Fourth of July Hot Dog and Pie Eating Contests on Fort Lauderdale Beach

Tomorrow afternoon, the world's most prolific eaters will converge on Coney Island for the 98th annual Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Championships.

About 40,000 people are expected to watch Joey Chestnut, the number-one-ranked eater in the world, defend his title for the seventh time. Last year Chestnut downed 68 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes to win the championship. Of course, the ladies were well represented by Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas, who won the Women's division by consuming 45 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.

If you haven't booked your flight, you can watch the action live on television. The women's competition will be broadcast at 11:25 a.m. on ESPN3; the men's competition will be broadcast at noon on ESPN2 and WatchESPN.

Or, you can watch people scarf down hot dogs at an alarming rate tomorrow on Fort Lauderdale beach.

See also: Joey Chestnut Wins Sixth Consecutive Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Championship

As part of the City of Fort Lauderdale's Fourth of July Spectacular, you can watch (or take part in) an old-fashioned hot dog eating contest on the beach at A1A and Las Olas Boulevard.

Starting at 12:30 p.m., watch in amazement as your friends and neighbors down as many dogs as they can -- all in the spirit of fun. Hot dogs not your thing? There's also a pie-eating contest, where contestants will have their hands tied behind their backs in order to dive head first into the fruity goodness of a (usually blueberry) pie. Want to join in? There's on site-registration for both contests (bring an appetite and wear loose clothing).

The contests and games (which also include bounce houses; face painting; hula-hoop, Twister and limbo contests; beach games; and a water balloon toss) run through 4 p.m., but plan to stay for the entire day (and into the night) for live music (including a Bon Jovi tribute band) and fireworks at 9 p.m.

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