If you thought Memorial Day weekend in the Wabash Valley was just about backyard barbecues and racing, think again. The ultimate king of competitive eating is returning to Vigo County, and he’s bringing a serious appetite.
On Monday, May 25, 2026, legendary competitive eater Joey Chestnut will headline a massive community festival at the Rural King on South U.S. Highway 41 in Terre Haute. Here is everything you need to know about the event this holiday weekend.
The Record He’s Chasing: 42 Bags and Counting
If you think popcorn is a light, airy snack, try eating it by the mountain. Popcorn is a unique beast in competitive eating—it lacks the heavy caloric density of hot dogs or wings, meaning the true bottlenecks are speed, chewing mechanics, and insane jaw endurance.
Terre Haute holds a special place in Chestnut’s record-setting career. During his Memorial Day appearance at this exact same Rural King parking lot last year, Chestnut completely shattered his own previous world record.
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The Old Record: 32 servings of 24-ounce popcorn in 8 minutes.
The Current Record (Set in Terre Haute, 2025): An unbelievable 42 servings in 8 minutes.
When Chestnut steps up to the table at 11:00 AM, he will once again be competing against his own shadow, trying to find a way to eclipse that mind-boggling 42-bag mark.
Rural King’s Bigger Play: The National Popcorn Challenge
Rural King is leveraging Terre Haute as the official launchpad for a multi-state "Popcorn Challenge" qualifier series.