Lincoln, prepare to relish in Oscar Mayer Wienermobile’s delicious presence

Photo courtesy of Oscar Mayer

The iconic Oscar Mayer Wienermobile has rolled its way into Lincoln. Be on the lookout for a chance to catch a glimpse of the vehicle, one of only six in the world. 

The Wienermobile made its first stop at the Gathering Place Soup Kitchen on Tuesday evening. It will be making two more stops while in Lincoln: Screamers Family Restaurant on Thursday, Nov. 14 from 5-8 p.m. and the Lincoln Children’s Museum on Friday, Nov. 15 from 9-11 a.m. You can also catch it in Seward at the Home for the Holidays Craft and Vendor Show on Saturday from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. 

Before Lincoln, the hot dog visited Denver, driven by brand ambassadors, or hotdoggers. The hotdoggers stopping in Lincoln are Maddie Meyers (Mustard Maddie) and Luigino Croce (Pickle Pip). 

“It's all about spreading levity, it’s sparking smiles and spreading joy across the nation. It's creating those “I remember when…’ moments,” Croce said.

All events the Wienermobile hosts are free to attend, encouraging people young and old to experience the sight for themselves. There will be opportunities to take photos, receive Wiener Whistles, hear hot dog puns and even be given a personal hot dog themed name by the hotdoggers. 

“Our whole thing is about making magic and making people smile and it’s really an exciting thing when you get to see the Wienermobile, and people love it across generations,” Meyers said. 

The Wienermobile has an extensive history, with the first hot-dog-on-wheels hitting Chicago pavement in 1936. Over the years, it has disappeared and returned at the demand of its avid fans across the nation. 

“You have people come out that remember seeing it in the 60s when they were a kid, and it's been their dream to always see it again,” Meyers said, “People come up just to give us hugs and start crying because it's such an amazing thing. It is really special. It's amazing to see kids' reactions that have no idea what the Wienermobile is, and they're just like, ‘What is this giant hot dog that is showing up in the middle of the city?’”  

The Wienermobile at 60 hot dogs long, 24 hot dogs high and 140,500 hot dogs in weight (27 feet long and 11 feet high) is certainly a spectacle to behold. 

“It's such a cool thing to experience as a community and as individuals. We also pass out Oscar Mayer memorabilia, spreading smiles and just kind of taking a break from the mundane tasks of every day and having a little fun,” Croce said.

Interacting with the hotdoggers and the Wienermobile is certainly a unique experience to be a part of. The Wienermobile makes visits to a variety of places, including festivals, birthday parties and grocery stores. 

“You can come as you are, no matter where you're coming from, no matter what your day has been like, you can come to the Wienermobile and just have a great time, and be creative, be yourself,” Croce said.

There are always more opportunities to see the Wienermobile, with six hot dogs traveling across the country year-round and arriving in a new city every week. On the Oscar Mayer website, the Wienermobile’s journey can be tracked and fans can invite it to their city.

Published in the Daily Nebraskan, read here.