Community Corner

VIDEO: New Meatball King at Fall Fest

Meatball eating contest at Sunday's Long Island Fall Festival goes to gut-busting finale.

Matt Nicholas needed a gut-busting performance Sunday to win the Long Island Fall Festival’s meatball eating contest. 

With a large crowd gathered at Heckscher Park in Huntington, , 24, of Huntington was touted as the clear favorite. And he did not disappoint.

One year after winning by eating nine-and-a-half meatballs in one minute, George managed eight. But so did Nicholas, 21, a student who lives in Hicksville. 

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provided the meatballs. George and Nicholas added the drama. The title of Meatball King would be decided in an eat-off, where 23 competitors were whittled down to just two. 

After a false start, Nicholas and George squared off. First one to eat 10 meatballs won. Nicholas finished the day by downing 25 meatballs in all – cleaning his plate twice – to earn the title.

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No doubt Nicholas enjoyed the thrill of victory followed shortly by the agony of eating one too many meatballs. Mangia!


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