Relish classic American icons at the 2020 Cherry Blossom Festival

Ketchup with the iconic Oscar Mayer Wienermobile

Brookhaven, GA, March 6, 2020 -- From rumble seats to running boards, roll up windows to tail fins, auto enthusiasts of all ages will have access to a nostalgic classic car smorgasbord at this year’s Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival. The popular event returns on Saturday, March 28 from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. at Blackburn Park, 3493 Ashford Dunwoody Road with a special added attraction this year --- the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.

For the fifth consecutive year, plenty of brass, white walls and recollections of a “simpler time” will be in store as vintage car club members throughout the Southeast roll into Brookhaven. Remaining true to form, all tastes and interests will be treated to a visual history of the automobile spanning nearly a century, from Model A cars to the more modern exotic cars of today such as BMW and Ferrari.

Greg Barner, Bubbling Creek Company, and Faron Stephens of Steve Stephens Insurance Agency, Inc., are sponsors for the show. Barner, himself a classic car enthusiast, is president of the Early Ford V-8 Club, for those interested in restoring flat head Fords from 1932-53.

The iconic Wienermobile is an automobile shaped like a hot dog on a bun used to promoted Oscar Mayer products throughout the U.S. The first version was created in 1936 and the model coming to Brookhaven is one of six full-sized models that travel the country. The Wienermobiles are part of a fleet that also includes the WienerCycle, WienerRover and WienerDrone and WienerMini.

The 23-foot-long fiberglass Wienermobile is fully equipped with a microwave oven, refrigerator, cell phones, and a stereo system that plays 21 different versions of the

iconic Oscar Mayer wiener jingle from Cajun to rap to Bossa Nova. College seniors are recruited each year as official drivers of the unique auto and are commonly known as Hotdoggers. They travel all over America to stores, schools, orphanages, and children's hospitals and participate in parades and festivals.

Approximately 50 cars are expected at this year’s festival and Barner and Stephens strive to bring a variety of cars models to the annual exhibition. “In some ways, car restoration is a dying hobby, especially with the pre-WWII models,” notes Barner. “Today, collectors want to drive cars that are fast, more modern and air-conditioned, especially in the South. So, we take a bit more effort to bring a wide variety of cars to keep people interested. We don’t put a lot of emphasis on judging and awards, because we just want people to come and enjoy the show and let the focus be on the car owners.”

Trophies are presented at the festival for Best of Show in addition to first, second and third place, based on votes of visitors. One thing the car show organizers do that sets them apart from other shows is to take photos of every car on display and present the photo to each exhibitor as a way of saying “thank you” for bringing their car to the festival.

“The classic car show is one of my favorite activities at the Cherry Blossom Festival,” says Brookhaven Mayor John Ernst. “The cars at the show give a good cross section of models that appeal to all ages who are drawn to these connections to our past. It’s even more fun to see the reaction of today’s kids, who know nothing about ‘roll up windows,’ vent windows, wood-grain side paneling or radio antennae.”

Be sure to stop buy and take a joy ride down memory lane … no license required.

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