Wienermobile makes stop in Nederland; plans for more stops in area
Published 6:19 pm Thursday, May 3, 2018
- Dianna Cox of Port Arthur, left, shows her 1997 wiener whistle to “Hot Dogger” Jackie Cortè during a visit by the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile outside Nederland Market Basket on Thursday. The Wienermobile is touring the area through Sunday. Mary Meaux/The News
NEDERLAND — There’s just something about the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile that draws a crowd. What it is, it’s not easy to pinpoint.
“No idea,” Diana Cox of Port Arthur said when asked about the draw to the iconic hot dog-shaped vehicle.
Cox brought along an original wiener whistle she got in 1997 during a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans. She said her friends would get so annoyed at her because she would blow the whistle all the time.
Lauren Cook brought along Jason Cook, 3, to see the Wienermobile and take some photos.
“It’s silly but I love it,” she said when asked the same question.
Heather Dorè reacts to the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile outside Nederland Market Basket on Thursday.
Mary Meaux/The NewsHeather Dorè got photos and a peek inside the brightly colored vehicle.
“This is really neat. I keep thinking of the commercials. We’ve been singing it,” Dorè said.
Two official Oscar Mayer ‘hotdoggers’ — “Pepper” Jackie Cortè and “Chedder Cheese” Elise Johnson — greeted fans with stickers, coupons, a wiener whistle and plenty of trivia and information about the Wienermobile. Johnson, a Beaumont native, said the hotdoggers travel across the country and work about 340 days a year.
Fans line up to get a peek at the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile outside Nederland Market Basket on Thursday.
Mary Meaux/The News
She gave a big smile she said she’s gotten used to people’s reactions to seeing the Wienermobile in traffic.
“Our life’s one big parade,” Johnson said while describing how people will take photos, some even hanging out their sunroofs to do it.
Crowds line up to get a look at the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile outside Nederland Market Basket on Thursday.
Mary Meaux/The News
The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile has been around in some shape of form since 1936. There are currently six active Wienermobiles touring the country.
The 27-foot-long yellow and orange vehicle brings back childhood memories and smiles to many.
Carolynn Jordan and Davon Como brought their son Avion, 3, to see the Wienermobile. The toddler played with his new wiener whistle, then stood for photos.
“I love it. It’s awesome,” Carolynn Jordan said. “It makes you smile, like it’s intended to do.”
If you didn’t get a chance to see it, here’s the schedule:
- Friday — Market Basket, 5960 Highway 105, Beaumont, noon to 5 p.m.
- Saturday — Market Basket, 800 N. Main, Vidor, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Sunday — Market Basket, 3955 Phelan Blvd., Beaumont, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
