4 of 15

Write now Article Tools

Page 2 of 2

disallowed.

The most attention and cheering should be allotted to the children, as they will be the ones that look upon the hotdog eating contest as a major life achievement. Some adults may as well, but let the children believe the contest was mainly for them, as they will be the ones constructing, or aiding in the construction of, the patriotic decorations and displays. You should use red, white and blue dishes and drinking glasses, and an American Flag endowed bib for each contestant, and maybe an "Uncle Sam" hat for each. Buckets should be placed at each contestants' feet, for obvious reasons.

If you are making the hotdog eating contest for fundraising purposes, and are doing it on a major scale, well then, good luck to you. It is a major undertaking, with many insurance and by-law requirements which will need to be addressed. Finding a suitable location, advertising, and charging entrance fees to replace the monies put forth for all the legal, food and set-up requirements would be a necessity, unless of course you are independently wealthy, and looking to help out a cause in a hilarious way. My suggestion would be to keep it simple, and have the contest in the early to mid-afternoon, allowing for all involved to get ready and congregate at the local organized 4th of July festivities and fireworks displays.

Having a camcorder set up on a tripod, with all contestants in full view, would be a wonderful addition. Making copies of the event while the clean-up and awards ceremonies are taking place allows you to give each participant a permanent recording of their gastronomic endeavours. Limiting the number of hotdogs will also ensure that all will be able to go to the organized celebrations, as some people will always go too far in trying to win at any events.

Whichever course you should choose to follow, backyard with friends and family, or park/arena for a major fundraiser, make sure that the major focus is on fun. When it becomes all about the prizes, the idea of the American hotdog eating contest on the 4th of July is lost. Leave that to the professionals, and enjoy a friendly, albeit messy, affair. If there are no organized hotdog eating contests in your town, then making one for all to enjoy, and to participate in, could be a costly endeavour if you do not sell enough tickets to cover all the mandatory expenses. Your local firehouse or police attachment may be willing to help if it is for a reasonable charity, but asking an off-duty nurse or doctor to attend in place of paramedics would place too much professional strain on a good friend or family member.

And, if you really want to win this contest, you can start a week or two in advance, eating two or three hotdogs per day at the beginning, and increasing that number by one or two per day. And do not eat the day before the contest, leaving plenty of room for your eating pleasure. Enjoy your hotdog eating contest, and follow it up with a good party, or procession to the organized festivities in your city or town. And please, don't forget the whole idea of the contest is to get a lot of people together to enjoy themselves and their company, and to celebrate the 4th of July.

Happy Independence Day, and may the hotdog eating Gods be with you!

Learn more about this author, Marc Phillippe Babineau.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

• << previous page
• 1
• 2

Add your voice

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