Competitive Eating Legend Joey Chestnut Eyes New Memorial Day Record, But It's Not Hot Dogs
By Kelly Coffey-Behrens on May 5, 2025 at 8:15 PM EDT
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.
Joey Chestnut To Attempt Wild Popcorn World Record At Rural King
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.
Chestnut Sets Sights On Popcorn Glory
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.
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.
After Nathan’s Hot Dog Ban, Joey Chestnut Pops Back With New Record Attempt
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.
His upcoming event comes nearly one year after his dramatic fallout with Major League Eating (MLE) that saw him banned from the 2024 Nathan’s Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest.
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.
Chestnut Calls Nathan’s Snub 'Disappointing'
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.
Joey Chestnut To Crunch Records And Crush Kernels
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.
