What do you call a dog with a fever?
A hot dog!
To be frank, that was a really lame joke, though I’ve been relishing the chance to test it out for a while now…
Okay, now that I’ve got that out of my system, let’s get on with it. Chicago Hot Dog Fest is upon us! And for all of our sakes, I’m going to call it quits on the buns, I mean… puns for a bit.
If you couldn’t tell already, we’ve been in hot dog mode all week, and the jokes have been flying through the air like… well, not hot dogs (thankfully).
Since we live in the self-proclaimed hot dog capital of the world, you can expect a whole lotta quality encased meats at the fest. Here are five things you need to know:
1) A Little History
This is the Third Annual Chicago Hot Dog Fest, and this is also the first time the food fest will be expanded to three days. This is big news, since now you’ll actually have the time to sample traditional Chicago-Style hot dogs from every vendor on the ever-growing list.
2) Hot Dog Lectures
This seems goofy at first glance, but look at a few of these titles: Hot Doggin’ Chicago Style, Mustard: King of the Condiments, Adventures in the Weiner City, and Hot Dog: An American Icon. How could you go wrong?
3) Music!
In between your informational hot dog sessions, you can catch some tunes at the main stage. For better or worse, there won’t be any love songs about hot dogs, though pretty much every other genre is covered. Even flamenco.
4) Sir, Drop the Ketchup
I shouldn’t even have to say it, but don’t be that guy.
We harp on ketchup hot-doggers all the time here, but this is a whole ‘nother level. The fest is all about Chicago-style hot dogs… I mean, come on.
If we can’t sway you, stop by the talks, Ketchup: The Condiment of Controversy and Dragging it Through the Garden… Without Ketchup.
I guess we should mention that you can always bring your own, but I would expect a dogfight (last pun, I promise).
5) It’s Free
That’s right, free admission to the weenie fest! You’ll have to pay for hot dogs, but unlike some other food fests, *cough* Taste of Chicago *cough* one ticket is actually equivalent to one dollar here. Not bad at all.
The Chicago Hot Dog Fest takes place begins on Friday, August 7 and runs through Sunday, August 9 at Clark Street & LaSalle Drive in Lincoln Park (Right outside the Chicago History Museum).
We’ll meat you there…
Sorry.
Photo Credit: The Huffington Post via huffingtonpost.com/