Get ready for Asheville’s wildest culinary showdown at The Big Wiener Party — a hot dog topping competition like no other — Saturday, August 9, from 2-6 p.m. at Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ. Held in partnership with the Asheville Comedy Festival, this fun-filled fundraiser promises bold flavors, belly laughs, and big-hearted impact.
The event will be hosted by food-world personalities Kyle “The Vulgar Chef” Marcoux and Dan “The Food In My Beard” Whalen. Nine daring teams will dress up to 300 hot dogs each in outrageous, creative toppings to compete for the ultimate title: King or Queen Wiener.
A local star-studded judging panel — DJ Jeremy Greene (iHeartMedia, The Sportsocracy), Todd Lewis (Front of House Engineer for Luke Combs), and Stu Helm, Asheville’s own food blogging icon — will crown the winning wiener creations.
Adding even more sizzle, comedians from the Asheville Comedy Festival will hype each team’s hot dog entry, blending hilarious commentary with a hefty dose of showmanship. Expect a delicious mash-up of culinary creativity and comic relief.
The event doesn’t stop at the final bite! Hi-Wire Brewing will keep the brews flowing all afternoon, followed by a lively after-party featuring a local DJ and a cheeky late-night menu curated by The Vulgar Chef.
Competing Teams include: The Sportsocracy; Hi-Wire Brewing; Wicked Weed Brewing; Asheville Sports Club; Capella on 9; Knuckle Deep BBQ; PIE.ZAA; The Vault; and Infill D.
Proceeds from The Big Wiener Party support Bear’s Foundation’s mental health initiative, Linked4Life, which funds free mental health counseling for Asheville’s food & beverage workers through All Souls Counseling Center.
“We’re so excited to partner with Asheville Comedy Fest to bring an event like no other to the South Slope,” says Cheryl Antoncic, founder of Bear’s Foundation and creator of The Big Wiener Party. “To already have the immediate support of some of Asheville’s finest establishments — and even names from beyond — shows just how much this community cares. It’s all in good fun, but it carries a serious message: supporting the mental health of our hospitality workers matters, and we’re proud to turn up the volume on that.”
For more information and tickets, visit Big Wiener Party Tickets.
