Orem Summerfest adds pie-eating contest after hot dog eating competition
Kiery Rask, 8, looks up as she eats a slice of pie while her cousin, Trey Parks, 8, both of Orem, looks over at her during the kids' heat of the first-ever Village Inn Pie-Eating Competition as part of Orem Summerfest on Thursday, June 7, 2018, at Orem City Center Park. Kids had 40 seconds to finish as much of a single slice of pie as possible, and later adults had one minute to finish as much as they could of one half of a pie. Rask finished third in the kids' heat. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Andrew Reeves, of Orem, looks about at other competitors between eating hot dogs during the second-annual Wienerschnitzel Hot Dog Eating Competition as part of Orem Summerfest on Thursday, June 7, 2018, at Orem City Center Park. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Rhett Wimmer, of Orem, eats a hot dog during the second-annual Wienerschnitzel Hot Dog Eating Competition as part of Orem Summerfest on Thursday, June 7, 2018, at Orem City Center Park. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Audience members grab hot dogs as competitor Jeff Crisp, of Orem, gives up the rest of his food during the second-annual Wienerschnitzel Hot Dog Eating Competition as part of Orem Summerfest on Thursday, June 7, 2018, at Orem City Center Park. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Eddie Rask, of Orem, wipes pie bits from his face after the adult heat of the first-ever Village Inn Pie Eating Competition as part of Orem Summerfest on Thursday, June 7, 2018, at Orem City Center Park. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Andrew Reeves, 20, has lived across the street from the Orem City Center Park all of his life and has joined in years of Summerfest activities. This year, he wanted his participation to go to the extreme.
For the first time, Summerfest did a double whammy on folks and held not only a hot dog eating contest, but it was immediately followed by its first pie eating contest — a gastronomical conglomeration.
Reeves, who by day does stucco applications, sought to enter both contests. Unfortunately, a miscommunication during the sign-up process kept him from entering the pie-eating contest.
For days leading up to the contest, Reeves made frequent trips to the Orem Wienerschnitzel, close to his home. The hot dog chain sponsored the hot dog eating contest.
“I’ve gotten 10 in one sitting,” Reeves said about his pre-training. “My technique is to have half of the hot dog in my mouth and then inhale.”
He is not the only one that did mighty preparation for the dog eat-off.
“The owner of Wienerschnitzel said some other dudes were trying to eat large amounts of hot dogs too,” Reeves said.
After all the preparation, Reeves consumed 13 hot dogs by the end of the competition.
Sadie Loveland, of Provo, won the competition by eating 15 hot dogs in just under six minutes.
Summerfest activities continue through Saturday in both the Orem City Center Park and Scera Park with carnivals, food booths, games, business showcase, car show, entertainment, and the parade and fireworks display.
The parade begins at 7 p.m. Saturday starting at approximately 800 East and 700 South north to Center Street. It turns west on Center Street and ends eight blocks later at the City Center.