4 of 15

Write now Article Tools

The hot dog eating contest is about as American as apple pie, baseball, and summer-time fairs. You can organize professional hotdog eating contests where the contestants will try to devour up to 65 hotdogs in one timed sitting, a gastronomic feat rivalled by few. Or, you can put a dozen all-dressed hot dogs in front of each person and the person to eat the most in one, two or three minutes wins, which is a much safer and cheaper alternative.

However, if you do not want to pay the outrageous insurance fees, regulatory ambulance and paramedic fees, as well as promotional, prize money and organizational costs, including the cost of the foods, then having your own backyard hotdog eating contest, involving friends, family and neighbours, could be just as much fun at a fraction of the cost.

Bragging rights, and a "1st Place" trophy, which can be bought at any department, dollar or trophy store can be the top prize, and ribbons and bows, with "2nd Place" and "3rd Place" written on them could be the only prizes needed, along with framed pictures of the contestants in all their gory glory. The bragging rights should be enough, and in this day and age, the event will surely be recorded for further viewing and hilarity by many a handy-cam holding person. Professional hotdog eating contests are usually held at most 4th of July festivals, so having your own, in your own backyard, is a much more realistically attainable venture.

Aside from the advertising of the event, the set-up will be the most important part of the pre-event duties. Making a stage, out of sturdy picnic tables and fairly thick particle board, will allow all to see the messy consumption race. Rules and medical waivers should be made ahead of time, printed on enough sheets for all contestants to sign, and made ready prior to the event. Make sure that you have at least 3 stages, one for children, one for women and one for men. However, the men and women may prefer to battle it out together, which is fine as well, and in which case you can have a lightweight and a heavyweight category.

Make sure that you have at least 12 hotdogs with buns per adult, and six per child that will be attending the stomach churning histrionics, with red relish, blueberry jam and white mayonnaise representing the nations colours for mandatory condiments. If you do not want to see a bunch of people soaking their plain hotdogs in water and stuffing them, 3 or 4 at a time, into their mouths, condiments can be mandatory, and hotdog dunking

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Organizing a 4th of July hot dog eating contest?
We want to hear your view. Write now!