Pictured: View of Tussey Mountain WingFest from the ski lift

Tussey Mountain WingFest has been delighting our community for more than two decades, but this summer, I finally experienced it for the first time.

Married to a State College native (well, Boalsburg, technically), I had some idea of what to expect. I was ready with cash. I was prepared to wait in long lines. And I was psyching myself up to have a good attitude, even if it was hot and humid and crowded. I was feeling good.

After Justin mentioned that each wing slinger (does anyone call them this? Can we call them this?) would have their own booth and that we’d have to wait in each line individually, I thought I was really clever when I came up with a strategy:

“Well, we should go with a group then! And we’ll divide and conquer. Everyone waits in a line or two and then we feast!”

I thought I had it all figured out. I felt like I was one step ahead of the game and I was, admittedly, smug. A little too smug.

Because when we got there, I took one look around and realized that my strategy was still in kindergarten. There were the WingFest cool kids. Driving the metaphorical equivalent of Mustang convertibles, making out with their boyfriends under the bleachers, wearing tube tops and belly button rings, and putting on lipstick in the high school bathroom before school so their moms would never know. And then there was me. Napping on my Rainbow Brite blanket, dreaming about Trapper Keepers and one day mastering the underducky on the swingset. Child’s play.

So next year, my strategy will have evolved. Next year, maybe someone will look at me with awe and admiration, just as I have looked at those who have wing-ed (wung?) before me.

In the meantime, here are the tips I’ll be keeping in mind for next time. May they inspire your own WingFest strategies for years to come.

12 Steps to WingFest Success

Decide on your schedule.

Each summer, WingFest unfolds over the course of eight Thursday nights. For the first seven weeks, a winner is voted on and secures a spot in the event finals, which happens on Week 8. Some people attend multiple nights, but for my first experience, we chose to go only for the finals to experience the winning wings from each round.

Go with a group.

WingFest is a team sport and you’ll need several pairs of hands and arms to succeed. I recommend building a team of at least 3-4.

Bring cash to get in.

You’ll need cash for entry, but can use a card to buy tickets.

Buy more tickets than you think you’ll need.

After you enter, tickets are your currency. ($1.00 = 1 ticket) They’re transferable from year to year, so err on the side of overbuying. This will ensure you don’t end up experiencing a Chuck E. Cheese prize counter moment where you’re in line counting your tickets and realize you’re a few short from getting the thing you really wanted! (Plus, it’s a bit of a hike from the food vendors back to the ticket booths, which are close to the event entrance.)

Bring your own chairs… and blanket and sunscreen.

After you pay to enter and buy your tickets, you’ll want to stake out your spot in the grass. Set up your chairs. Lay out your blanket. Assess the weather and apply that sunscreen if needed. Keep your valuables on your person, but once you’ve got your home base set up, you can venture out.

Bring your own tray (and DIY wet naps don’t hurt.)

I realized very quickly after standing in my first line and walking away with both hands already full of wings that I needed somewhere to set said wings before I could make any further moves. Each booth offers several different flavors and if you’re buying for a group, it adds up quickly. Get yourself one of those aluminum trays you’d use to make lasagna or a large, flat tupperware container to corral your growing collection. (I also saw people with containers of DIY wet naps – so smart! Like I said, the veterans are next level.)

Size of line does not indicate quality of wing.

Aka the lines fluctuate, so take advantage of the short ones. (I also noticed that the wing lines moved pretty quickly thanks to the ticket system, so don’t despair if you end up at the end of a long one. Pizza or other food item booths may move a bit slower.)

Have your drinks on hand before you eat your wings.

Alcoholic drinks and water are sold separately, so you can divide and conquer these lines too. But we made the mistake of trying our first round of wings sans drinks and had a collective moment with some extra spicy ones as a result.

Pictured: Furious Flakes, you were delicious! But painful.

Wear the right shoes and bring layers.

The terrain can be uneven, rocky, or grassy. And you might want a long sleeve to throw on as the sun goes down.

We love our veggies, but do not expect to find them here.

This is a wings, pierogies, pizza, pulled pork, kettle corn kind of event.

Try each flavor as a group.

Each person can introduce the group to the flavors they purchased and it’s fun to experience the same flavors at the same time!

And ride the lift at sunset.

If you’re not a Tussey skier, this is a great opportunity to see Happy Valley from the top of the mountain. If you are a skier, it’s still a worthwhile, summertime perspective of a familiar view.

See you on the slopes next summer?!