Humans love to crow about the feats of their feathered friends. Now, they can show their pets’ pluck, as well as their own penchant for fun and helping others at the first-ever Chicken Fest Saturday, July 15, at the West Cal Arena & Events Center. Gates open at 10 a.m. Admission is $5. Children two years old or younger get in free.

“We’ll have a chicken pageant beginning at 10 a.m. and chicken races throughout the day,” said Joanne Coleman, Sulphur Christian Community Coalition (SC23). “It’s going to be crazy fun, with an emphasis on crazy.”

Chickens will be leashed, and a holding pen will be provided.

Coleman advises putting pageant entrants in “their favorite outfit so they can strut their stuff.” Racing chickens will be given saddles with racing numbers and – if they come in in time – helmets.

Humans can demonstrate their prowess, as well. Register right away for the wing-eating contest at 12:30 p.m.

“We want to be sure to have enough wings,” said Coleman. “For the other contests, we will have a little more latitude.”

If it sounds like a chicken, it must be a Cluck-N-Crow contest. That begins at 1:30. Don an inflatable chicken suit at 3 p.m. to run an obstacle course to be named the Iron Chicken Champion and win cash.The SC2 Chicken Fest also includes a chicken pot pie baking competition.

“This wasn’t on the agenda, but we’ll also have a Chicken Derby, chickens chasing remote-controlled cars filled with chicken feed.”

Proceeds benefit SC3 in their efforts to break the multi-generational cycle of poverty and build a community where every child and adult will lend a healthy and purposeful life in a safe and vibrant neighborhood in which residents choose to live, learn, work, worship, engage, play and serve.

Go to chickenfest.org to find out more and register.