Plan to leave the nest Saturday, July 20. This year marks the second annual Chicken Fest at the West Cal Arena & Events Center in Sulphur. Gates open at 9 a.m.to the area’s only festival where chickens take front and center stage, and it is certainly the only festival featuring chickens that helps fund SC3, the Sulphur  nonprofit that builds community and empowers those in need.

Admission is $5. Children 2 years old or younger get in free.

Fun includes two chicken pageants, a wing-eating contest, a cluck and crow contest for youth and adults, chicken races, corporate chicken derby, Show and Shine Car Show and artisan market. New this year is a petting zoo, pony rides and reptile show. (Hopefully no chicken snakes will be in the lineup.)

During the chicken pageant, humans who are 15 years old or older present their favorite hen on stage. It must be a hen, and it must be leashed or crated throughout the event. Points will be awarded for the chicken’s costume, the human’s outfit coordination and the presentation/stage presence. The information submitted on the registration form will be read by the MC as the chicken is presented.

This year, a separate pageant has been added for the youth to present their hens.

The wing eating competition is not for the chicken-hearted. Round 1, contestants start with “medium” flavored wings. The top 10 advance to “hot” wings.” A winner will be selected from three finishers after they consume “blazing” wings. If a judge finds a bone not fully clean, the competitor will be disqualified and beverages are not allowed.

Gates open at 9 a.m. for vendor shopping and the Show & Shine Car Show. At 10 a.m. entertainment from the Crochet Brothers, chicken races, kid’s zone and concessions begin.  The youth chicken pageant is at 10:45 a.m.. Egg-lympics are at 11:15. The e wing-eating competition is at 11:45 a.m. Get ready to cluck and crow at 1 p.m., and new this year is the Corporate Chicken Derby. The festival concludes with the adult Chicken Pageant at 1:30 p.m.