Lucas Delgado
The World Chicken Festival is an annual event held in London, Kentucky, celebrating the region's poultry industry and the legacy of Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken. The festival, usually taking place on the last weekend of September, is a four-day celebration filled with chicken-themed activities, food, and entertainment. While the exact location for the 2025 festival was yet to be announced as of February 2025, London, Kentucky, has been the traditional host of this event, honouring the Sanders Cafe and Museum, the Colonel's first and original restaurant established in the 1940s in Laurel County.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Downtown London, Kentucky, Laurel County |
| Date | Last weekend of September annually |
| Year of Commencement | 1990 |
| Purpose | To celebrate the life of Colonel Harland Sanders, founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken |
| Attractions | Live music, cooking demonstrations, family-friendly activities, food vendors, contests, rides, games, parades, car shows, and the World's Largest Stainless Steel Skillet |
| Attendance | Nearly a quarter of a million visitors |
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What You'll Learn
- The festival celebrates Colonel Sanders and the Sanders Cafe
- It's held annually in September in downtown London, Kentucky
- The World Chicken Festival features the world's largest stainless steel skillet
- The event includes a Run for the Roost 5K race
- There are also crazy contests, music, vendors, carnival rides, and food
The festival celebrates Colonel Sanders and the Sanders Cafe
The World Chicken Festival is an annual celebration of the life of Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). It is held in London, Kentucky, in Laurel County, where the original KFC restaurant was established in the 1940s. The festival began in 1990 as a tribute to Sanders' legacy and the region's deep-rooted ties to the poultry industry.
The festival attracts thousands of visitors from all over the United States and has something for everyone, with a variety of chicken-themed events, food, and entertainment. It is one of Kentucky's largest festivals, offering four fun-filled days of activities for all ages.
The Sanders Cafe and Museum, Colonel Sanders' first and original restaurant, is located in southern Laurel County. The World Chicken Festival honours this chicken heritage and the impact of the Sanders Cafe on the region's culinary history. The festival features a range of culinary delights, from traditional fried chicken to innovative gourmet creations. Visitors can also participate in a “Run for the Roost” 5K run, a Colonel Sanders look-alike contest, chicken cook-off, a whiskers and beard contest, and a hot wing-eating contest.
The festival also showcases a variety of exhibitors, vendors, and food booths with chicken-themed food, arts, crafts, and other unique items. There is also live music, with past headliners including Smash Mouth and Deana Carter. The World's Largest Stainless Steel Skillet is a festival highlight, where visitors can enjoy fried chicken cooked in a skillet that can prepare 600 chicken quarters at once. The event benefits over 50 local non-profits, making it a community-focused celebration.
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It's held annually in September in downtown London, Kentucky
The World Chicken Festival is held annually in September in downtown London, Kentucky, attracting nearly a quarter of a million visitors each year. The festival takes place over the last full weekend of September and has been a beloved tradition since 1990.
The festival is a celebration of the region's deep-rooted ties to the poultry industry and an homage to Colonel Harland Sanders, whose first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant was established in nearby Corbin, Kentucky. Laurel County, where the festival is held, is home to the original KFC restaurant, founded in the 1940s.
The World Chicken Festival offers a unique and exciting experience for all ages. It features a variety of chicken-themed events, mouthwatering food, and entertainment. Visitors can expect to see a diverse array of exhibitors, vendors, and food booths lining the streets, selling chicken-themed food, arts, crafts, and other unique items.
The festival also showcases the world's largest stainless steel skillet, which can cook 600 chicken quarters at once! Visitors can indulge in fried chicken cooked in this iconic skillet, a true highlight for many festival-goers.
In addition to the food and exhibits, the World Chicken Festival also offers a range of family-friendly activities, including a 5K run, musical performances, contests, rides, games, and a pageant to crown Miss Chicken. The festival has something for everyone, from chicken cook-offs to beard contests, live music, and even a Colonel Sanders look-alike competition.
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The World Chicken Festival features the world's largest stainless steel skillet
The World Chicken Festival is an annual event held in London, Kentucky, celebrating the history and heritage of Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, and his Laurel County legacy. The festival takes place over the last full weekend of every September, with four fun-filled days of activities, entertainment, and delicious food.
One of the unique features of the World Chicken Festival is that it is home to the World's Largest Stainless Steel Skillet. This skillet has been a part of the festival for over three decades and is a testament to the festival's dedication to all things chicken. The skillet is used to cook up a variety of mouthwatering chicken dishes, showcasing the versatility and importance of this beloved poultry product.
The World's Largest Stainless Steel Skillet is not just a novelty item, but a functional and essential part of the festival's culinary offerings. It is used by skilled chefs and cooks to prepare a range of chicken-centric dishes, from traditional fried chicken to more innovative and gourmet creations. The size of the skillet allows for large batches of food to be prepared at once, ensuring that festival-goers can enjoy fresh and hot chicken treats throughout the event.
In addition to the impressive size and functionality of the skillet, the World Chicken Festival also showcases the latest in cookware technology. The skillet is typically made of stainless steel, a durable and responsive material that is perfect for sautéing, searing, and making pan sauces. The stainless steel surface is non-reactive, which is essential when working with acidic ingredients, and it heats evenly, ensuring perfectly cooked chicken every time.
The World Chicken Festival, with its showcase of the World's Largest Stainless Steel Skillet, is a true celebration of chicken in all its forms. It brings together chicken enthusiasts, chefs, and the community to honour the cultural and culinary significance of chicken, while also enjoying fun activities, music, and entertainment. It is a unique and exciting event that highlights the importance of this protein in Kentucky and beyond.
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The event includes a Run for the Roost 5K race
The World Chicken Festival is an annual event held in London, Kentucky, celebrating the region's deep-rooted ties to the poultry industry and honouring Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken. The festival usually takes place during the last weekend of September and attracts nearly a quarter of a million visitors each year.
One of the events included in the festival is the 'Run for the Roost 5K' race. This event is scheduled for Saturday, 27 September, from 9 am to 10 am. The race is a fun and unique way to celebrate chicken heritage and pay tribute to the legacy of Sanders Cafe and the Colonel's first and original restaurant, established in the 1940s in southern Laurel County.
The 'Run for the Roost 5K' is a themed race that adds to the excitement and entertainment of the festival. It is a unique opportunity for participants to dress up, showcase their creativity, and demonstrate their love for chickens and the Colonel's legacy. The race is open to people of all ages and fitness levels, encouraging community engagement and active participation in the festivities.
The route for the 'Run for the Roost 5K' has been carefully designed to take runners through the beautiful downtown London area, offering a mix of scenic views and festive atmosphere. Participants will be able to experience the vibrant energy of the festival while enjoying a healthy run. The race also provides a great opportunity for spectators to cheer on their friends and family, adding to the overall excitement of the World Chicken Festival.
The 'Run for the Roost 5K' is just one of the many attractions at the World Chicken Festival. The festival also features the world's largest stainless steel skillet, mouthwatering food, live music, cooking demonstrations, a Colonel Sanders look-a-like contest, and various family-friendly activities. With something for everyone, the World Chicken Festival, including the 'Run for the Roost 5K', is a highly anticipated event that celebrates the best of Kentucky's poultry industry and its cultural impact.
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There are also crazy contests, music, vendors, carnival rides, and food
The World Chicken Festival in London, Kentucky, offers a plethora of fun contests, music, vendors, carnival rides, and food. The festival, which takes place annually on the last full weekend of September, attracts nearly a quarter of a million visitors who come together to celebrate the region's deep-rooted ties to the poultry industry and honour the legacy of Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Crazy contests at the festival include a whiskers and beard contest, a mullet showdown, chicken cook-off, Colonel Sanders look-alike competition, and a hot wing-eating contest. Visitors can also participate in the “Run for the Roost” 5K run and an egg drop contest.
Music lovers can enjoy live performances by various artists, with past headliners including Smash Mouth and Deana Carter. The festival also showcases local talent, with musical performances by artists from Kentucky and the surrounding areas.
Vendors and exhibitors line the streets, offering a variety of chicken-themed food, arts, crafts, and other unique items. Visitors can purchase souvenirs, chicken-themed merchandise, and local cuisine from the many food booths and vendors present at the festival.
For those seeking thrills and excitement, the carnival rides and games provide a fun-filled experience. The festival features traditional carnival attractions such as face painting, rides, and games, as well as a parade and car show. With so much to offer, the World Chicken Festival is one of Kentucky's largest and most anticipated events, providing entertainment and delicious food for visitors of all ages.
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Frequently asked questions
The World Chicken Festival takes place during the last weekend of September.
The festival is held in downtown London, Kentucky, in Laurel County.
The festival celebrates the region's deep-rooted ties to the poultry industry and the legacy of Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken. It features a variety of chicken-themed events, food, and entertainment, including the world's largest stainless steel skillet, live music, a Colonel Sanders look-alike contest, and a "Run for the Roost" 5K.
You can fly into Lexington (76 miles north) or Louisville (153 miles northwest) and rent a car to get to London, Kentucky. You can also rent an RV to stay in during the festival.
