ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Is the National Buffalo Wing Festival the best specialty food festival in the country?
That's something USA TODAY is attempting to determine, through its 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. The wing festival is competing against 19 other events from across the nation that were nominated.
"These 20 festivals — nominated by an expert panel as the best across the United States — celebrate specific foods, often local specialties grown or produced in the region," USA TODAY said in describing the poll. "And these themed events promise attendees good food, good times, and plenty of opportunities to indulge."
Poll voting began Monday and ends at 11:59 a.m. on Monday, March 18. You're allowed one vote per day. After that, the 10 winning festivals will be announced on Friday, March 29.
If you're curious about the wing festival's competition, here's the list:
- Artichoke Festival in Monterey, Calif.
- Delta Hot Tamale Festival in Greenville, Miss.
- Carne Asada Fest in Dallas
- Cheese Curd Festival in Ellsworth, Wis.
- Easton Garlic Fest in Easton, Pa.
- Kauai Poke Festival in Koloa, Hawaii
- Key Lime Festival in Key West, Fla.
- Las Vegas Pizza Festival in Las Vegas
- Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland, Maine
- National Banana Pudding Festival in Centerville, Tenn.
- National Buffalo Wing Festival in Orchard Park
- National Cornbread Festival in South Pittsburg, Tenn.
- National Fried Chicken Festival in New Orleans
- Oregon Truffle Festival in Willamette Valley, Ore.
- Picklesburgh in Pittsburgh, Pa.
- Pizza City Fest in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Nashville
- San Antonio Tamales Festival in San Antonio
- Vermont Cheesemakers Festival in Greensboro, Vt.
- Waikiki Spam Jam in Honolulu
- Windy City Smokeout in Chicago
This year's National Buffalo Wing Festival will be held at Highmark Stadium over Labor Day weekend, on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. The festival is entering its 23rd year.