Business & Tech
BCI's Wing Ding Leaving O'Fallon, Moving Back to St. Charles
The 15th Annual BCI Wing Ding will be held in St. Charles' Frontier Park June 6. Organizers have also made entry to the event free of charge in efforts to boost attendance.
Boone Center Inc. plans to move its annual Wing Ding fundraiser back to St. Charles after having it in O'Fallon for two years.
The event is scheduled from 6 to 10 p.m. June 6 in Frontier Park and will include wings, beer, live music and more.
The annual chicken wing contest pits about 20 local restaurants against one another for the top honors as determined by celebrity judges and a people's choice award. The fundraiser benefitsBoone Center's mission to provide employment to adults with disabilities. In 15 years, it has helped raise more than $1 million for the cause.
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In 2011, the organization teamed with the River City Rascals and moved the event to T.R. Hughes Ballpark in O'Fallon because it was a bit more centrally located in St. Charles County,organizers said at the time.
Attendees paid between $30 and $100 for a ticket which included wing tasting and beverages. , although typical attendance is closer to 3,000 or 4,000.
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This year, the event will be held in Frontier Park in St. Charles and entry will be free of charge. Attendees can purchase individual food and beverage tickets for $3 each, which organizers hope will encourage higher attendance.
"It used to be you had to purchase the package and that was the only way to get in," said Laura McCarthy, account manager at MSW Marketing. "Now anyone can get in. Even if you are a vegetarian, you could still go and drink a beer. It's kind of cool."
Advanced ticket packages range from $25 to $100 and are available starting April 15 at Boone Center's website .
Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs and enjoy live music by Smash Band and Concoction.
“Wing Ding has become such a crowd favorite, we thought the 15th year would be perfect for an even bigger party,” said Chuck Blossom, president and CEO of BCI in a press release. “Moving to Frontier Park opens up a whole host of options, including free entry. We look forward to more people, more food, more beer options and more music.”
Read our earlier articles about Wing Ding:
- Wing Ding Lands in O'Fallon for First Time
- Wing Ding Heads to O'Fallon
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