Downtown Sikeston to host Spring Open House, Chicken Wing Fling

SIKESTON — Legion Park will soon be filled with the aroma of chicken wings as Historic Downtown Sikeston will host the Spring Open House and Chicken Wing Fling on May 8.

The Sikeston Farmer’s Market typically opens during the first part of May and Jason Davis, executive director of Historic Downtown Sikeston, thought it would be a perfect opportunity to offer a day of activity and shopping.

“With that in mind, (the Historic Downtown Sikeston Board) started brainstorming ideas,” Davis said. “Those ideas developed into a day of shopping at the Farmer’s Market, two bands playing live music throughout the day, a chicken wing competition and of course shopping during the Spring Open House at the downtown shops.”

The Wing Fling winner will be determined by a vote of the public and will cost $10 to be judge.

“This means, for $10, you get to sample every wing and vote for your favorite,” Davis said. “Your $10 will also give you a chance to win some prizes in our raffle. A portion of the money raised will be used as prize money for the top three in voting and the remainder of the money will go towards Downtown Sikeston projects.”

There will be no need to pre-purchase tickets as those attending can receive their “wing boat” at the registration table by the flag pole in Legion Park. Chicken wing sampling will begin at 11 a.m. and will end at 1 p.m. with the winners announced around 1:45 p.m.

The deadline to enter a team in the chicken wing competition is May 5 and the number of teams will be capped at 15.

There will be plenty of other things going on in Downtown Sikeston that day as well. The Farmer’s Market will begin at 7 a.m.

At 10 a.m. the band Double Take will take the stage. Double Take is a small town band in the heart of Southeast Missouri led by twin brothers Wyatt and Will Stinnett. Double Take covers American hits with use of an acoustic guitar, bass guitar, ukulele, cajun drum, piano, harmonica and mandolin.

Double Take will perform until about 11:30 a.m. and will be followed by Blind Velvet at noon. Blind Velvet will perform until about 1:30 p.m.

Downtown stores will also be open where those attending can shop local.

“It’s going to be a day of fun, food, music, and shopping,” Davis said. “There are many great things happening in Sikeston as we kick off Spring, from the drive-in movie to the Crawfish Boil, and we just want to help kick it off with another great event downtown. You can bring the whole family, enjoy the new fountain, support local market vendors, shop small business, and eat good food. What more can you ask?”