Stuffing their beaks full of chicken wings to mark Beak Week
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on September 10, 2014 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/ETHAN SMITH
Dr. David Dommer, a biology professor at the University of Mount Olive, won Tuesday night's wing eating competition. At right is MO Chamber of Commerce president Julie Beck, who also battled for clucking rights.
Goldsboro's new poultry festival, Beak Week, is well under way as a bike riding tour, a scavenger hunt and a chicken wing eating contest already have been held.
The event that kicked off the week, the Tour de Coop bike ride, had a total of 20 participants. Riders were able to visit three chicken coops before the event was rained out about an hour in, said Mark Wilson with the city Parks and Recreation Department.
But Wilson said he is optimistic about how things have gone this week.
"It's going great," he said. "Everything's been going good and Saturday (the main event) is all set to go."
At the wing eating contest on Tuesday night, Dr. David Dommer, a biology professor at the University of Mount Olive, cleaned the bones of his wings in just a few minutes, and became the first champion of the Beak Week wing eating contest.
If you've already missed the first few events this week, the best is yet to come.
Tonight, the city will announce the winners of the signature sandwich contest. Competitors had to use three local ingredients in their sandwiches in order to be eligible to compete.
On Thursday night, the third annual doctors vs. lawyers softball game will be held under the name "Fowl Play," at 6:30 p.m. in front of the Boys and Girls Club. The game is usually held in October, but was rescheduled to be a part of Beak Week, said Jo Heidenreich, development director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Wayne County.
The Paramount Theater will host the "Hen Party Comedy Show" on Friday night at 7:30 p.m., before the week culminates in Saturday's downtown festival.
From 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday, Center Street will be transformed to host live music and events and games for all ages throughout the day.
Wilson said nine food vendors and 30 arts and crafts and sponsor vendors have also been secured for Saturday. Two stages for the concerts on Center Street will be set up Friday night.
There will be children's inflatables, a beer garden, food trucks, art booths and exhibits, as well as various vendors for Goldsboro residents.