SWOYERSVILLE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A spicy and fried weekend festival will get your stomachs growling, while also raising money for local parks in one part of Luzerne County.
It’s the centuries-old question: what came first, the chicken or the egg? For those at Murphy’s Pub in Swoyersville, chicken is the priority, but the follow-up question is most important: drums or flat?
"I’m a flats girly," said Angeli Nause Mahovich, organizer of Swoyersville Chicken Wing Fling.
"Drums," said Matthew Centak, co-admin, NEPA Chicken Wing Bulletin.
"I eat whatever wing comes my way," said Jeffrey Lewis, Swoyersville mayor/NEPA Chicken Wing Bulletin founder.
The passion for chicken wings is what inspired Swoyersville’s Third Annual Chicken Wing Fling.
"PA has some of the best wings, arguably the best wings in the country, and that’s my statement, my opinion," explained Lewis.
From 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday, thousands of people are expected to turn out and try different wings, all to raise money for Swoyersville Parks and Recreation.
"It’s pretty crazy. A lot of people will come for sure. It’s a wild weekend, but it’s fun," stated Eric Murphy, owner of Murphy’s Pub.
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Event organizer Angeli Nause Mahovich says they’ve already used funds from the previous years.
"We got generational swings, also known as a mommy and me swing. So, like a grandma could swing with her granddaughter, and they could face each other and swing together. It’s a really great bonding experience, so we’re just trying to improve the parks."
Wing connoisseurs Jeff and Matt are also helping with the event; they run ‘Nepa Chicken Wing Bulletin, ’ an informational Facebook page for wing enthusiasts.
They put in countless hours posting wing specials at more than a hundred restaurants across the area.. And hold contests.
"I ran a Wyoming Valley Wing Madness in March, it was a competition with all the local establishments, and I go back to those places now, and the owners are telling me their businesses have quadrupled, they’re working seven days a week cooking chicken wings," explained Centak.
The goal is to help promote small businesses like Murphy’s Pub.
Owner Eric Murphy says they’re preparing more than 6,000 wings for this weekend. I asked him what’s the secret to the perfect wing?
"Keeping fresh wings and extra crispy.”
Organizers say they’re predicting to sell 40,000 chicken wings at the festival this weekend.The Saturday and Sunday event will also have other food vendors, as well as live music and crafts
