Dog Days of Summer

“Nathan’s has its contest on the Fourth of July,” notes Steve Ballas of Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs. “They have official competitors eating 65 hot dogs, and they’ve been doing it for 35 years. I don’t see any reason why we can’t have an event here in Denver that can grow into...

By Amber Taufen

July 24, 2008

Audio By Carbonatix

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“Nathan’s has its contest on the Fourth of July,” notes Steve Ballas of Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs. “They have official competitors eating 65 hot dogs, and they’ve been doing it for 35 years. I don’t see any reason why we can’t have an event here in Denver that can grow into that for charity.”

Hence the Inaugural Hotdog Eating Contest at Steve’s, which benefits the Colorado AIDS Walk and Project Angel Heart. After four qualifying events, 29 competitors, ties resulting in eat-offs, family rivalries and numerous consumed hot dogs, eight final competitors (aka the Elite Ate) will have eight minutes to down as many hot dogs as they can possibly hold today at 1 p.m.

The rules: Participants must eat both hot dog and bun together. They may put ketchup and mustard on the dogs, and they may drink water, but no dunking of the dogs will be allowed. There will be raffles, opportunities to donate to both charities and, of course, a hell of a lot of eating of hot dogs. Stop by Steve’s, 3525 East Colfax Avenue, and be part of history; attendance is free. Call 303-333-7627 or visit www.stevessnappindogs.com.
Sun., July 27, 1 p.m., 2008

Amber Taufen has been writing about people, places and things in Denver since 2005. She works as an editor, writer, and production and process guru out of her home office in the foothills.

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