Joey Chestnut’s Memorial Day Plot Twist: Forget Hot Dogs — This Shocking New Food Challenge Will Blow Your Mind (and Your Appetite)
Added on May 6, 2025 inCelebrity News Cards
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Popcorn and competitive eating on Memorial Day? Now that’s a twist even Mercury in Gemini wouldn’t see coming! This May 26th, as the stars sparkle with a dash of restless energy, Joey Chestnut—the undeniable titan of gobbling—takes the stage in South Terre Haute, Indiana, ready to transform everyone’s favorite movie munchie into a crunchy battleground. Known for devouring 83 hot dogs faster than you can say “supernova,” Chestnut is popping back with something just as ambitious: smashing his own world record for popcorn consumption at the Rural King store. Can the cosmic alignment of the day fuel this snack showdown, or will the kernels prove more stubborn than a stubborn Taurus refusing to budge? Either way, if you’ve ever wondered how much popcorn a human can shove down in a bout of snacking glory, well, your answer’s about to be televised live, sprinkled with small-town charm and a generous helping of zest. Mark your calendars, because this isn’t your average Memorial Day picnic—it’s a popping spectacle you won’t want to miss! LEARN MORE.
Popcorn and competitive eating aren’t your usual Memorial Day pair, but this year, Joey Chestnut is changing the game.
The world’s most iconic eater is teaming up with Rural King in South Terre Haute, Indiana, for a Memorial Day spectacle that’s as crunchy as it is unforgettable.
Joey Chestnut, aka the GOAT of gorging, will attempt to break his own world record for popcorn consumption at the South Terre Haute Rural King store on Monday, May 26.
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Fans are eager to watch as the man who once devoured 83 hot dogs in 10 minutes goes head-to-head with everyone’s favorite movie snack, all in front of a live crowd.
“This event is about bringing fun to our communities,” Phil Reiter, Rural King’s VP of Marketing and E-commerce, said in a press release sent to The Blast. “Our free popcorn has always been a fan favorite, and partnering with Joey Chestnut, the best in the world, is the perfect way to celebrate that tradition while giving our customers something memorable to experience this Memorial Day.”
If you’re not familiar with it, Rural King is a family-owned, farm-and-home retailer known for its small-town vibes and even smaller prices. So naturally, they would turn that beloved tradition into a world record attempt.
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Chestnut, who has been eating competitively since he was 21, is ready to pop off.
“I love challenging myself and setting new records, and it’s great when I can do it in fun environments with lots of support,” he said. “Rural King is known for its popcorn, so breaking a record at their store just makes sense. I can’t wait to see the crowd and hopefully make history together.”
The weekend kicks off with a meet-and-greet on Sunday, May 25, giving fans a chance to snap a pic or snag an autograph from the eating legend himself. Then on Monday, it’s go time with Chestnut racing the clock to devour as much popcorn as possible in eight minutes.
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And it’s not just a snack-fueled showdown. Rural King is turning the whole weekend into a party. Expect giveaways, entertainment, and family-friendly activities that’ll keep kids and adults busy between bites.
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Joey Chestnut, who currently lives in Indianapolis with his fiancée and three dogs, isn’t exactly new to pushing his limits. He holds more than 55 world records, from hot dogs to Twinkies to, yes, popcorn.
The shocking move came after Chestnut inked a deal with Impossible Foods, the vegan powerhouse behind a newly launched plant-based hot dog. The partnership didn’t sit well with MLE, which oversees the annual Nathan’s contest.
As a result, the 16-time champion, who is the face of the event, was abruptly disinvited from the iconic Coney Island stage.
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Chestnut didn’t hold back after the snub, calling the decision “very disappointing” in a statement shared on social media. But instead of staying salty, the competitive eating legend has been keeping it classy, and making it clear he’s more than willing to return.
Whether Joey Chestnut will make a patriotic return to the Nathan’s stage this Fourth of July is still up in the air. But for now, fans can catch him back in action this Memorial Day as he trades buns for bags of popcorn and aims for another record-breaking moment.
Founded in 1960 in Mattoon, Illinois, Rural King now boasts over 140 stores across 14 states, offering everything from animal feed and garden tools to work boots and, of course, free popcorn. This event is just another way the retailer is showing love to its customers and hometown roots.
“This is going to be a huge moment, not just for Joey, but for everyone who shows up to cheer him on,” Reiter added of his Memorial Day competition event “We’re honored to be part of something that brings people together in such a fun, memorable way.”
So if you’ve ever wondered how much popcorn a human can actually consume in eight minutes, or you want to see a legend in action, mark your calendar. Joey Chestnut is coming to crunch records and crush kernels.
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