Niles fest will hail hot dogs, Stevens

June 23, 2014 at 12:05a.m.

NILES

Downtown Niles will become Ohio’s hot-dog heaven and a haven for aficionados with the celebration of the Second Annual Harry Stevens Hot Dog Day on Sunday.

Stevens, a native of England who spent most of his life in Niles, was a food concessionaire whom some historians credit with creating the name “hot dog” for the sausage sandwich he was selling and boosting its popularity for sporting events in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Avenue and Main, the city’s community improvement group, organizes the event.

“We wanted to draw attention to what’s positive about Niles,” said Dori MacMillan, co-chairwoman of the committee spearheading the day of the dog. “We’ve been very fortunate because there are a lot of sponsors who like the idea, want to get involved and have sought us out.”

Expected to draw a crowd will be the event’s first hot-dog eating contest. Anyone with a $10 entry fee, an inexhaustible appetite and no fear of calories can win prizes for gorging more hot dogs than other competitors. “We’re still looking for contestants,” MacMillan said.

Those less inclined to “pig out” have other options such as the annual Hot Dog Topping Contest that offers cash and trophies for would-be hot dog chefs, and a cornhole competition on Pine Alley expected to draw professionals and more than a few amateurs competing for more than $1,000 in prizes. Team entry fees are $40 if submitted before Tuesday and $50 after that date.

Niles will have its answer to sausage races held during baseball games in Pittsburgh and Milwaukee by conducting its own wiener-dog race and costume contests. One of the rules: racing contestants must dress as either a wiener dog or a dachshund, MacMillan said.

The committee expects nearly 30 food, drink and merchandise vendors to set up shop along State Street for the duration of Harry Stevens Hot Dog Day from noon to 8 p.m.

The committee will honor Stevens by laying a wreath by his tombstone at the Niles City Cemetery at 3 p.m. Saturday. In the event of rain, the ceremony will be moved to the McKinley Presidential Memorial.

More information is available at the event’s website: www.hshdd.com.