"This is an opportunity to share our downtown with our office workers. The office workers are crucial to the success of downtown and we wanted to recognize and celebrate them and this is an opportunity to do that," said Gary Ferguson, Executive Director of the Downtown Ithaca Alliance.

Events like the hot dog eating contest and office Olympics are happening all week on the Ithaca commons, during the lunch hour and workers don't mind getting out of the office for free food and games!

"It's a real break from the normal work day routine and even though we have lunch time you don't usually get to compete in something like this ya know?" said Coralie Gahn, a downtown employee.

Ithaca celebrates downtown employees

Mouse-pad Frisbee games, rubber band shooting and free food. It's all part of Ithaca's first Office Worker Appreciation Week. Downtown employees are encouraged to head out to the Commons during their lunch break and have a little fun. As our Allison Lazarz tells us, the Downtown Ithaca Alliance sponsored the event to thank employees for their work downtown.

For office workers who don't like hot dogs, they can get a cold treat by digging into some free ice cream.

"We've been having fun with this. It's a good idea," said Jessie Micha, a downtown employee.

Organizers say even bosses and managers think this office appreciation week is a good idea.

"I have been getting emails from the heads of businesses saying 'thank you for doing this, our staff morale is like- people are getting really excited they're making T-shirts they're getting out,'" said Vicki Taylor, the special events director for the Downtown Ithaca Alliance.

Free events run throughout the week. You don't have to be a downtown employee to participate, organizers say everyone is welcome.

The winner of the hot dog competition ate six and a half hot dogs in two minutes. His prize was a free one-month gym membership at Finger Lakes Fitness Center and 50 hot dogs from a vendor on the Commons.