One Kentucky food festival was recently named the best in the state, and it's actually a perfect fit for the Bluegrass State.

When you think of Kentucky one of the first things that might pop into your head is fried chicken. The two are synonymous with each other thanks to the fast food giant, Kentucky Fried Chicken. Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, is from (and founded KFC) in Laurel County, Kentucky. So naturally, the state of Kentucky would embrace its fried chicken heritage with a big festival, right?

Kentucky's World Chicken Festival

Each year since 1990, the town of London, Kentucky plays host to the World Chicken Festival. Located in Laurel County, this festival pays tribute to their hometown hero, Colonel Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Not only that, but Lee Cummings, the co-founder of Lee's Famous Chicken began his career with his uncle, Colonel Sanders there too. I had no idea the two were even related...you learn something new every day!\

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The World Chicken Festival is four days full of fun...and of course, chicken. There, you will find a bunch of crazy contests, live music, vendors, carnival rides, food from non-profit organizations, and the World's Largest Stainless Steel Skillet, which serves more than 120,000 fried chicken dinners to guests each year. It's fun for the whole family.

The World Chicken Festival was recently named the best food festival in Kentucky by LoveFood. Not only that but it was ranked as the 11th best food festival in the country.

If anywhere was going to host a huge celebration of finger lickin’ chicken, it had to be Kentucky’s Laurel County, which is home to Colonel Sanders’ first KFC restaurant. Founded in 1990, the World Chicken Festival stretches over four days in September and is one of the state’s biggest events. Aside from plenty of chicken on offer – much of it fried in the world’s largest stainless-steel skillet – the fun includes rides, music and a Colonel Sanders lookalike contest.

The World Chicken Festival will return to London, Kentucky, from September 26th through 29th. You can take a look at what to expect so that you can go ahead and make plans to check it out this year by clicking here.

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