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NEWS
Hot dog fest wraps up
Robert Ackley, left, won the 5th annual StewartÕs Original Hot DogÕs Hot Dog Eating Contest on Saturday, July 25, 2009, at Pullman Square.
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HUNTINGTON -- While the hot dogs brought the people to the 5th annual West Virginia Hot Dog Festival in Huntington on Saturday, event-goers said they stayed for the family fun and camaraderie.
Pullman Square on 4th Avenue in Huntington played host to thousands of hot dog lovers while they sampled the food, listened to live music and watched some of the hot dog-themed activities. Those activities included wiener dog races, a Bun Run 5K, a hot dog eating contest and root beer chugging contest.
Stewart's Original Hot Dogs, Hillbilly Hot Dogs, Frostop Drive-In and Sam's Hot Dogs were among the vendors who doled out thousands of hot dogs. The festival served as a paradise of gastronomic choices.
Sylvia Battle of Huntington is a self-proclaimed hot dog lover and said she was glad to see a festival dedicated to it. Battle said she normally attends the Huntington Rib and Music Fest but wanted to see what the hot dog festival featured.
She said she was delightfully surprised by the results.
"I'm really enjoying myself," said Battle, who attended the festival with her husband. "There's lots of stuff to do with the family that'll keep you busy."
And of course there were the hot dogs. Battle tried hot dogs from Stewart's Original and Hillbilly Hot Dogs and said she couldn't decide which one she liked better.
Many of the vendors had lines stretching around their stands, putting the hot dogs and toppings in the buns as quickly as possible.
Festival-goers interested in trying something new stopped by the Java Joint hot dog stand. Java Joint was the only hot dog stand that offered both a vegetarian and vegan hot dog.
Amber Clifford, co-owner of the Huntington restaurant, said she outsold last year's amount only a few hours into the festival. But despite this year's success, Clifford said it was still difficult to get people to try something out of their comfort zone.
"The hardest part is getting people to try them because the people coming to the hot dog festival aren't vegetarians," Clifford said. "It's all about getting people to try new stuff."
The hot dogs, Clifford said, have half the amount of fat and sodium than in regular beef hot dogs. While Java Joint's hot dogs might have been healthier options, the beef hot dogs ruled the majority of the stands at the festival.
Hillbilly Hot Dogs owner Sonny Knight said the restaurant's unique menu items and deep fried weenies kept the crowd coming.
"You can't go anywhere else and get an Out Wayne Dog or a Thunder Herd Dog or a Pizza Dog," Knight said. "Once you get a flavor for it, you've got to come back and get something."
Greeting each of the patrons with a "Hey there" or a "How you been," Knight said it's important to make the customers feel welcome, whether it's at their restaurants or their stand at the festival.
"You're a 'customer' when they come in but when you leave you're a 'kinfolk,'" Knight said. "We pretty much know everybody that's come here."
Carl Browning of Huntington said he wasn't concerned with the hot dogs and was more interested with meeting up with friends and listening to music.
"I can get hot dogs anytime, anywhere," Browning said. "I come here for the camaraderie and music."
Live entertainment was provided by a variety of rock and country bands and singers including Brittany Reynolds, Katie Owens, Morgan McMicken and BLUE MAXX.
Brad Mayo of Spring Valley said while he enjoyed the hot dogs, the reason he came to the festival was to give his three kids something to do. Mayo said he was glad to see there were things for families.
Mayo said he liked that parents can enjoy the live music, have some hot dogs and check out the custom rides at the festival's car and motorcycle show. Kids, on the other hand, can jump around in the inflatable amusement rides and watch the wiener dog races.
The festival, Mayo said, offered a little bit of everything.
"The bands are good, there's plenty of food and there's stuff to do with the kids," Mayo said. "We're definitely coming back next year."
