ST. THOMAS — The 9th annual King of the Wing contest will take place Saturday on the shores of Magens Bay beach in St. Thomas, where teams will vie for bragging rights to the best tasting wings on the island, according to a release of the event issued today.
From 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., teams consisting of the top local restaurants, businesses, organizations and chicken wing connoisseurs will set up their grills and cooking stations right on the beach and cook up mouthwatering chicken wings to wow the over 5,000 attendees, according to the release. This year’s event’s special celebrity guest judge, TV personality, culinary traveler, cook and author Adam Richman, will taste all 42 competitors’ wings. His individual scores alone will break the tie between the two first place winners to crown the “Ultimate King of the Wing”.
Event sponsors Corona, Captain Morgan and Island Wiring, LLC will provide support while internationally renowned DJs and KOW veterans, DJ JSmoke and DJ Dhundee, along with special guest and top VI DJ Deli Banger, will keep the energy and appetites up with their signature blend of party jams.
In addition to being the island’s most celebrated and anticipated family-friendly culinary and community event, according to the release, King of the Wing has grown every year in attendance and number of competitors, and serves as a crucial fundraising platform for local charities.
Proceeds from this year’s event will be donated to Junior Achievement of the Virgin Islands (JAVI), a 501(c)3 recognized organization. J.A.V.I. is dedicated to helping young people in the Virgin Islands learn the economics of life and the free enterprise system. The mission of J.A.V.I. is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in the global economy.
With 42 teams representing all four of the U.S. Virgin Islands, various styles of wings and the St. Thomas community gathering together to celebrate charity, food, music and fun, 2018 looks to be the best year for the event, the release concluded.
Feature Image: 4th Annual King of the Wing cook-off at Magen’s Bay. That year, proceeds from the cook-off go benefited Nana Baby Home. (Credit: Aisha-Zakiya)