Hot Dog days facts for kids
Hot Dog Days are fun events celebrated in many places around the world, like the United States, Canada, and Australia. Nobody knows exactly when they started, but they are all about enjoying hot dogs! These festivals often have lots of other exciting activities too, such as wiener dog races, root beer drinking contests, and face painting.
A great thing about Hot Dog Days is that they often raise money for good causes and charities. Groups like the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council in the USA help support these events. They even say that July is "National Hot Dog Month." The special "National Hot Dog Day" changes each year, but it's always on the third Wednesday of July. For example, in 2022, it was on July 20th.
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Cool Hot Dog Festivals
Alfred Village Hot Dog Day
Hot Dog Day is a big celebration held every spring in the small village of Alfred, New York. It first started in 1972, thanks to two students from Alfred University, Mark O'Meara and Eric "Rick" Vaughn. The event focuses on the hot dog, which is a favorite food for college students because it's cheap and easy to make. In the early days, you could get a hot dog and a drink for just 25 cents!
This special day usually happens on the third Saturday in April. However, many students celebrate a whole "hot dog week," from Wednesday to Sunday. Students from Alfred University and Alfred State College mostly organize Hot Dog Day. They work hard to raise money for local charities and community groups. These include the Alfred Fire Department and the Alfred Montessori School.
Over the years, many fun activities have been part of the festival. There's usually a big parade, an ice cream social, a "fun run," and even "mud Olympics." You can also find a hot dog eating contest, a carnival, and a dachshund race. Live music and a chicken barbecue are common, along with many hot dog stands. Since 1998, the engineering students have held a "Pin Hill Derby" race.
Main Street in Alfred is closed for the parade and used to host most of the activities. Since 2015, the carnival and arts & crafts fair have moved to the college campuses. Hot Dog Day is also a popular time for former students to come back for alumni reunions. After a two-year break because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival returned in 2022 for its 50th Anniversary. The original founders even came back as grand marshals!
Annual Hot Dog Lunch on Capitol Hill
The Annual Hot Dog Lunch in Washington, D.C., is a very popular event on Capitol Hill. This is where the United States Congress meets. The North American Meat Institute has sponsored this lunch for over 40 years. More than 1,000 people attend, including members of Congress, government officials, journalists, and lobbyists. They all gather in a courtyard for a huge hot dog picnic.
At the lunch, different hot dog companies serve their hot dogs from traditional hot dog carts. Sometimes, famous retired major league baseball players are there to sign autographs for everyone.
Boston Hot Dog Safari
The Boston Hot Dog Safari is an annual charity event in Boston. It was started by a sports radio host named Eddie Andelman in 1990. The main goal of this charity event is to help find a cure for cystic fibrosis. Money raised goes to the Joey Fund, named after Eddie's friend who passed away from the disease at age twelve. Eddie Andelman loves hot dogs, which is why he named the event the Hot Dog Safari.
The Hot Dog Safari is one of the most popular charity events in Boston. Over the years, it has attracted many participants and raised a lot of money. In just one day, the event has raised an estimated $150,000 to help find a cure for cystic fibrosis. Medical experts believe a cure for the disease is getting closer.
At the Safari, you can eat all the hot dogs, sausages, and ice cream sundaes you want. Money is raised by selling tickets at the door or in advance, and through raffles. There is also plenty of entertainment for everyone.
West Virginia Hot Dog Festival
The West Virginia Hot Dog Festival takes place in Huntington, West Virginia. It has been held on the last Saturday in July since 2005. This festival is also a charity event. It can raise $10,000 or more for the children's cancer unit at the Edwards' Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Activities at this festival include a "bun run" (which is a walk or run), a wiener dog race, and an owner-dog look-alike contest. There's also a car and truck show, a hot dog eating contest, and even a harmonica championship!
Other Hot Dog Events
- Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in Brooklyn, New York - a famous eating competition held on USA Independence Day.
- Stanley Park, Kitchener, Ontario, Optimist Club - Season End Hot Dog Day Celebration.
- Kiwanis Club of Ingersoll, Ontario - Hot Dog Day.
- Newburyport, Massachusetts, Hot Dog Day.
- Vancouver Hot Dog Day.
- Winnipeg Mennonite Elementary Schools Hot Dog Day.
- Hot dog fans in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, celebrate National Hotdog Month with "Hot Dog Crawls" and "Cook Offs." They also organize free hot dog lunches for Veterans and kids' summer camps during July.
- Leo's Lunch & Cafe in Hackettstown, New Jersey, has an Annual National Hot Dog Day Celebration with free hot dogs, contests, and games.
