This year, The City of Vero Beach has partnered with The Source for an expanded and explosive “Independence Day On The Indian River,” Thursday, July 4 at Riverside Park.
Did you know The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council have declared the month of July as “National Hot Dog Month?” In fact, it is estimated that 150 million hot dogs will be eaten on July 4th! In Vero Beach…we expect to add to that number!
Because…thanks to The Source, there will be exciting Hot Dog Competitions when the all new “Dog Days of Summer” unfolds from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m.! Plan to come early and enjoy eating, watching and competing everything hot dogs! Stay late when the rest of the day’s events unveil themselves starting at 5 p.m. through the 9 p.m. fireworks!
“The Top Dog Competition” has invited local businesses and organizations to compete by creating an innovative hot dog using any combo of ingredients to make their hot dogs different!
“People Choice Awards” allows the public to taste all the great hot dog creations and vote on their favorites! $1.00=1 Hot Dog and 1 Vote!
“The Hot Dog Eating Contest” invites individuals ages 18 plus to consume as many hot dogs as possible, including the buns… in a limit of 5 minutes!
Jumping on board for the hot dog eating portion of the event is professional eater Randy Santel, founder and owner of www.Foodchallenges.com. Santel is the record holder of 1,240 worldwide
food challenge wins in all 50 states plus 40 countries around the world and if you don’t believe it, see for yourself by viewing his videos available on his You Tube and Facebook Channels. Joining Randy in the contest is his girlfriend Katina DeJarnett, a fellow YouTuber (Katina Eats Kilos) and professional eater who he has collaborated with since 2020.
In viewing just three of their many eating competitions online, they have participated (and won) a 30-minute eating challenge involving a 20-egg omelet filled with ham, cheese, and veggies, accompanied by a heap of hash browns and buttered Texas Toast; sharing (and winning) a 15 lb. monster burger topped with bacon, hotdog and cheese on a bun with an extra, extra large plate of fries, and a giant sized bowl of chili…all eaten over a span of one hour; and the final one hour (winning) challenge this writer viewed was a 7.5 lb. sweetheart strawberry and banana cheese cake topped with a giant chocolate shell, accompanied by a one-liter sized strawberry banana shake topped with rich pastries on the straw! If you watch some of their eating contests, it may be hard “to swallow” that they are both educated and experienced in nutrition, fitness and weight management!
Their food challenges represent their mission to keep the sport of competitive eating relevant by traveling the world, tackling pre-existing challenges and establishing new ones for others to attempt as well. Randy and Katina are two to try and beat in the “Hot Dog Eating Contest” if not just to sit back and enjoy watching!
Interested in giving the “Hot Dog Eating Contest” a try? The Source invites you to step up to the hot dog plate on July 4th. Brenda Sposato is currently taking names to register and can be contacted at [email protected], visiting www.dogdaysofsummervero.com or by calling 772-564-0202. If you prefer to be a spectator…grab a chair, blanket and your binoculars to enjoy the Dog Days of Summer festivities from 1:30-4 p.m. The City celebration begins at 5:00 p.m. ending with the 9:00 p.m. Fireworks display sponsored by Mulligan’s Beach House Bar & Grill….and much, much more all day long! The Source’s sponsors are Presenting Sponsors: Sihle Insurance Group; The George Shinn Foundation and Suzanne Chesser join the other event sponsors- Charles W. Sinclair, Emmett and Margaret Anne Evans, Mr. & Mrs. Robert Lindsay, Cindy O’Dare, Mr. & Mrs. Robert Lyles, James Ford Bell, Omega P.A., Tracey Collins Rueff, ABC Printing, Crown Painting, Christian FM and Kountry Kitchen.
