World's Top Pro Eaters Coming for Peeps Championship

By MARY ANN BARTON (Patch Staff)

OXON HILL, MD — You've heard of eating contests involving pies, hot dogs, steaks...what about Peeps? Those little marshmallow treats shaped like cute little chicks and bunnies?

Some of the nation's top "professional eaters" -- including a competitor from Germantown -- will converge on National Harbor next month to do their best to stuff their faces with as many of the spongy treats as possible. (We're not quite sure what the neon-colored sweets are made of -- the company says they're a mixture of marshmallow, sugar, corn syrup, gelatin, and a few other "special ingredients.")

The mega-chowdown will take place in front of a Peeps & Company store at National Harbor, on "Peeps Day," with the highlight event being the National Harbor World Peeps Eating Championship on Saturday, April 2.

The professional eaters will begin their major munching starting at 1 p.m. on the waterfront at National Harbor (157 National Plaza, National Harbor, Md.)

“I am delighted to be part of this exciting competition,” said Sam Barclay with Major League Eating, the organization that tracks and ranks the eaters, in a news release about the event. “It is unusual for any eating contest to attract four of the top 10 eaters as this one has,” explained Barclay, who will also emcee the competition.

Unfortunately, we hear that Alexandria resident Sonya Thomas, aka the "Black Widow" who holds 39 world records in competitive eating, won't be participating, but here's a list of some of the top eaters who will be devouring the chicks and bunnies come April 2:

• Matt Stonie (ranked #1) from San Jose, Calif.
• Michelle Lesco (ranked #7) from Tucson, Ariz.
• Juliet Lee (ranked #8) from Germantown, Md.
• Geoffrey Esper (ranked #10) from Oxford, Mass.

Other "professional eaters" participating include Yasir Salem (ranked #11) from New York; Gideon Oji (ranked #12) from Nigeria; "Crazy Legs" Conti (ranked #21) from New York; and "Wild Bill" Myers (ranked #31) from Allentown, PA.

Peeps Day will include a variety of activities, along with contests and prizes, organizers said. There will be music throughout the afternoon, with visits by Peeps characters and a kid’s “Dance Like a Peep” contest at 12:30 p.m. Some of National Harbor’s restaurants will also participate with Peeps drinks and desserts.

Be sure to take advantage of this Capital Wheel deal on Peeps Day: Adult tickets are $15, plus tax ($13.50, plus tax for seniors). Children 12 and under will be able to ride the giant Ferris wheel for free on April 2 when accompanied by an adult with a paid ticket ($11.25 value).

PHOTO of Peeps courtesy of company