The West Virginia Three Rivers Festival Pepperoni Roll Eating World Championship

REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT IS CLOSED DUE TO CAPACITY!

Great news, Fairmont, WV! Great news, America! Great news, world! Major League Eating will return to the West Virginia Three Rivers Festival on Saturday, May 24th for the 4th Annual West Virginia Three Rivers Festival Pepperoni Roll Eating World Championship! Great things await all who compete or gaze upon those who do.

Last year, world number one Joey Chestnut took victory on debut in this discipline, downing 28 delicious pepperoni rolls in just 10 minutes. MLE 2013 debutante Miki Sudo was a bite (admittedly a rather large bite) behind with 27.5 for the silver. "The Black Widow," "The Notorious," "Eater X," and "The Lovely" rounded out the money positions in a battle of MLE heavyweights. A similarly stacked field is anticipated for this year's contest as they vie for one of the richest purses on the MLE calendar—$6,500—and the honor of being named the West Virginia Three Rivers Festival Pepperoni Roll Eating World Champion of the World. As titles go, it's pretty boss. Contest organizers are also looking to award the winner a championship belt to honor their achievement.

Chestnut has vowed to return to defend his title. Do you dare attempt to dethrone him? At the table or in the crowd, there is no better place to be in the world than Palatine Park in Downtown Fairmont, WV, on May 24th, at 8pm—an evening event that will challenge MLE best. The West Virginia Three Rivers Festival Pepperoni Roll Eating World Championship awaits. Come one, come all. Come hungry.

This contest will take place at 8pm on Saturday May 24th, 2014 at Palatine Park in Downtown Fairmont, WV!

TOTAL PRIZE PURSE: $6,500! 1st - $2,500 2nd - $1,500 3rd - $1,000 4th - $750 5th - $500 6th - $250

About The West Virginia Three Rivers Festival! This year marks the 35th year for The West Virginia Three Rivers Festival and the 4th year as host of The Pepperoni Roll Eating World Championship. In these four short years, it has become the main event for the Festival. The dates for this year’s Festival are May 22 to 24, 2014. The championship will be held on the last night of the Festival, Saturday, May 24th at 8 pm.

Pepperoni Rolls are a regional cuisine. The classic pepperoni roll consists of a soft white yeast bread roll with pepperoni baked in the middle. It is delicious. The rolls originated as a lunch option for the coal miners of north-central West Virginia in the first half of the 20th century. The Roll that is sanctioned for the event weighs approximate 3.25 ounces and the World Record is 33 in 10 minutes—that's almost 7 lbs of white bread and pepperoni.

Ever since its inception, The West Virginia Three Rivers Festival Pepperoni Roll Eating World Championship has drawn some of the world’s greatest eaters. Last year, world number one Joey Chestnut claimed victory. He will be returning in 2014 to defend his crown.

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*All applicants must be 18 years of age or older and fully acknowledge and understand the inherent dangers and risks associated with participating in an eating contest. The applicant further acknowledges and understands that the MLE/IFOCE coordinates with event sponsor(s) to select and approve eligible participants, and that the MLE/IFOCE shall decide, at its sole discretion, whether an applicant is eligible to participate in any eating event, and/or related activities. The MLE/IFOCE may revoke an applicant's eligibility to participate in the eating contest, or related activities, at any time, for any reason, at its sole discretion. The MLE/IFOCE and the event sponsors reserve the right, at any time, to change any and all details concerning the event, including, e.g., time, duration, location and prize structure.