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Crowds fill Pullman Square for Hot Dog Festival
Competitors release their dogs at the start of the race Saturday, July 26, 2008, at Pullman Square, during the Cavalier Meats Annual Wiener Dog Races at the fourth annual West Virginia Hot Dog Festival.
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HUNTINGTON -- The 4th annual West Virginia Hot Dog Festival wrapped up its day-long event at Pullman Square on Saturday with a lot of people leaving with full bellies.
The event, organized by Clear Channel Communications and inspired by Stewarts Original Hot Dog president John Mandt Jr., featured about 10 hot dog vendors from around the region.
"We have a Tri-State area with a large amount of decades-old, family-owned hot dog shops," event organizer Kym York said.
If that wasn't enough, seven men ate about 75 hot dogs in the Stewarts Hot Dog eating contest. Chris McKenzie, who won the event in 2006 by eating 23, outlasted the 2007 champion, Brandon Hicks, 19-18.
The event also included a Frostop Drive-In root beer chugging contest, live entertainment, a kid's bun-stacking contest, classic car show and the West Virginia Harmonica Championship.
All of the proceeds from the festival go to the Joan C. Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center's Pediatric Oncology Department. It was picked by Mandt, whose family has owned Stewarts for four generations, in honor of his brother, who died from a brain tumor as an infant in the late 1960s.
"It's totally awesome," Mandt said, estimating that he sold more than 2,000 hot dogs. "It's a blessing, honestly, that our city comes out and supports this."
The event kicked off at 8 a.m. with the Bun Run 5K run and walk, which drew nearly 400 participants and raised more than $2,500.
But it was the other race that a bit more fun to watch. The Dachshund Dash drew 101 "wiener" dogs, which was eventually won by Chloe, who is 3 years old and competing in her third race. Not only did Chloe pick up her first victory, but her owner, Emily Hibner, 7, won second place in the pet-owner look-alike contest. Chloe and the Hibners reside in Barboursville and picked up $100 to spend on doggy treats.
Kim Boyles of South Point also raced her 1-year-old Dachshund, Brandy Leigh, sort of. In what was her first face, Brandy Leigh ran only a few feet before returning to Boyles.
"She was scared," Boyles said. "But we're going to train her for next year."
Josh Perry and his family of Barboursville applauded the Dachshunds, but the family was more eager to taste the hot dogs than watch them run. He and his wife, Sarah, said between them and their three kids, they had hoped to try a hot dog from each of the vendors. More than that, though, he said they attended their first Hot Dog Festival because of the chance to showcase Huntington.
"I love seeing the city of Huntington come out together and celebrate living in the greatest city in the world," Josh Perry said.
Kim Lake, owner of Mug and Pia on 3rd Avenue across from Pullman Square, said everyone, including the businesses, benefit from popular downtown events.
"I'm just thrilled to see all the people," said Lake, who opened her gift-type shop in April. "Being this is the first (event) for me (since I opened), I welcome it. It gets people out to see what Huntington is all about."
Given that it is an election year, it's not surprising that there were even some politics at the Hot Dog Festival. According to Andrew Davis, a spokesperson for the Libertarian Party, volunteers were collecting signatures at the event to get Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr on the ballot.
This year also saw the crowning of the first festival queen and junior queen. The latter went to Cabell Midland High School freshman Jessica Eves. Marshall University junior Myriah Hisam was crowned queen. And what does the queen like on her hot dog?
"Just sauce," Hisam said.
No matter what toppings people ordered -- and that was wide ranging, especially with Hillbilly Hot Dogs serving up their specialties -- Hisam said it's an event everyone can enjoy.
"Who doesn't like hot dogs?" she said. "And, all the proceeds from this festival go to help children with cancer."
