Oscar Mayer Wienermobile stops in Pittsburgh area
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile is in the 'Burgh this week.
The iconic Wienermobile was scheduled to make three stops in the Pittsburgh area starting Tuesday, handing out swag and giving visitors a peek into the 27-foot-long hot dog on wheels.
The Wienermobile's visit to the Steel City kicked off with an appearance at the BJ's in Bridgeville on Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Up next, it'll go to the BJ's in Ross Township on Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. before wrapping up at the Butler AM Rotary's Carved in Ice event on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Wienermobile is driven by official spokespeople called "hotdoggers." Kraft Heinz, which owns Oscar Mayer, says the hotdoggers drive the giant hot dog an average of 20,000 miles each year, visiting at least 40 cities across the country.
"Everyone turns into a kid when they see the Wienermobile. It brings back so many memories, it's so nostalgic. And then also, we've noticed that a lot of grandparents or parents will teach their kids the jingle on the way to the Wienermobile, so it kind of just brings everyone together," said hotdogger Mary Clare Kammer at the BJ's in Bridgeville on Tuesday.
In 1936, Oscar Mayer's nephew Carl Mayer envisioned a 13-foot metal hot dog on wheels to drive the company spokesperson around. The Wienermobile was discontinued in 1977 but came out of retirement by popular demand in the late 80s and has since evolved.
These days, the Wienermobiles are equipped with V8 engines, backup cameras, 52-inch flat-screen TVs, removable "bun roofs" and hot dog-shaped dashboards.
Oscar Mayer says there are six different hot dogs touring the country at all times. The Weinermobiles' locations and their full schedules of events can be found online.