One of my very favorite Independence Day celebrations has to be the Nashville Hot Chicken Festival. I mean, our forefathers risked life and luxury so that we could enjoy liberty and impossibly spiced fried food, right?

Well, that may be a stretch, but it's a fun time and a good excuse to make a little trip down to East Nashville, where vendors from the Music City's favorite hot chicken restaurants set up shop in East Park. We went last year, and it was a blast!!

If you're thinking of making the trip this year, here are a few little tips to keep you from winding up in a line like this all day.

Skip the 9 AM free samples. Yes, I know the first 500 people get free samples. Trust me, it's not worth it. It's going to be a zoo. Head between 10 or 10:30; you'll miss the first surge of foot traffic, be able to see the parade from inside the park, and still beat the stragglers to the various booths.
Eat before you go. I know it doesn't make a lot of sense, because you're going to a festival that's all about food and drink. But, trust me on this one. You'll be waiting in long lines in the heat. You'll be eating spicy foods and, likely, drinking beer. A biscuit or sandwich to soak all that up is not the worst idea.

Don't waste your time with the hot fish. It's just fried fish with cayenne powder. Skip the fish and focus on comparing the various restaurants' chicken. That's what you went for, anyway.
Don't expect sides. I love hot chicken, but I also love the amazing, Southern-style sides that are served up with it. I try to hit up Hattie B's every time I go to Nashville, and I love the collard greens and the pimento mac and cheese just as much as I love the chicken. Just a word of warning, the chicken strips meal looks like this in-restaurant at Hattie's,

but the chicken strips look more like this at the Hot Chicken Festival.

Both are delicious, but they're a different experience.

Break up the duties. Assign everybody in your group with a different line responsibility, then meet up. That way, you can enjoy samples and cold beverages at once!
Stay hydrated! It's going to be a hot day, and you'll be eating spicy food. Don't forget to drink plenty of water! (You won't be allowed to bring outside beverages into the park, but there will be plenty of places to buy a water or soda!)
Don't forget your sunscreen! Tomorrow's weather forecast calls for scattered thundershowers, which should break up in the afternoon. It's easy to get sunburned in a hurry in the Nashville sun!
Don't forget to try some local brews. Yazoo is good stuff.

HerKentucky Blogger Heather C. Watson at Nashville Hot Chicken Festival.

Leave the souvenir shopping till the end. Nobody wants to have to carry t-shirts and posters around all day. That said, you probably want to pick something up. The designs are always quite cool, and trust me when I say that a "hot chicken" t-shirt is a conversation starter wherever you go! Your Southern Foodie cred is pretty much cemented.

My beau picked up this awesome t-shirt at last year's festival.

Most of all, have fun and enjoy the Music City's signature fast food!