Locals sang “Oh I wish I were an Oscar-Mayer wiener” once again recently.

The famous Oscar Mayer Wienermobile rolled into Iowa City on Oct. 28 and Sunday, stopping at the Iowa City Public Library and parking right on the Ped Mall. The Wienermobile is one of six across the country, and the fleet has been roaming roads across the country since 1936.

The pit stop began with an appearance Oct. 28 for Preschool Story Time with staff from the mobile hot dog reading stories about the cooked sausage to children and parents.

Kara Logsden, the community and access coordinator for the Iowa City Public Library, said staff from the Wienermobile reached out to the library originally to schedule programs in Iowa City. Logsden planned for the staff to take part in a program called “Sit, Stay, Read,” which lets children read to dogs — as in the animal.

“We thought it would be nice to draw attention to reading and the importance of it,” Logsden said.

Shesaid the five-day visit cost the library no money and library staff had positive views towards bringing it there.

“It’s an iconic part of Americana, and we thought it would be fun to bring it here to draw attention to reading,” Logsden said.

Ilana Ruben, the “hotdogger” staff member for the Wienermobile, said she and one other teammate made up the Midwest region’s team.

Ruben said a coordinator for the company does all the scheduling and this week happened to be Iowa City’s turn. The Wienermobile hosted events in both Iowa City and North Liberty.

To the disappointment of many, Ruben said the Wienermobile does not actually serve as a vending truck.

“We don’t sell hot dogs, but we do serve out wiener whistles, which last a lot longer than hot dogs,” Ruben said.

Among the dozens of children and parents who turned out for the event, one protester stood in solitude.

Lynn Gallagher, a local resident, said she was protesting the Wienermobile’s appearance because it let a corporation promote an unhealthy product to children.

“If people knew how hot dogs were made, I don’t think anybody would eat them,” Gallagher said. “I don’t think they [the library] should let them come market their product to children in the Iowa City library.”

Gallagher held signs picturing animals used for hot dogs and handed out fliers and pamphlets describing inhumane animal treatment used in the production of processed meats, such as those that go into hot dogs.

Gallagher said she thought the library made a mistake in allowing the Wienermobile to come to Iowa City.

“I think it was a poor decision on their [the library’s] part,” Gallagher said. “I love the library. They do so many good things. I just don’t agree with this.”

Apart from the protester, the majority of passersby smiled and posed for pictures with the 27-foot-long mobile meat.

Ruben said the visit was simply part of the cross-country canvass to give everyone a chance to see the vehicle.

“It’s an American icon. It’s been around for 79 years,” Ruben said. “We want to be able to spread “miles of smiles,” as we call it, and give everyone a chance to see this iconic vehicle.”