Beak Week begins Monday
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on August 30, 2017 5:50 AM
The fourth annual Beak Week Festival will offer several new events this year, including a beer run, a food cluck run and an Arts Council Peep sculpture exhibit.
The weeklong celebration, which focuses on Wayne County's poultry industry, is Sept. 4-9, with the Saturday daylong festival offering something for the entire family.
"Leading up to the festival we have packed each day with fun, poultry themed activities," said Lynn Grantham, marketing and special events leader with Goldsboro Parks and Recreation.
"This year is shaping up to be the biggest and best Beak Week yet with the addition of new events."
Starting Monday, the Beak Week celebration starts with the Arts Council of Wayne County Peep Show. A collection of marshmallow Peep creations will be on display at the Arts Council, 102 N. John Street, including the 7 1/2-foot-tall, green and blue dragon, "Penelopeep." Entries have been submitted for the show and a chicken made of Peeps is planned, Grantham said.
Beak Week continues Tuesday with a beer run at 6 p.m. at Well Travelled Beer, at 201 S. Center St. Registrations are being accepted online at www.beakweek.org. Gift cards and other prizes are planned.
On Wednesday, there will be a Chicken Chase walk and run starting at 6 p.m. at the Wayne UNC Health Care greenway trail. The first 100 people to register will receive a free T-shirt.
"It's really just encouraging people to be active," Grantham said.
The sixth annual Fowl Play softball game will be Thursday, starting at 6:30 p.m., at the Boys and Girls Club of Wayne County on Royall Avenue. The admission-free game is a matchup between local doctors and lawyers.
"It's a fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club," Grantham said. "The ones playing give the donations, but it's free for people to come and watch."
Friday night events, held in downtown Goldsboro, will kick off activity leading up to the main festival on Saturday.
On Friday night, from 6 to 8 p.m., there will be a new food cluck rodeo at the Cornerstone Commons, near the corner of Center and Chestnut streets.
Several food trucks will be set up, the Band of Oz will perform and the Arts Council will sell beer. The Wayne County Cruisers will also cruise through the area.
The Saturday Beak Week Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. along Center Street in downtown Goldsboro where a variety of activities, food, children's areas and entertainment are planned.
A highlight of the festival is the annual Kansas City Barbeque Society cookoff competition. This year, 45 teams will participate for prizes, including the $5,000 grand champion title, Grantham said.
No public tasting is planned this year for the teams, which will be stationed on the vacant lot at Center and Spruce streets.
"There will be 45 cook teams that will start arriving Thursday," Grantham said. "It's just for the judges. They won't be selling to the public."
A wing eating contest, which requires a $50 admission fee, will be held at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Register online at the Beak Week website. The contest, hosted by the Downtown Goldsboro Merchants Association, will be held in the Cornerstone Commons.
The length of Center Street, from Ash to Spruce streets, will be blocked to traffic during the festival, which includes a variety of food and craft vendors, a kid's zone, entertainment, a car show and safety education area, in the Goldsboro Fire Department parking lot.
Pork and turkey sandwiches will be on sale during the Pig in the Park, a Boys and Girls Club fundraiser, along the 100 block of North Center Street, across from Goldsboro City Hall.
Downtown merchants will be open along Center Street, a kid's zone will be set up in the John Street parking lot, and a beer wagon will be available.
The entertainment lineup Saturday includes A Drummer's World, Rollin' Smoke, Blue Notes Jazz Band and the Justin West Band.
"Mark your calendars and be sure to join all the fun as we celebrate Wayne County's poultry heritage," Grantham said.