Big Kahuna Wings set for 13th festival
He always appreciated his family’s secret recipe, which had been passed down from the 1960’s until it was served on wings at a family deli for the first time in 1982.
In 1997, Beeler opened a Big Kahuna Wings take-out spot near the University of Tennessee, and the rest is history.
Today, the brand boasts three locations, including one in Farragut. Aside from the restaurants themselves; though, one of Big Kahuna’s biggest calling cards has become an annual festival that began in 2013.
Much like the original business, the festival has expanded through the years.
What began as a small wing festival to raise money for charity has boomed into a competition involving more than 30 teams, more than 150,000 wings cooked and plenty of other entertainment and food options — including an explosive fireworks display to end the night.
This year, the festival will write its 13th chapter on Sunday, Sept. 6, as jt officially has become known as the Covenant Health Big Kahuna Labor Day Festival.
The date has also made it synonymous with the start of Tennessee football season, bringing in more people each year.
Beeler thanked Covenant Health for its “continued support” in a release, adding that Cumulus Radio, U.S. Foods, PrintFX and Visit Knoxville are just a few of the brands who continue to support the festival.
As far as the food itself, the festival has gone beyond wings, as there are new culinary experiences available for purchase with wing tickets this year.
“We’re trying to grow it into, ‘Well, if you’re not a wing connoisseur, we’ve got so much more there,’” Beeler said.
That includes a large fireworks display, which will involve a “totally unique, 360 degree firework experience that’s set to music and end the day with a BANG!” according to the release.
Beyond the food and fireworks, attendees will enjoy plenty of elite musical acts, including Fireside Collective, Wyatt Ellis and many more. DJ Sterl the Pearl will be on hand as well, and there will be a Kid’s Zone with inflatables and other activities.
All of it will go to a good cause, too, as the festival has raised more than $685,000 to date for local East Tennessee charities.
This year’s beneficiaries are the Thompson Cancer Survival Center and Educator Resource Center.
Tickets for this year’s festival go on sale Monday, July 6, at bkwfestival.com.
Once there, people can find a variety of options available: Culinary Experience, VIP Experience (very limited) and Fireworks Experience tickets.
“The festival has just grown over the years,” Beeler said. “It is amazing how much it’s changed. But without the group of people that have helped me, some since its inception, there would be no way.”
“If you give a reason for people to come and show them a good time, and the whole thing is going to a good cause, it’s pretty easy,” he added.
“The only hard part is how you keep making it better.”
