NEW YORK, July 4, 2019– Joey Chestnut R is pictured during the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island of New York, the United States, on July 4, 2019. Joey Chestnut defended his men’s championship title Thursday by devouring 71 hot dogs in 10 minutes at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in New York. Miki Sudo defended the women’s title by eating 31 hot dogs in 10 minutes. (Photo by Li Muzi/Xinhua via Getty) (Xinhua/Li Muzi via Getty Images)
Popular summer fixtures are reaping the benefits of widespread vaccine access as a greater number of protected New Yorkers has allowed for a loosening of crowd restrictions, and that includes the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.
The annual Fourth of July tradition will welcome back a live audience this year after holding last year's contest behind closed doors.
Returning champion Joey Chestnut will eat to secure his record set last year, eating 75 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. Another record holder, in the women's competition, Miki Sudo will not be back this year after eating 48 1/2 hot dogs and buns in 2020.
Get Tri-state area news and weather forecasts to your inbox. Sign up for NBC New York newsletters.
Last year's competition, which is normally held outside the Brooklyn flagship shop, was moved indoors. The number of men and women competing was dropped to five in each category, with plastic barriers dividing the competitors for safety.
The hot dog contest is set to be held at Maimonides Park, next door to the Nathan's shop. Tickets are free but limited and will go out on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets requests can be made here while they last.
