July 29, 2007
The Afternoon Wasn't Just Food and Dogs...
'Oklahoma' and Christian rock filled out the bill
West Virginia Hot Dog Festival
By Tony Seaton
Huntington News Network
The Third Annual West Virginia Hot Dog festival, brain child of John Mandt, Jr., owner of Stewart's Original Hot Dogs, took over Pullman Square and parts of a closed-off third avenue Saturday.
It started in a bit of a drizzle, but the skies soon cleared and the festivities proceeded, starting with the Pooch Parade. Then came the 'weiner dog' race, with its usual misadventures, as some of the pups decided to either go for a stroll or return to their 'handlers' instead of making the run down the course to their 'encouragers,' waiting on the other end with treats and toys.
The hot-dog eating contest started with some trash-talking and braggadocio about how many dogs were about to go down, but ended a bit of a laugher, as most chompers were not world-class eaters. One contestant dropped out after eating two. The winner, Brandon Hicks, wearing a WKEE bib, won a free meal a week for a year from Stewart's, and a trophy. He did chow down 16 wieners.
Besides Stewart's, the event, which was free to the public, was sponsored by ten of Huntington's hot-dog vendors, including Frostop Drive-In, Hillbilly Hot Dogs, Sam's, Bowincal, and the newly re-opened Midway Drive-In West, among others.
Donations were accepted at Cabell-Huntington Hospital's nurses and first-aid tent, for the children's cancer unit in Joan C. Edwards' Comprehensive Cancer Care Center at Cabell. The amount raised was not available by deadline.
After all the dog eating and racing, Huntington Outdoor Theatre's singers gave festival goers a taste of "Oklahoma!" The final performance of the musical was Saturday night at the Ritter Park Amphitheatre.
Also bringing their music to the Pullman masses were Christian recording artists, Crashing Jericho, led by lead vocalist Tyler Davis, who rocked hard for several songs.
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'Oklahoma' and Christian rock filled out the bill
West Virginia Hot Dog Festival
By Tony Seaton
Huntington News Network
The Third Annual West Virginia Hot Dog festival, brain child of John Mandt, Jr., owner of Stewart's Original Hot Dogs, took over Pullman Square and parts of a closed-off third avenue Saturday.
It started in a bit of a drizzle, but the skies soon cleared and the festivities proceeded, starting with the Pooch Parade. Then came the 'weiner dog' race, with its usual misadventures, as some of the pups decided to either go for a stroll or return to their 'handlers' instead of making the run down the course to their 'encouragers,' waiting on the other end with treats and toys.
The hot-dog eating contest started with some trash-talking and braggadocio about how many dogs were about to go down, but ended a bit of a laugher, as most chompers were not world-class eaters. One contestant dropped out after eating two. The winner, Brandon Hicks, wearing a WKEE bib, won a free meal a week for a year from Stewart's, and a trophy. He did chow down 16 wieners.
Besides Stewart's, the event, which was free to the public, was sponsored by ten of Huntington's hot-dog vendors, including Frostop Drive-In, Hillbilly Hot Dogs, Sam's, Bowincal, and the newly re-opened Midway Drive-In West, among others.
Donations were accepted at Cabell-Huntington Hospital's nurses and first-aid tent, for the children's cancer unit in Joan C. Edwards' Comprehensive Cancer Care Center at Cabell. The amount raised was not available by deadline.
After all the dog eating and racing, Huntington Outdoor Theatre's singers gave festival goers a taste of "Oklahoma!" The final performance of the musical was Saturday night at the Ritter Park Amphitheatre.
Also bringing their music to the Pullman masses were Christian recording artists, Crashing Jericho, led by lead vocalist Tyler Davis, who rocked hard for several songs.
