Oscar Mayer Wienermobile to Visit Kane County Fair

The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile will make a special stop at the 157th Kane County Fair in St. Charles. This iconic vehicle will be at the fairgrounds from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 18. Fair spokesperson Pat Szpekowski expressed excitement about the Wienermobile’s visit, noting that organizers have been working towards this visit for about ten years.

Driving the Wienermobile are Maile Carballo and Lindsey Kulesza, recent college graduates known as “hotdoggers.” Carballo commented they are part of a broad coast-to-coast tour. Although they won’t be cooking hot dogs, they will offer hot dog-themed games, free stickers, and the famed Oscar Mayer Wiener Whistles. These whistles, first made in 1952, are exclusive to Wienermobile visits.

Carballo noted the Wienermobile’s long history, with the first model hitting the road 90 years ago. Today, six of these 27-foot creations travel across the country. Each is operated by a two-person team, and Oscar Mayer receives over 5,000 applications annually from aspiring hotdoggers.

Carballo grew up in Texas but never saw the Wienermobile in person until her current role. Remembering her mother’s stories about it, Carballo described the vehicle as a “mythical creature.” After completing her studies at the University of Texas at Austin, Carballo applied online and underwent both virtual and in-person interviews at Oscar Mayer’s Research and Development Center in Glenview, Illinois.

Kulesza, a University of Missouri journalism graduate, applied for the hotdogger role after hearing about it through friends at her university, which Oscar Mayer actively recruits from. After successfully completing interviews on campus as well as at Glenview, she was paired with Carballo by Oscar Mayer.

Both received training at Oscar Mayer’s “Hot Dog High” in Madison, Wisconsin. Since June, they have been traveling the Midwest, making memorable stops like the Independence Day parade in Martinsville, Indiana, and a visit to Kulesza’s parents in Des Plaines.

The Kane County Fair is the second fair they visited, following one in Marion County, Indiana. Kulesza remarked that driving the Wienermobile feels like handling a large SUV or small bus, and she gained more respect for truck drivers due to the challenges of merging onto highways.

Regarding personal hot dog preferences, Carballo enjoys adventurous options like bacon-wrapped Sonoran dogs at football tailgates and varied toppings from Austin’s Grandpa’s Glizzys. She also appreciates Chicago-style hot dogs. Kulesza initially didn’t favor Chicago-style dogs but has grown fond of their no-ketchup approach.

In addition to the Wienermobile, the Kane County Fair will feature a rodeo, demolition derby, live bands, carnival attractions, 4-H animal displays, a car show, and a variety of food and beverages. The event runs from July 15-19 at the fairgrounds off Randall Road and Oak Street. Further details, including admission prices, are available at www.kanecountyfair.com.

Reporter Mike Danahey contributed to this article for The (Elgin) Courier-News.