Santa Cruz Gets Visit From Oscar Mayer Wienermobile This Week

SANTA CRUZ, CA — If you happen to spot a giant hot dog on wheels rolling around Santa Cruz County, don't worry — you're not hallucinating.

Santa Cruzans are slated to get a visit from America's favorite traveling frankfurter Wednesday and Saturday, while South County residents will catch a glimpse of the 27-foot American marvel Thursday, before it heads south to the Monterey Peninsula.

The Wienermobile's mission, Oscar Mayer says, is "to get ... better dogs in every hand."

The original Wienermobile was created in 1936, amid the peak of the Great Depression, according to Oscar Mayer's website. It cruised through parades, grocery store openings and hospitals.

After a nine-year hiatus, the Wienermobile was back in business for a 50th birthday party in 1986. The event was a hit, drawing huge crowds, cards and letters of people eager to see the two-ton wiener.

The people had spoken and their message was clear: It was time to bring back the Wienermobile.

By 1988, six sleek new fiberglass Wienermobiles began touring the nation, decked out with microwaves, refrigerators, cell phones and an audio system made to play 21 versions of Oscar Meyer's "Wiener Jingle," according to its website.

In 2018, the company equipped each car in its fleet with a "Super Hotdogger" — a "jetpack-powered hot dog hero," according to Oscar Mayer.

Over the years, the Wienermobile has been a backdrop of love stories:

Our very own Zach n Cheese just popped the biggest question @YellowstoneNPS and she said yes!! We’re not crying, you are!

If you have something big planned, the @Wienermobile wants to help. Go to https://t.co/1DD0oAxPcO to request our memory on wheels for your big moment. pic.twitter.com/ww8bdjPh9Z
— Oscar Mayer (@oscarmayer) September 9, 2020

It's been a place for family fun:

We love celebrating #FatTuesday with our frank-atics! pic.twitter.com/Rubx94Ek1G
— WIENERMOBILE (@Wienermobile) February 25, 2020

The Wienermobile has even had a laugh at its own expense:

Our Goals 2020 pic.twitter.com/03UBFIVdrJ
— Oscar Mayer (@oscarmayer) May 20, 2020

If you'd like to join in on the Wienermobile fun, here's where you can visit the vehicle as it winds its way across Santa Cruz and Monterey counties:

Wednesday

• 10 a.m. to 1:05 p.m.: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Blood Drive, 400 Beach St., Santa Cruz
• 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Childish Toy Shop, 1127 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz
• 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.: 8500 CA-9, Ben Lomond
• 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.: Senior Women's Softball Practice, 461 Soquel San Jose Road, Soquel
• 7:50 p.m. to 8:20 p.m.: 115 Plum St., Santa Cruz

Thursday

• 9:30 a.m. to noon: Meals on Wheels of the Salinas Valley, 40 Clark St., Salinas
• 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.: California Giant Berry Farms, 75 Sakata Lane, Watsonville
• 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Tritons All-Stars Fundraiser, 1715 Freedom Blvd., Freedom

Friday

• 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.: Monterey Bay Christian Center, 1184 Hilby Ave., Seaside
• 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.: Del Monte Assisted Living & Memory Care, 1229 David Ave., Pacific Grove
• 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Downtown Pacific Grove, Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove

Saturday

• 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.: Salinas Farmers Market, 12 W. Gabilan St., Salinas
• 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.: Castroville BBQ Fundraiser, 11261 Crane St., Castroville
• 3:45 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Liam's Fundraiser, 1459 30th Ave., Santa Cruz
• 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Hotdog Fundraiser for the Aromas Sports Park, 300 Aromas Road, Aromas