When it comes to the Fourth of July holiday, there are certain activities that are simply synonymous — like watching a fireworks display, attending a neighborhood barbeque and cooling off at a friend’s pool party.
Sometimes overlooked in the festivities — but just as spectacular — is Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. If you’ve never had the chance to watch these professional eaters chow down on Nathan’s tasty hot dogs, it is worth the watch. Last year, the women’s winner, Miki Sudo finished off 39.5 hot dogs in 10 minutes, while the men’s winner, Joey Chestnut, gobbled down 62 hot dogs. See what is in store for 2024 by watching it go down on Sling TV.
There’s been a buzz about this year’s contest since Joey Chestnut was banned after signing a deal with Impossible Foods. Chestnut has been the first-place winner for Nathan’s Hot Dog Contest since 2007, except in 2015 when Matthew Stonie ate two more hot dogs with 62 in total. Typically, other male competitors don’t come close to Chestnut’s pace, which means for the first time in over 15 years, the men’s winner title is up for grabs — which comes with a prize of $10,000 and a fabulous mustard-yellow belt.
Part of Major League Eating, this sport takes some serious skill. Below, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know to watch Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.
When is Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest?
Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest takes place on Thursday, July 4, 2024, at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. The women’s competition begins at 10:45 a.m. ET and the men’s competition begins at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Where is Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest airing?
The Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest is airing on ESPN2 and ESPN3.
The women’s competition will air on ESPN3 along with the “Miki Sudo Camera,” which begins at 11 a.m. ET and spotlights last year’s winner.
The men’s competition will air on ESPN2. This year’s frontrunner, Geoffrey Esper will also get his own camera, and that footage will begin airing at 12:30 p.m. ET on ESPN3 after the women’s competition.
How to watch Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest
You’ll need to have a cable plan that includes ESPN2 and ESPN3 to view all rounds of the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. If you don’t have cable, Sling TV is a live streaming services that include ESPN2 and ESPN3 in the lineup.
How to watch Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest for free
While there isn’t a way to watch both the men’s and women’s contest for free, there is one possible option to watch the men’s portion of Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest for free.
FuboTV, a sport-centric live-streaming service, offers a free seven-day trial to new customers. That means you can sign up on Independence Day and cancel after the event to watch it at no cost.
Other events to watch on the Fourth of July
Another event worth checking out is one of the nation’s biggest displays: Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks. Like the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Independence Day celebration will be broadcast on NBC and stream live on Peacock.
If you want to watch the Macy’s 4th of July fireworks for free, catch it on FuboTV before canceling your free trial.
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