filled the park, where they served their special recipes of chicken in every form you could imagine - fried, grilled, smoked, barbeque, buffalo, teriyaki, you name it.

Festival taste testers were issued a punch card where with each sample of chicken, the food vendor signed off one of 12 squares. Once cards were filled with 12 signatures, they could be dropped in a voting box located at each vendor’s booth as a vote for best chicken.

The City of Gainesville has hosted the event in honor of the poultry industry, which has brought millions of dollars to Gainesville. Event sponsors help to fund the "Gainesville Spring Chicken Scholarship" for students pursuing a career in the poultry industry, and the "You're the Reason Scholarship" for City of Gainesville employees' college-bound children.

2019 Festival winners:

 

Click the picture above to view our photo gallery from this year's festival.

One vendor served up chicken sliders, an item the line backed-up for.
Looks like WDUN wasn't the only one to document the day.
Peckerwood Country Club was easily spotted in their light blue team wear.
Peckerwood Country Club came to the festival sporting major team spirit. Here's Mr. Peckerwood himself!
Left Nut Brewery is a local brewing company in Gainesville. They served their beer on tap at the event. What pairs better with chicken wings than an ice cold brew? Maybe a glass of milk.
Carolina Chopped sports their ballot box in hopes to earn the people's choice award.
One of the most popular vendors was the Gainesville Fire Dept., but who can turn down fresh fries with their chicken?
Wayne Farms' food truck had one of the most interesting tastes of the day: a maple fried chicken.
Festival-goers were able to stroll down to the lake to cool off, something people couldn't do in prior years.
Grassy shade, the perfect place to take a break and let your food settle before tackling the second half of the food vendors.
This festive vendor was sure to catch people's attention with their rubber chickens (the dogs probably liked it too).
Just one of the vendor set-ups during Saturday's event.
Are you drooling yet? If you missed this year's festival, be sure to look for next year's date!
Monee'-Rich served the judges quite the presentation. Yum!
The Spring Chicken Festival is the family event.
A taste of "Heaven" Smokers...Grillers take a much deserved break before preparing their meal for the judges.
A Taste of "Heaven" Smokers...Grillers were sure to pack on the color for their presentation.
Husband and wife duo preparing their infamous wings at Monee'-Rich Catering.
Walgreens was another vendor that maintained a steady line throughout the day.
Two festival-goers pose with their frisbee plates.
Reporter Joy Holmes can't leave an event without highlighting some of the pets of the day.
We have to thank the hard workers and volunteers who helped run a smooth event Saturday.
This little girl sports the snazzy Spring Chicken Festival sunglasses given away at the event. Too cute!
A family outing done right for these four.
Can you think of a better date day? These two were clearly enjoying themselves at the festival.
Could the festival-goers be any more photogenic? These two looked like they were having a blast at Saturday's event.
If you lose your child, just look for the red chicken!
People waiting for their turn to be served.
Looks like these two are ready for their next round!
On to dessert! Bruster's Ice Cream served their infamous ice cream near the lake for a cool down and sweet treat.
There were a few arts and craft vendors at the event. Chicken, shopping, ice cream, need we say more?
The big yellow Snowie bus was spotted at the festival. They stayed busy, but who can resist a good snow cone on such a warm day?
More 4-legged friends.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2019/4/788959/gainesville-spring-chicken-festival-moves-away-from-downtown-to-longwood-park

© Copyright 2015 AccessNorthGa.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.