Hot dog! Wednesday is National Hot Dog Day, which means deals and promotions – and some freebies – on hot dogs nationwide.
For many of us, the hot dog is the quintessential summer food. We snarf them at picnics, ballparks, and over grills and campfires. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, consumers buy about 38% of the hot dogs purchased each year, tallying around $614 million, according to the Hot Dog and Sausage Council.
National Hot Dog Day, which has been around for about 50 years, was previously celebrated in July when the council and North American Meat Institute hosted its hot dog lunch in Washington, D.C. for legislators and congressional staff, said council president Eric Mittenthal, who is also the institute’s chief strategy officer. During the pandemic, the council set the third Wednesday in July aside as the special day for hot dogs going forward.
How many hot dogs are eaten annually in the U.S.?
Spending in supermarkets on hot dogs and sausages has risen annually to more than $8 billion in 2022, according to the council. But that only accounts for about 9 billion hot dogs, not tallying all the hot dogs consumed at ballparks, from vendors and elsewhere.
The organization estimates that hot dog denizens in the U.S. consume about twice that amount, or 20 billion hot dogs annually. That breaks down to about 70 hot dogs per person. So, I guess Joey Chestnut is balancing out the average for most of us.
Joey Chestnut:How hot dog champ became a multimillionaire as a competitive eater
Here are some deals you can cash in on to celebrate National Hot Dog Day this Wednesday.
25% off Ball Park at Target
Members of Target’s loyalty program, Target Circle, which earns you 1% in rewards on purchases not made with a Target RedCard credit card, can get 25% off Ball Park hot dogs on Wednesday.
Free hot dog deal at Dog Haus
Get a free Haus Dog Wednesday at Dog Haus, which has more than 50 locations in 10 states. Just text “FREE DOG” to 833.440.1110 and you will get a mobile coupon redeemable for dine-in only.
Free hot dogs at Love’s Travel Stops
If you’re on the road, you can get a free hot dog or other roller grill item at Love’s Travel Stops. Within the Love’s Connect app from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. local time on Wednesday, you can find the deal, redeemable at participating locations in 42 states. After you create an account, click on the “Deals” section, tap the deal and you can scan the mobile bar code at checkout to apply it. Choose from snacks including Schwab’s Finest Hot Dogs, Tornados, and Roller Bites.
Nathan’s Famous serving up 5-cent hot dogs
Nathan’s Famous, with more than 200 locations, is celebrating National Hot Dog Day by offering 5-cent hot dogs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. local time at participating restaurants. That 5-cent price tag was the original price of the hot dog when the first restaurant opened in 1916 on Coney Island in New York. There’s a limit of two hot dogs per order.
What are hot dogs actually made of:There can be beef, pork, chicken and … other stuff
Portillo’s free hot dog delivery and Lollapalooza sweepstakes
Portillo’s, famous for its Chicago-style hot dogs, is offering free delivery for orders of $10 or more placed on Portillo’s website through Sunday, July 23rd, and Portillo’s app. (The offer will automatically be applied; not available in The Colony, Texas).
You can also win the chance to visit Chicago to attend Lollapalooza – the grand prize includes two Delta Airlines travel vouchers, Lollapalooza tickets, a $50 Portillo’s card, Portillo’s 60th Anniversary merchandise and more. To enter, post a photo or video of yourself celebrating National Hot Dog Week on Instagram or Twitter using #ChicagoStyleSweeps and tag @PortillosHotDogs. All winners will be announced on Portillo’s social channels on July 25 and contacted via email.
7-Eleven’s big deal on Big Bite hot dogs
Members of the 7Rewards and Speedy Rewards loyalty programs can get a Big Bite Hot Dog for $1 on Wednesday, less than half the regular price. Plus you can add free toppings including chili, melted nacho cheese, pico de gallo and more.
$1.29 Chili Cheese Coney Dogs at Sonic
On Wednesday, Sonic will be selling its Premium Beef Chili Cheese Coney dogs for $1.29 when you order through the Sonic app. The regular price for the all-beef hot dog topped with chili and melted cheddar cheese is usually about $2.90.
While at Sonic, you can also try their new customized remixed summer drinks by adding sugar-free flavors such as cranberry and mango, plus real fruit including cherries and lemons and Nerds candy to lemonades, limeades and other drinks. The fast-food chain has teamed with some musical artists who have shared on social media how they remix their drinks. For instance, country singer Lainey Wilson adds strawberries and sugar-free peach flavor to Sprite Zero. Other artists sharing their remixed Sonic drinks include Metro Boomin, Kelsea Ballerini and JP Saxe.
True Story Foods’ hot dog sweepstakes
San Francisco area-based True Story Foods, which has its products in stores such as Costco, Safeway and Target and ships nationwide from its online shop, is giving anyone who buys some of its organic uncured grass-fed beef hot dogs on TrueStoryFoods.com the chance to win a Backyard BBQ Giveaway. To be eligible, purchase between Wednesday and July 26; you get free shipping, too. The prize package, valued at $400, includes fresh Kurobuta pork, sausages, hot dogs, and a Everdure CUBE portable grill.
Follow Mike Snider on Twitter: @mikesnider.
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