For many New Yorker's that blinking green Nathan's sign brings back childhood memories of mouth watering hot dogs... maybe even more delicious on Coney Island than at Yankee Stadium.

The Fourth of July gives some lucky competitors the chance to eat an unlimited number of these memorable franks.

It's an annual tradition. Hearty appetites from around the world gather to gobble up hot dogs in the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island. The prize? The Nathan's yellow mustard belt... and all of the hot dogs you can eat!

The mayor usually hosts the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest Weigh-In and Certification Ceremony on July 3rd. The competition, now almost a century old, is held annually on the Fourth of July at Nathan’s Famous in Coney Island.

And what initially began as a PR stunt to lure more visitors to the boardwalk during the holiday weekend has today become an international event, with competitors traveling to the New York contest from all over the world. More than 20 eaters now enter the competition from Japan, Germany, Thailand, Candada, the UK and the United States.

To gain a seat at the table for the international contest, each participant won one of 20 regional qualifying contests throughout the United States and the world.

If you think you have what it takes to compete, just visit the Nathan's home web site and sign up for one of the preliminary competitions.

also see -> Fourth of July in New York City

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