WingFest postponed as wildfire smoke lingers in Pennsylvania. How to get refunds
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- Tussey Mountain postponed Thursday’s WingFest due to unhealthy air from wildfire smoke.
- Tickets purchased for Thursday remain valid for a rescheduled date. Refunds are available.
- Air quality alerts suggest outdoor activity on Thursday is unhealthy for the public.
Tussey Mountain WingFest has postponed its Thursday concert and competition due to poor air quality.
Festival officials said they were closely monitoring forecasts as wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota drifts down toward Pennsylvania this week. Though Tussey Mountain’s team remained optimistic Thursday’s WingFest could go on as planned, it has been postponed in accordance with recommended protocols for outdoor events.
“The health and safety of our guests, employees, performers, competitors and vendors remains our top priority,” Tussey Mountain wrote on Facebook. “Postponing the event is the safest and most responsible decision.”
Tussey Mountain said it is working with Thursday’s scheduled wing competitors, food vendors and performers to reschedule the event for a later date. The local ski resort plans to announce a new date as soon as details are finalized.
Tickets purchased in advance for Thursday’s WingFest will remain valid for the rescheduled date. Anyone who wants a refund can contact Etix, the online ticketing platform, using a link included in the confirmation email received after booking.
Thursday’s WingFest was set to feature wing competitors Boomerangs, Burnham Eagles, K&J BBQ, Tripletts, Woody’s on the Boulevard and Wings Over Happy Valley. Performers scheduled for the festival’s sixth round included Felix and the Hurricanes and The Seven Wonders, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band.
Excluding the planned rescheduling of Thursday’s concert and competition, WingFest’s remaining schedule in 2026 includes rounds on July 23 and 30, respectively highlighted by performances from Beatlemania Again and The Clintones - Ultimate 90s, a 1990s tribute band. This summer’s WingFest finale was originally scheduled for Aug. 6 with a performance from Velveeta, though the date appears subject to change.
Air quality forecast
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection issued a statewide Code Red Air Quality Alert in response to poor air quality across the commonwealth. Under this advisory, all residents are asked to consider limiting outdoor activities, but sensitive groups — including children, the elderly and those with respiratory illnesses — are especially asked to move activity indoors.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency measures air quality levels from 0 to 500 in six color-coded categories, from moderate green (0-50) to hazardous maroon (301+). State College’s forecast called for “unhealthy” air Thursday with a 165 Air Quality Index score, meaning members of the general public are at risk of experiencing health effects from air pollution.
Air quality scores at 3 p.m. ran as high as 345, according to the EPA’s Office of Atmospheric Protection and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. State College’s average index score sits below 30.
The National Weather Service expects smoky conditions to continue on Friday. Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection has already issued a Code Orange Air Quality Alert as wildfire smoke is expected to linger.
For more information and updated conditions in the State College area, which boasts an air pollution monitor, the state DEP encourages residents to check airnow.gov.
This story was originally published July 16, 2026 at 3:03 PM.
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