This day was for the dogs! Hot-dogs and hot dogs that is, at the 2023 West Virginia Hot Dog Festival. Temperatures in the 90’s didn’t keep everyone from turning out and taking over 3rd avenue around Pullman Square in the festival’s 19th year.
The festival featured local restaurants and vendors serving up all manner of hot dogs, sausages, and bratwurst.
Many crafts, art, and other vendors were popular at the event too.
The infamous weiner dog race bouts drew in large crowds, along with other size and breed dog races.
Don’t worry either, there were tons of shade and water cooling stations for the pups! Most enjoyable of all was watching the dogs not getting the memo and their owners giving themselves wedgies.
The hot dog eating contest was one for the ages, with a three-way-tie leading to a finals round.
Although two then did tie again, all three were declared winners after all.
In an upset, last minute addition to the root beer chugging contest Dakota thought he had won it, but left about a ¼ cup behind, losing out in the end to our winner Levi Hanshaw! (in red)
Between 8th and 9th street there was also a full block of hot rods and classics in the Car, Truck, and Cycle show.
James Burcham took home the people’s choice award, but we all won with all the cool cars on display.
Here the crew from the Haunted Majestic were showing off and taking photos with the crowd:
There were also live musical performances featured throughout the day, including Montage, Souls of the Wounded, and City Heat.
There was so much to do we couldn’t even cover it all, there were all kinds of inflatable slides and games at the kids zone and even a Dog Costume Contest / Pooch Parade.
All WV Hot Dog Festival proceeds will go to Hoops Family Children’s Hospital at Cabell Huntington Hospital.
If you would like to see more about Hoops you can visit: https://hoopschildrens.org/
For more information about the WV Hot Dog Festival and their sponsors, you can visit: https://wvhotdogfestival.com/
