The Wienermobile’s Anticipated Visit to Kane County Fair

The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile is set to visit the 157th Kane County Fair in St. Charles. It will be on display from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 18. Pat Szpekowski, a spokesperson for the fair, expressed excitement, noting that organizers have been working for a decade to bring the Wienermobile to the event.

The drivers of the sausage-shaped vehicle, known as “hotdoggers,” are recent college graduates Maile Carballo and Lindsey Kulesza. “We’re part of a coast-to-coast wienie roast,” Carballo shared. Though they won’t be grilling hot dogs, they plan to set up a tent offering hot dog-themed games, free stickers, and Oscar Mayer Wiener Whistles. These whistles, dating back to 1952, are only available in person at a Wienermobile.

Carballo and Kulesza noted the Wienermobile’s long history. The first hit the road 90 years ago. Today, six 27-foot-long vehicles travel the country, each operated by a crew of two. Car and Driver reports that Oscar Mayer receives over 5,000 applications annually from would-be hotdoggers. “My mom talked about the Wienermobile like it was a mythical creature,” Carballo said, recalling her Texas upbringing.

The pair met during the interview process at Oscar Mayer’s Research and Development Center in Glenview. Carballo, an advertising and entrepreneurship graduate from the University of Texas at Austin, heard about the job and applied online. Kulesza, a journalism graduate from the University of Missouri, learned about the position from college friends and interviewed during campus recruitment.

They trained at Oscar Mayer’s “Hot Dog High” in Madison, Wisconsin, with 10 other recruits. Their journey included a visit to Kulesza’s parents’ home in Des Plaines during Father’s Day and participating in Martinsville, Indiana’s Independence Day parade.

The Kane County Fair will be their second fair, following Marion County, Indiana. Kulesza said driving the Wienermobile is akin to handling a large SUV or small bus. She has gained respect for truck drivers, especially when merging onto interstates. People often honk, expressing joy at seeing the Wienermobile.

Regarding their hot dog preferences, Carballo described herself as adventurous, enjoying bacon-wrapped Sonoran dogs at Texas Longhorn football tailgates and hot dogs from Austin pop-ups like Grandpa’s Glizzys and Zee’s Wiener System. “I’ve also learned to enjoy Chicago-style dogs,” Carballo said. Kulesza has embraced Chicago’s hot dogs, which typically exclude ketchup.

Beyond the Wienermobile, the Kane County Fair will offer a rodeo, demolition derby, bands, a carnival, 4-H competitions, a car show, and various food and drink options. The fair will run from July 15-19 at the fairgrounds on Randall Road and Oak Street. More details, including admission prices and event schedules, can be found at www.kanecountyfair.com.

Mike Danahey, a freelance journalist, contributed to The (Elgin) Courier-News.