Pittsburgh-Area Town To Host Inaugural Banana Eating Contest

WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PA — If you're ripe for a unique entertainment option this weekend, consider a trip to Latrobe, where what is believed to be the world's first banana eating contest will take place.

To commemorate its 125th anniversary, the Dole Food Company will host the inaugural I Dole Great American Banana Challenge on Aug. 24 during the Great American Banana Split Celebration occurring Aug. 23-25.

The banana fan who peels and eats the most bananas in 125 seconds will receive the inaugural Dole Banana Challenge Belt designed and produced by Andrew Lazarchik, founder and owner of Wildcat Championship Belts. Wildcat produces the championship belts for the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, the Pepsi/NFL Player of the Week and the WWE.

Why Latrobe?

For the past decade, the Great American Banana Split Celebration honors the 1904 invention of the banana split at Latrobe’s Tassel’s Pharmacy. In 2013, the Pennsylvania Historical Society unveiled a marker at the downtown Latrobe site where it all began.

Dole helped organize the first celebration in conjunction with Aug. 25’s designation as National Banana Split Day. The company sent a team of employees and Bobby Banana, the company’s seven-foot mascot, to the town.