The 2023 King of the Wing competition did not disappoint. Hundreds were in attendance and over 40 restaurants and businesses competed for the crown. Like last year, the beneficiary of the event was the Virgin Islands Children’s Museum and proceeds from the event were donated to them. This year’s grand winner was The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, with the St. John Brewers The Tap Room taking home 1st prize for the restaurant category.
For many, the 2023 King of the Wing competition was not their first time in attendance. Some showed up with clever ways to store and dine on the many different types of chicken wings available.
Despite the mid-day sun and heat, the mascot of this year’s King of the Wing — a chicken— bopped around the festival at Magens Bay on St. Thomas, taking photographs with attendees but refusing to eat any chicken wings himself.
More than 40 restaurants and businesses participated in this year’s King of the Wing competition on St. Thomas, coming in from all across the Virgin Islands. Representing the Tap Room on St. John, Rosanna Sierra, Lucy Castro, and Marciela Correa help serve wings to hungry revelers.
Johnny Lime, a Caribbean BBQ food truck out of Coral Bay, St. John, serves up some tamarind jerk wings at the 12th annual King of the Wing competition on St. Thomas.
A chicken wing aficionado, Golden Retriever Birdie, 3, a regular at Sudi’s Caribbean Bar and Grille on St. Thomas, hangs out in the shade at the King of the Wing competition. According to her owner, Peter Brennan, Birdie’s favorite wings from Sudi’s are mango flavored.
Festival goers at this year’s King of the Wing could enjoy chicken-themed activities beyond sampling the many types of wings being cooked around Magens Bay, like this photo booth filled with appropriately themed costumes.
Perfectly displayed and ready to be served, the team at the Roots Garden Lounge tent shared their Sticky Soy wings with the crowd attending the King of the Wing competition.
While everyone was at the King of the Wing competition for the food, the busiest lines at the event were at the bar tent as revelers cooled from the hot sun over Magens Bay.
A team from Marriot’s Frenchmen’s Cove showed off their wings at the King of the Wing competition this year.
There was no shortage of chicken wings or those to sample them, at the 2023 King of the Wing competition at Magens Bay on St. Thomas.
Calliope Woods, 3, taking a break from the bounce house and bubbles sampled a chicken wing under the shade of a tree at the King of the Wing competition at Magens Bay.
Musical headliner of the 2023 King of the Wing competition was French Montana, who took the stage and got the crowd moving.
The wing team from Mystic Valley VI in Anna’s Retreat, St. Thomas took home the day’s prize for Best Decorated Booth.
It would not be the King of the Wing competition without a dance party by the main stage at Magens Bay on St. Thomas.
UVI’s Culinary Arts Program attended the King of the Wing competition, showing off their special chicken wings as they contend for the big prize.
There was no shortage of sauces to dip the many types of chicken wings at the King of the Wing competition on St. Thomas.
VI Locals and visitors alike flocked to Magens Bay for the King of the Wing competition.
Calliope, 1 ½, posed for a photo behind a wooden cut out from Barefoot Buddha on St. Thomas during the King of the Wing competition.
Deja Ford, of St. Croix, ran the grill for the American Job Center during the King of the Wing competition.
Virgin Island Orthopedics showed off their culinary skills at the King of the Wing competition.
A team from The Blind Rhino in Connecticut traveled the farthest to the King of the Wing competition to fight for the title of winner.
Hundreds of locals and tourists descended upon Magens Bay for the 2023 King of the Wing competition on St. Thomas.
Only one team got to walk away from this year’s King of the Wing contest with the grand prize. The 2023 winner was WAPA, the U.S. Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority.
Award-winning chef and entrepreneur Esther Choi came in from New York to be a guest judge in the 2023 King of the Wing competition.
This year’s King of the Wing competition raised money to support the Virgin Islands Children’s Museum on St. Thomas.
St. John Brewers The Tap Room took home 1st prize for restaurants at the 2023 King of the Wing competition.
The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority took home 1st prize for non-restaurants and got crowned the overall winner of the King of the Wing 2023 competition.
