Host your own hot dog eating championships

 Uncle Sam Wants You!
Even if you’re not from the US you can still have a great time on the 4th of July.  Celebrate just like the Yanks and you’ll be having fun in no time.

 

-  Hot Dog Eating
Nathan's Famous of Coney Island is the home of competitive eating and hot dog eating is the blue ribbon event. The current record held American Joey Chestnut who managed 66 hot dogs (and buns) in only 12 minutes. Rather than try and eat as fast as you can, try as many different types of American food as you can in one day. Here's some ideas for how to organise a 4th of July party for yourself.

- Grill-n-Chill
In order to keep your 4th of July celebrations authentic, you’re going to want to grill like Americans.  So what do real Americans grill? Everything!  Carnivores rejoice on the 4th.  You can grill chicken, hot dogs, sausages, bratwurst, hamburgers, turkey burgers, boca burgers, etc.  You can even try grilling your vegetables.  Just cut up some fresh veggies, wrap them in aluminium foil, and toss them on the grill.  Supplement the meat with American style potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans, and some corn-on-the-cob to complete the meal.  Now you’re set.  Just don’t forget to knock back a few cold ones.  (You know, to regulate your body temperature!)

North American restaurants in the UK

-  Stay Cool
On a hot day like the 4th of the July it’s essential that everybody stays cool.  Some families like to spend the day at the beach, others like to set up camp on the shores of a lake, and urban warriors like to congregate around a swimming pool.  In any form, a body of water is crucial to your celebration.  There are tons of water games to amuse kids and adults.  Marco Polo is the classic one that you have to try.  If you’re not willing to take the plunge then you should still participate in a water gun fight.  Just be careful of escalation.  One second you’re shooting a small water pistol and the next your facing a massive Super Soaker.

- A Sweet Deal
What do kids love more than arts and crafts?  Edible arts and crafts!  One of the most fun and easy things you can do with kids is have them help you bake a cake or a batch of cupcakes.  After they’ve finished baking, the kids can decorate the cake as much as they’d like.  Have plenty of red, white, and blue cake decorations ready to keep the festivities as patriotic as possible.  Finally, let the kids try out their little masterpieces or serve them to the adults.  It’s a great time for kids and adults alike.  Just try not to break any child labour laws.

- Grand Old Game
So you don’t have a proper field and equipment to play America’s pastime?  No worries.  Just play Whiffle Ball instead of baseball.  It’s just as much fun and a whole lot simpler.  All you need is an open field and a plastic ball and bat.  Line up the kids on one side and the adults on the other for some intense competition.  It’s sure to be a home run!

- Funny Speak
The US is home to many different accents, and what day would be better to try them all out than the 4th of July?  You can pretend to be a rebel from the deep South, a gangster from New York, a valley girl from California, a bartender from Boston, a cowboy from Texas, a musician from New Orleans, a fisherman from Minnesota, etc.  For a little extra fun you could have an award ceremony at the end of the night for the performers with the best (and worst) accents!

New York city breaks

- Firelight Fun
Just because the sun is calling it a night doesn’t mean you have to.  Build an outdoor fire and congregate around it.  Adults can make continuous toasts to George Washington while the children run around catching fireflies or lightning bugs.  Then you can break out the graham crackers, marshmallows, and Hershey’s chocolate bars and let the kids make s’mores for the entire group.  When it’s dark enough you can light up all those fireworks that have been sitting around all day for a picture perfect ending to a great day.

- Don’t Let It Rain on Your Parade
Just look at bad weather as an excuse to catch up on some classic, patriotic American movies.  There are great flicks for everybody.  If you’re a sports buff you might want to watch Sylvester Stallone in “Rocky” or “Rocky IV.”  They’re both full of American spirit!  If boxing isn’t your thing you can watch Disney’s 2004 hit “Miracle,” which celebrates the American upset over the Soviet hockey team during the 1980 Olympic Games.  If you prefer mega-blockbusters then you can watch Harrison Ford kick terrorist butt in “Air Force One” or Will Smith take down aliens in “Independence Day.”  Comedy fans should check out Bill Murray in the ‘80s classic, “Stripes,” and history buffs should enjoy all the historical allusions in the Tom Hanks mega-hit, “Forrest Gump.”  If you’re not afraid of a little musket and hatchet violence then Mel Gibson’s “The Patriot” might be right up your alley.  As a bit of a classic movie buff myself, I like to watch Humphrey Bogart in the 1943 flick, “Sahara.”

If you want to go and see the actual contest, Flights to New York are available here and the subway connects Manahattan to Coney Island in around 25 minutes.

Comments

[kevin kirkwood]

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