Oscar Mayer Wienermobile at Kane County Fair

The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile will make a special appearance at the Kane County Fair in St. Charles on Saturday, July 18, from noon to 6 p.m. This event marks a significant milestone, as the fair organizers, led by spokesperson Pat Szpekowski, have pursued this visit for about a decade. Attendees will get to meet Maile Carballo and Lindsey Kulesza, the ‘hotdoggers’ behind the wheel of the famous vehicle.

Both Carballo and Kulesza are recent college graduates embarking on a unique journey with the Wienermobile as part of a nationwide tour they describe as a ‘wienie roast.’ Although they won’t be serving hot dogs, they plan to engage fair visitors with hot dog games and distribute classic Oscar Mayer Wiener Whistles, which have been a favorite since 1952 and can only be obtained by visiting a Wienermobile.

The Wienermobile has been a fixture on American roads for nearly 90 years. Presently, six of these iconic 27-foot vehicles travel across the country, each operated by a duo. Oscar Mayer receives more than 5,000 applications annually from eager individuals looking to become hotdoggers.

Carballo, a Texas native, confessed she never saw the Wienermobile growing up, but her mother spoke of it as a ‘mythical creature.’ She and Kulesza will bring the vehicle to the fair in St. Charles. Carballo, who studied advertising and entrepreneurship at the University of Texas at Austin, decided to apply for this unique role and qualify through virtual and in-person interviews.

Meanwhile, Kulesza, who graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in journalism, learned about the opportunity through campus recruitment and friends who previously worked as hotdoggers. Upon meeting in Glenview, the pair formed a bond that led to them being paired for the Wienermobile tours.

After two weeks of training at Oscar Mayer’s ‘Hot Dog High’ in Madison, Wisconsin, they are now traversing the Midwest. Their adventures include visiting Kulesza’s family in Des Plaines on Father’s Day weekend and participating in the Independence Day parade in Martinsville, Indiana.

The Wienermobile’s visit to the Kane County Fair follows its appearance at the Marion County fair in Indiana. Kulesza noted that driving the Wienermobile is akin to handling a large SUV or small bus, teaching them respect for truck drivers and often garnering cheerful honks from other drivers.

Carballo and Kulesza’s culinary preferences lean towards diverse hot dog styles. Carballo enjoys bacon-wrapped Sonoran dogs at football tailgates and the offerings from Austin pop-ups like Grandpa’s Glizzys and Zee’s Wiener System. She also appreciates Chicago-style hot dogs, which Kulesza has grown to embrace despite initially being unfamiliar with the ketchup-free local favorite.

Besides the Wienermobile, the Kane County Fair hosts a variety of attractions, including a rodeo, demolition derby, carnival, live bands, a car show, 4-H animals and competitions, as well as food and drinks. The fair runs from July 15-19 at the fairgrounds located at Randall Road and Oak Street in St. Charles. Interested individuals can find more details, admission fees, and event schedules at www.kanecountyfair.com.