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NILES -- Summer is near, and preparations are underway for a Niles tradition -- the fifth annual Harry Stevens Hot Dog Day set for July 2 in downtown.
To raise money for the festival, The Avenue and Main will present its fifth Wine and Cheese Please 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Ciminero's Banquet Centre, 134 N. Main St.
The biggest money-maker for Hot Dog Day, the fundraiser allows guests to sample wine, cheese and hors d'oeuvres while supporting a community tradition.
The annual festival coincides with the city's Fourth of July parade, and festivities include the Little Miss, Junior Miss and Miss Niles pageants as well as a hot dog eating contest, cornhole tournament and wiener dog races.
Debbie Barber of the The Avenue and Main Board of Directors said the goal each year is to bring a day filled with family activities to downtown Niles as well as celebrate inventor and businessman Harry Stevens.
Stevens was a Niles resident in the early 20th century who was credited with inventing the hot dog, baseball scorecard and, according to several sources, the drinking straw.
Born in Derby, England, in 1856, Stevens emigrated to Niles in 1882. His family lived at a large home at the corner of Crandon and Robbins avenues, which still stands today, and Stevens was buried in the Niles City Cemetery, where his gravesite is visited by local historians and guided tours.
According to various accounts, when it was cold at baseball games, Stevens sold hot dogs before being dubbed the "Columbus of the frankfurter" for his concoctions.
While working the concession stands, Stevens originally called the sandwich "dachshund sausages" before introducing the hot dog as a staple of ballpark fare.
Each summer, thousands of people crowd downtown Niles to celebrate the "hot dog king," and the city Stevens once called home has not forgotten his legacy -- remembering the prominent baseball concessionaire and his widely respected products with a festival in his honor.
Harry Stevens Hot Dog Day was at one time annually celebrated in Niles, but the festival was discontinued for decades. After extensive research, the organizing committee members decided it was time to bring the beloved festival back and renew its tradition.
In 2013, the festival was resurrected thanks to the efforts of local volunteers, businesses, community members and the Avenue and Main nonprofit organization.
Event organizers said after its return, Hot Dog Day was popular and well-attended by local residents and visitors to Niles.
Barber said to organize a festival takes months of planning, and The Avenue and Main garners funds through its Wine and Cheese Please event, the group's only fundraiser, with the hope of lining the city's streets with popular activities that keep people coming back.
She said last year's wine tasting was attended by about 270 people and there's something for everyone.
"It's a wonderful evening for the price. There's entertainment, and for those who don't drink wine, there's beer," she said.
Barber said The Avenue and Main doesn't solely celebrate Hot Dog Day to remember Stevens' life and legacy but because the event provides the community with a family day.
"It's a beautiful thing, and families come and spend the whole day in downtown," she said, adding that it brings attention to local businesses. "We have a great bunch of businesses, that's for sure."
This year, the plan is to expand the festival and add more kid-friendly activities, Barber said. She said the organization is working to bring more family events to Niles and enhance businesses. One idea was adding a rental location to offer canoeing or kayaking on the river.
She said the organization hopes to continue providing family-friendly events and can do so because of support from the community.
Wine and Cheese Please will include a basket raffle and 50 / 50 drawing. Tickets are $35 per person, $60 for a couple and $240 for a table of eight. Tickets will not be sold at the door.
To purchase tickets, contact Barber at 330-720-1297 as soon as possible.
Barber said the Avenue and Main is still in the early stages of planning this year's festival, but individuals looking to volunteer and businesses wishing to get involved can do so by contacting her.
For more information about The Avenue and Main, Harry Stevens Hot Dog Day or the fundraiser, visit www.theavenueandmain.org.