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Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom EVERYONE’S A WEINER – The Maine Red Hot Dog Festival being held in downtown Dexter on Saturday, Aug. 9 is a fundraiser for the Dexter Development Association which sponsors the day along with a number of other corporate partners and to attract a large number of people to the town where they will see all that Dexter has to offer and to simply have fun. Last year’s hot dog eating contest had 10 entrants race to see who could eat 10 hot dogs the fastest. Alan Dill, far right, of Lincoln won by scarfing down 10 hot dogs in about four minutes.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom EVERYONE’S A WEINER – The Maine Red Hot Dog Festival being held in downtown Dexter on Saturday, Aug. 9 is a fundraiser for the Dexter Development Association which sponsors the day along with a number of other corporate partners and to attract a large number of people to the town where they will see all that Dexter has to offer and to simply have fun. Last year’s hot dog eating contest had 10 entrants race to see who could eat 10 hot dogs the fastest. Alan Dill, far right, of Lincoln won by scarfing down 10 hot dogs in about four minutes.

Maine Red Hot Dog Festival returns to Dexter on Saturday

Staff, Piscataquis Observer •August 5, 2025

DEXTER — The Maine Red Hot Festival will be back in downtown Dexter on Saturday, Aug. 9 as the annual event will feature activities with free admission from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. — rain or shine.

The festival serves as a fundraiser for the Dexter Development Association which sponsors the day along with a number of other corporate partners, and it is designed to attract a large number of people to the town where they will see all that Dexter has to offer and to simply have fun.

Millside Fitness sponsors a 5K Bun Run at 7:30 a.m. The race will start next to Bangor Savings Bank on Main Street and go around town and end back on Main Street Registration can be done at https://runsignup.com/Race/ME/Dexter/BunRun5k.

Main Street opens at 10 a.m. with food, crafts and other vendors, as well as children’s games and music live on stage throughout the day.

Also opening to the public at 10 a.m. will be the Red Hot Dog District. Looking for the stars of the show? This is the place for you. Get your W.A. Bean hot dogs with just mustard or load it with the works. Chips, soda and water will also be available. 

The hot dog eating contest starts at 12:30 p.m. with the contestants announced in advance. The competition is open to eight entrants.

The contest objective is to eat 10 hot dogs and buns, with water as the only beverage, within five minutes — condiments will be provided if desired. The winner will be determined by the first contestant to finish all 10 of their hot dogs with buns or whoever eats the most in five minutes.

Following the hot dog competition children ages 5-16 — in three different divisions — can put their eating skills to the test in the cupcake eating contest. The top three in ages 5-8, 9-12 and 13-16 to finish their pies without using their hands will win prizes.

At 1 p.m. Julia Gagnon of “American Idol” fame takes to the stage. She will have a meet and greet at 1:30 p.m.

At 3 p.m. the duck race begins, get your tickets early by the fire department’s lunch wagon. The ducks go into the water behind Dexter Ace Hardware.

Please go to www.redhotdog.org or https://www.facebook.com/maineredhotdogfestival/ for more information on the 2025 Maine Red Hot Dog Festival.

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