JULY 4, 2024 - EAST PARK
BENEFITING METRO PARKS & RECREATION
Presenting Sponsor
18th Annual Music City Hot Chicken Festival
July 4, 2024 - 11:00 AM TO 3:00 PM
The annual Music City Hot Chicken Festival brings together the local community and visitors to celebrate the uniquely Nashville dish, Hot Chicken.
The FREE event is held in East Park on July 4th each year.
It all kicks off at 10:30 a.m. with the Fire Truck Parade. Visitors can enjoy Hot Chicken from Nashville's best Hot Chicken establishments, cold beer from Yazoo, and other delicious edibles from local vendors.
We were excited to have Deer Park Spring Water join as the 2023 official water of the festival, providing FREE water to all attendees!
Live music from local bands keeps the "Nashville" vibe going all day long.
Join us for the Amateur Cooking Competition sponsored by Deer Park where teams try their hand at cooking up their version of Hot Chicken.
All proceeds from the festival benefit Metro Parks & Recreation.
2023 Festival Poster by Michael Jahn
Our Poster Contest is facilitated in partnership with Belmont’s Watkins College of Art
2023 FESTIVAL MAP (2024 Coming soon)
What is Hot Chicken?
Nashville Hot Chicken is a food unlike any other. It's not "buffalo" chicken - it’s HOT chicken. But what makes it Nashville Hot Chicken?
Nashville Hot Chicken is comprised of three components: bread, chicken, and pickle. But it's not just that simple.
Bread
Authentic Nashville Hot Chicken uses simple white bread - 1-2 slices placed under the Hot Chicken to absorb the juices and flavor.
Chicken
While each Nashville Hot Chicken restaurant may have their own secret blend of spices, many note that it's not just an intense amount of heat that makes it authentic, it's that heat and flavor. The chicken is fried and coated in these seasonings, most typically in a "dry" sauce - often made with a base of lard or oil. The use of a "wet" sauce (such as Buffalo-style chicken) is NOT Nashville Hot Chicken.
Pickle
Authentic Nashville Hot Chicken places a few slices of dill pickles atop the cooked chicken. While some folks may want to experiment with bread & butter pickles, this is not the authentic way.
While some may take all three of these elements and present it as "Nashville-Style Hot Chicken," don't be fooled. What really makes it authentic is the combination of these things and the finished flavor of the chicken itself. It's overwhelmingly spicy, yet abundantly flavorful.
2023 Hot Chicken Festival Vendors
General Vendors from 2023
Yazoo Brewery
Pied Piper Creamery
Loveless Café
The Peach Truck
Retro Sno Food Truck
The Lemon Spot
Buns on the Run
King of Pops
Kernel's Gourmet Popcorn
There's no better way to expose potential new customers to the hot chicken delicacy than to participate in the Music City Hot Chicken Festival.
Fire Truck Parade
The 2024 Festival kicks off with a one-of-a-kind parade! Starting at Woodland Street and 9th Street, the parade features antique and modern fire trucks plus unique vehicles, mascots, bands, and of course beads!
Join us on Woodland at 10:30 am.
GET INVOLVED
Do you enjoy meeting neighbors, lending a helping hand, and spicy chicken? Come be a part of the festival by volunteering your time! Every volunteer gets an exclusive Hot Chicken Festival t-shirt.
The Music City Hot Chicken Festival is only possible with the support of our dedicated volunteers.
Festival Music
Of course, no event in Music City would be complete without MUSIC!
The Music City Hot Chicken Festival is no exception. Each year the festival features great local bands to keep your feet tapping. Check out our recap from the 2023 Festival, and be on the lookout for updates to our 2024 Entertainment Schedule:
Quiet Entertainer - 11-12p
Nick Tabron - 12-12:35p
Quiet Entertainer - 12:35-1p
Love Montage - 1-1:40p
Quiet Entertainer - 1:40-2p
Keeps - 2-3p
Entertainment takes place on the stage near the Woodland Street entrance. Other announcements will also happen on the stage throughout the festival.
Thank You to the 2023 Festival Sponsors
The annual Music City Hot Chicken Festival proceeds benefit Metro Parks & Recreation. The 178 parks and 27 community centers promote wellness, strengthen neighborhoods, provide green infrastructure to protect the environment and boost the local economy. Metro Parks & Recreation strives to provide the same high-quality park amenities to everyone throughout Davidson County.
FAQs
Admission is FREE to the Music City Hot Chicken Festival
We do not recommend bringing pets to the Festival
The Festival is all-ages, however a valid ID is required for all beer sales.
No outside coolers can be brought into the Festival grounds
No tents can be brought into Festival grounds
Restrooms are located inside the East Park Community Center
While it is indeed the Hot Chicken Festival, there are other edible options on site
While many vendors do accept credit cards, some do not so there is an ATM available
Souvenirs are available for purchase, yet many items are limited so don't wait until the end to purchase yours!
The Hot Chicken Festival is a "Rain or Shine" event
