NEW EVENT AHEAD — Phil Livingston and Abby LeMasters, organizers of the new Gem City Wing Fest, hold trophies that will be presented for the best wings during the festival, which will debut Saturday and include an assortment of food, live entertainment and activities for children in the area of North Fourth Street in which they are standing. -- Warren Scott

TORONTO — Area residents planning to view Toronto’s fireworks display on Saturday or simply looking for something to do are invited to an afternoon of music, food and fun when the Gem City Wing Fest debuts that day.

It’s been a Toronto tradition to present the fireworks on the Saturday evening closest to Independence Day through the efforts of a volunteer committee and donations from many businesses, organizations and residents.

This year, two local business owners — Phil Livingston of Baby-Boyz BBQ and Abby LeMasters of Tri B’s Coffee Shop — have teamed, with help from many others, to organize the event, which will be held from 1 p.m. up to the time of the fireworks at 10 p.m.

Several vendors are slated to bring an assortment of chicken wings for a contest to be held during the festival and to sell to its attendees.

There will be a variety of other vendors selling an assortment of food, crafts and other merchandise in the area of North Fourth Street between Clark and Market streets.

There also will be a dunk tank, bounce house, carnival with games for all ages and rides for small children.

There will be a photo booth, where attendees may have photos taken with fun props, and a car cruise, with more than 100 vehicles expected to appear.

Owners of classic cars, trucks and motorcycles should arrive at noon at Cornerstone Christian Church to register for the car cruise, which is being organized by Jamie Cline of Cline’s Powder Coating.

Dash plaques will go to the first 30 registered vehicles.

There will be a stage outside Baby-Boyz for a variety of entertainers.

Following opening ceremonies at 1 p.m., the lineup will include the Weird Eric magic show at 2 p.m.; Blank, a local rock band, at 3 p.m.; vocalist Tom Jones at 4:30 p.m.; the Ron Retzer Trio at 6 p.m.; and Poor Man’s Heaven, a classic rock band, at 8 p.m.

At 2:30 p.m., the judges will determine the best buffalo-style wing, best exotically flavored wing and best overall, with tenderness and flavor important factors for all.

Trophies will be awarded to the winners.

Livingston said a portion of proceeds from the festival will go to Powers of Partnership for cancer research.

The Gem City Wing Fest’s name comes partly from an oft told tale that captains of riverboats that docked in Toronto years ago called it a gem because they found everything they needed at its various businesses.

Livingston and LeMasters noted various events have been held on the day of the fireworks in the past and said they hope the festival will become a Toronto tradition.