DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) – A hot dog eating contest returns to Decatur on Saturday.
Pre-qualification rounds for the 6th Annual Heinkel’s Hot Dog Eating Contest start at 2 p.m. on that day at The Draft. Weekend winners will move on to a final top 10 round. The top scorers after 10 minutes will qualify.
The contest involves three major prizes. First place wins $500 and four all-inclusive tickets to a Cardinals baseball game, an experience that includes a buffet. Second and third place winners earned $250 and $150 cash prizes, respectively, and Heinkel’s gift certificates.
“Over the past five years our partnership with Decatur Celebration has brought us years of champions, prizes, celebrity contestants, stuffed bellies, and bringing our local community together,” said Wes Heinkel, Heinkel’s Packing Co. manager.
The highest number of hot dogs eaten in 2016’s qualifying round was 20.
