HUNTINGTON -- This is Huntington, and we've got more hot dog stands than Cleveland has people that loathe LeBron James.

OK, maybe not that many hot dog stands.

But since Stewart's started boiling up dogs and tapping the root beer back in 1932, Huntington has long been a destination for great drive-in dogs slathered with homemade sauce.

Come Saturday, July 31, whether you are partial to Hillbilly Hot Dogs, Stewarts, Sam's, Frostop, Midwest or Java Joint's spicy-sauced veggie dogs, you can sample them all at the sixth annual West Virginia Hot Dog Festival. The event runs 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Pullman Square.

The brainchild of John Mandt, Jr. of Stewarts Original Hot Dogs, and Clear Channel Radio's Judy Jennings and Kym York-Blake, the Festival has raised $82,600 in its first five years for the new Children's Hospital project at Cabell-Huntington Hospital.

York-Blake said they're shooting to break the six figure total after this year's tally.

"We're hoping to break $100,000 by the end of the festival," York-Blake said. "It will take everyone coming out and eating some hot dogs, and finding a contest to participate in."

That shouldn't be a problem. While the main attraction of this National Hot Dog Month event is nearly a dozen of the best dog makers in the region, there's also tons of fun to be had.

In addition to the hot dog-eating, the rootbeer-chugging and bun-stacking, there's plenty more quirky fun. Here's a look at what's scheduled.

Dancing in the street

Eat too many hot dogs? Have we got the calorie-buster for that -- World Dance Day.

The Huntington-based dance school, Elite Performance Academy, is celebrating World Dance Day with a dance marathon called "Dancing in the Street," that will run from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, with City Heat providing the dance-laden music.

Folks can register at the event from 4:30 to 5 p.m. Cost for registration is $5 for the dancers, who need to be ages 7 and up.

The event benefits the Dizzy Feet Foundation that was founded in 2009 by producer Nigel Lythgoe, director Adam Shankman, "Dancing with the Stars" judge Carrie Ann Inaba and actress Katie Holmes to help underprivileged young people realize their dream of becoming professional dancers and to increase access to dance education in the United States.

Go online at www.dizzyfeetfoundation.org or locally, call Patti Shaver, 304-697-8080 or 304-654-8082.

Dashing Dachshunds

Like a Kentucky Derby for Dachshunds, the West Virginia Wiener Dog Race is something you've got to see. And if the Derby is the fastest two minutes in sports, well, the Wiener Dog Races are the funniest two minutes in sports.

The 10-heat race, sponsored by Cavalier Wieners, of course, starts at noon with prizes for owner and dogs. The final heat is the $100 Dachshund Dash.

Come out and help the Fest try and get 150 racing wiener dogs to vie for the title of America's largest wiener dog race.

Last year, 107 wiener dogs raced, and this year, York-Blake said the competition this year will be stiff.

Yep, looks like the crowd-favorite, the three-legged Dachshund, Peg-Legged Petey will be back after a year's absence.

Get your buns moving

If you're inspired by darling little dashing Dachshunds, you too can get your buns moving.

Literally, the Hot Dog Festival day starts off with the annual Bun Run 5K, sponsored by Stewarts. That starts at 8 a.m. with late registration $25. Day of registration runs from 6:45 a.m. to 7:45 a.m.

At 1 p.m., the area's Court Appointed Special Advocates have organized the annual Buns on Bikes, a 3-mile ride through downtown Huntington that goes from Pullman Square to Ritter Park and back. Cost is $10 for riders under 18, $15 for adults and $30 for family. For more info, call David Amsbary at 304-638-8926.

Seeing your double

Do people say that you and your dog look-a-like? You are in luck about 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Sponsored by Club Pet and Downtown Live, the Pet and Owner Look-A-Like contest starts at 10 a.m., with registration to be completed by 9:45 a.m. Registration is $5 at the Pullman clock.

First, second and third place prizes are awarded for the best costumes.

"You can dress like your dog or it can dress like you," said York-Blake with a laugh. "Wear your hair the same or whatever you'd like. It's amazing how many people pick out pets that look like them and putting them on the runway is just adorable."

At 11 a.m., get ready for the all-breeds Dog Costume Contest and parade that begins at 11 a.m.

Prizes and trophies will be awarded for best costumes during the parade. Pooch Parade registration is $10.

Blowing the blues

Can you wail on the blues harp or are prone to pulling out the harmonica around the campfire? Get your $10 registration fee ready for the 4th Annual WV State Harmonica Championship set for 2 p.m. Saturday.

Put together by the Huntington Harmonica Club, the Championship will award $200 for first place, $100 for second and $50 for third for the best harp blowers in the region.

Go online at www.hhcwv.com.

Chris Jackson/The Herald-Dispatch

The 5th annual West Virginia Hot Dog Festival is held Saturday, July 25, 2009, at Pullman Square. This year's event is set for Saturday, July 31.

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