Hot Dog Eating Contest Returns To Topsfield Fair For 2023

TOPSFIELD, MA — The Hot Dog Eating Contest returns for a fifth year to the upcoming 205th Topfield Field with contestants looking to break last year's record of the equivalent of 20 standard hot dogs in just seven minutes.

Brandon Wood, of Warren, downed 10 quarter-pound Hebrew National hot dogs and buns in last year's contest.

This year's event will once again be sponsored by the B'nai B'rith Booth with the winner earning $205 to correspond with the number of years the Fair has been held.

The 5th annual Hot Dog Eating Contest will be on Sept. 30 at 3 p.m. on the Trianon Stage. The Topsfield Fair runs from Sept. 29 through Oct. 9.

Contestants must be over 16 years of age to participate and will have seven minutes to consume as many of the quarter-pound Hebrew National Hot Dogs (including buns) as they can. These jumbo-sized hot dogs are twice the size of standard dogs.

The first 15 people to register beginning at 2:30 p.m. on the day of the contest at the Trianon Stage will participate. Each competitor must complete an entry form and a waiver form prior to the deadline for entry.

Contestants can also pre-register online here. There is no cost to participate.

Each contestant will begin with six hot dogs with buns with additional dogs brought to a contestant after the consumption of his or her last hot dog. Contestants will begin with two glasses of water with more water brought as needed as well.

Discount admission tickets for the Topsfield Fair are available in advance of the event through Sept. 28 here. Three-day passes are also available and are good any day during the Fair's 11-day run.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)