This year we’ve extended the festival’s hours from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. — more fun, more hot chicken — and we’ll need extra man and woman power.

The Music City Hot Chicken Festival is a free event featuring the unique culinary flare of local restaurants, professional & amateur cooking competitions, inflatable jumpy toys for the kids, the Yazoo Brewery Beer Garden, and home-grown Nashville music. The festival is held July 4 in East Nashville’s own East Park on Woodland Street. Proceeds from the festival benefit Friends of Shelby Park and Bottoms.

The first 500 festival attendees are treated to free hot chicken samples from Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack, 400º, The Chicken Shack and Bolton’s Spicy Chicken & Fish. After the free bird is gone, you can head over to the food garden and purchase some tasty hot chicken.

The 3rd annual Hot Chicken Festival offers an unparalleled opportunity to meet people from the community, hang out with friends and have a great time. There are many volunteer positions available and volunteers willing to do “whatever” are also greatly appreciated. If you’d like to be a Volunteer Hot Chicken this July 4th, e-mail volunteer@hotchickenfestival.com and indicate which time slot you’d like.