NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Music City Hot Chicken Festival, presented by Piedmont Natural Gas, is back and spicier than ever! The annual festival, which supports Nashville’s public parks, is bringing the heat to East Nashville this Independence Day for its 19th consecutive year. The event will take over East Park on Friday, July 4, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The beloved antique fire truck parade will kick things off at 10:30 a.m., and admission to all events is free. Join us in celebrating the city's most iconic culinary contribution — hot chicken!
The festival wouldn’t be complete without its Amateur Contest, where local amateur cooks compete to make hot chicken for a stellar trophy and spice-laden glory. Applications are open to amateur competitors 18 years and older until June 20. To learn more and register, visit hotchickenfestival.com
Visitors can also expect music that’s as good as the food on our festival Music Stage, including DJ Tone Zone, Southern jam-rock darlings LadyCouch, folk singer Charlie Treat, and country- and folk-influenced Ivory Coast native Peter One.
This year’s festival art comes from Watkins College of Art at Belmont student Kennedy Jenkins, who designed a playful punk hot chicken mascot with graffiti-style lettering for the one-of-a-kind festival merchandise.
There’s plenty for our smallest chicken lovers to do in the Kids Zone at the East Park playground, which is included in the festival grounds and sponsored by Ingram Industries and the Nashville Soccer Club.
Not only does the festival support Davidson County’s public parks, it also supports local hot chicken businesses and the entrepreneurs who run them, all of which make Nashville the truly special and vibrant community it is.
Support the Music City Hot Chicken Festival by signing up to volunteer on the day of the event. We are especially looking for people who can help us keep the festival as sustainable as possible by helping with our composting initiative. You can sign up to volunteer at www.hot-chicken.com.
What: 2025 Music City Hot Chicken Festival
Who: A Festival for Nashville Hot Chicken enthusiasts
When: Friday, July 4, 2025, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Parade begins at 10:30 a.m.
Where: East Park, 700 Woodland St., Nashville
Festival Sponsors Include: Piedmont Natural Gas, Amazon, The Fallon Company, Frost Brown Todd, Constellation Energy - Nashville District Energy System, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp., Nashville Electric Service, Pathway Lending, The Wilson Group Real Estate Services, Vanderbilt University, The Bahan Rhodes Group of Merrill Lynch, Nashville International Airport, Bootstrap Architecture Construction, City Living Group, Endeavor Business Media, Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation, Ingram/NSC, Bridgestone, and Hawkins Partners.
Visit our website www.hot-chicken.com for more information about the festival, vendors, entertainment, maps, and volunteer opportunities.
Follow the Hot Chicken Festival on Instagram @OfficialHotChicken.
“Like” us at the Music City Hot Chicken Festival fan page at www.facebook.com/MusicCityHotChickenFestival.
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