Think your rooster has the best tail feathers? Or your hen is the “hottest chick?” Perhaps your feathered friend bears an uncanny resemblance to you.
Well, flock on down to Second Street Saturday as chickens and their human friends will be having some light-hearted competition at the new Chicken Fest.
Shabulous and Artwistic Revoluation are hosting the event, which begins at noon and runs through 7 p.m.
“We’ve got open houses and things coming up for the holidays, but we wanted to give people something to do that was different,” Melissa Collier of Shabulous said. “We love chickens, so we came up with Chicken Fest. We’ll have some chickens down here and a few vendors and at 3 p.m. we’ll have a poultry pageant. You can bring your own chicken and compete. We’ve got chicken trophies and medals for the places.”
Competition for chickens will be in several categories with roosters competing in tail feathers and stud muffin categories. For the hens, there is a “hottest chick” category and the “fluffy butt” category. For both hens and roosters there is a “Twinsies” competition to see which chicken looks like its owner, an ugliest chicken category and a best dressed category. There is a $5 entry fee to help with the awards.
“It’s all in fun,” Collier said. “Adults and children can enter. We’re trying to find some brave people for a chicken calling contest. There is a trophy for that, too. I want people to come out for the chicken calling contest. If they don’t, they are bigger chickens than the chickens.”
There will be plenty of chicken art and T-shirts and other items available as well as live music and food. The event will coincide with the monthly Columbia Gearheads Cruise-In.
“We’re trying to give people reasons to come downtown,” Collier said. “We’re also going to be collecting items for the Columbia Animal Shelter. People can drop them here, and we’ll make sure they get it.”
There are some rules for the chickens coming to the event.
“All chickens have to be confined to a pet carrier or on a leash,” Collier said. “We’re looking to do something fun for children and adult. We’re also going to show some sort of chicken movie when it gets dark. We’ll have kid’s games. There’s really something for everybody.”
