Music City Hot Chicken Festival

Nashville's Music City Hot Chicken Festival returns Thursday, July 4 for its 18th year. Gates open at East Park at noon.

It is one of the hottest parties on the annual Tennessee To-Do List — hot chicken on one of the hottest days of the year.

There'll be music, lots of kids activities, Yazoo beer, plenty of hot chicken (from some of the best in the business), and there'll be plenty to eat that's not hot chicken.

This week I spoke to Neil McCormick, a festival organizer, for an overview of the event, a brief history of hot chicken, and even his innovative way of eating Nashville's civic dish.