***Updated at 11 a.m., Aug. 22***
The Collinsville Library has announced that the eating contest, originally scheduled for Sept. 13, has been canceled.
“After further consideration, the Collinsville Memorial Library Center has decided to cancel the competitive eating contest,” an official statement indicated.
—- Original Story—–
Joey Chestnut will not go toe-to-toe with Kobayashi on the steps of the Collinsville Library when it hosts its first competitive eating contest on Sept. 13 and there is virtually no chance that anyone will top the modern record of 69 hotdogs and buns consumed in 10 minutes, but the event is certain to be entertaining.
Photo from National Photo Company Collection
The event will feature under-18 and over-18 categories, Adult Services Librarian Kyla Waltermire said. Those under 18-years-old will eat a plate of whipped cream and the adults hot dogs.
Although the details are still being finalized, the current plan is to time the minors eating the whipped cream and give the adults 10 minutes to cram as many hotdogs down their gullet as they can, Library Assistant Grahm Underwood said.
In the 2014 Nathan’s Hot Dog eating contest on Independence Day, Joey Chestnut downed 61 hotdogs in 10 minutes to edge Matt Stonie for the championship. Chestnut won his record eighth consecutive title shortly after securing a “yes” when he proposed to his girlfriend before the contest. Underwood nor Waltermire promise a similar performance in Collinsville.
The library is not the typical setting for events such as an eating contest or video game contest (on Aug. 21), but it is all part of Collinsville Library’s strategy.
“We want the library to be a place that people can come to have fun and learn,” Waltermire said.
The timed, all-you-can-eat event is the brainchild of Underwood, who sneaks snippets of time away from his two children to watch professional eating contests on television.
“It’s kind of my own personal obsession,” Underwood said.
Doughnuts were under consideration as the belly-busting food of choice, Underwood said, but hotdogs, the classic eating contest food, was determined to be easier. Sticks of butter, Underwood said, were interesting to watch in one contest, but were never in contention for the Collinsville Library’s menu.
The contest is free and will begin at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13, in the community room of the Collinsville Library, located at 408 W. Main St. Anyone interested in participating must register in advance by calling the library at 618-344-1112 or visiting the Main Desk.
The event is still seeking sponsors for hotdogs, buns and prizes, Waltermire said.
