APOG’s 3rd Wingfest Follows $25K Grant to ‘Save the Wall’

GENESEO – The third annual APOG Wingfest spiced up Geneseo on Saturday as local chicken wing masters and fans gathered for Wingfest.

Center, Main and Bank Streets were bustling all day with events to benefit the Association for the Preservation of Geneseo, the recent recipients of a $25,000 grant from the Rochester Area Community Foundation.

“Thanks to two generous benefactors, we were able to assist Geneseo continue its work to preserve its historical assets,” said Saul Maneiro, Program Officer for the Rochester Area Community Foundation.

The money is to be used to continue to restore the stone wall around the Wadsworth Estate at the south end of Main Street. Volunteers gather at the wall every weekend to work on the crumbling stone.

Though not officially part of Wingfest, the first formal fox hunt of the season paraded north on Main Street from the Wadsworth estate to the Hartford House early in the morning.

Wingfest dominated Center Street all afternoon with the Best Wing competition, wing eating contest, music, games and festivities. The Village Tavern, of Geneseo, once again took first place for Best Wings, with Duffy’s, of Avon, taking second and the Beachcomber, of Conesus, in third. SUNY Geneseo Jake Okun won the chicken wing eating contest.

Geneseo Main Street Intern Caroline Wilson once again officiated the Great Pumpkin Race, wherein kids toss pumpkins down the steep slope of Bank Street as fast as they can.

The proud winner was Alexandria McKeel of Livonia, who won a gift basket from Sweet Arts Bakery.

Additional reporting by Sean Delles.