Giant Wieners, Drag Queens, and Curtis Sliwa at “The Most American Pageant Ever!”
On July 22, 2026, Times Square hosted “The Most American Pageant Ever!” organized by artists Jen Catron, Paul Outlaw, and Abby Lloyd. Highlights included a colossal hot dog cannon, with Lloyd impersonating Trump, and contestants like Spike Einbinder and Kiki Ball-Change. A panel of judges featured Curtis Sliwa and Waris Ahluwalia. Noteworthy moments encompassed a comedic kidnapping reenactment and a UPS delivery of controversial documents. Spike Einbinder took home the golden crown and flag cape. The event, coinciding with the nation's 250th anniversary, was a blend of absurdity and critique, embodying the complexities of American identity.
Key facts
- Event took place on July 22, 2026, at 7pm EDT in Times Square, New York.
- Organized by artists Jen Catron, Paul Outlaw, and Abby Lloyd.
- Featured a giant hot dog cannon, a Trump impersonator, and drag queens.
- Judges included Curtis Sliwa, Waris Ahluwalia, Lily Marotta, and Jean Cooney.
- Contestants included Spike Einbinder, Ellery Neon, Kenneth Youngblood, Kiki Ball-Change, Celine Abdallah, Relish the Entertainer, Peter BD, Jordan Cooley, and Claywoman.
- Winner was Spike Einbinder, awarded a golden crown and flag cape.
- Event included reenactments of Curtis Sliwa's 1992 kidnapping and the Butler assassination attempt on Trump.
- Giant hot dog was originally used in 2024 for 'Hot Dog in the City'; this iteration was called 'The Second Serving'.
Entities
Artists
- Jen Catron
- Paul Outlaw
- Abby Lloyd
- Spike Einbinder
- Ellery Neon
- Kenneth Youngblood
- Kiki Ball-Change
- Celine Abdallah
- Relish the Entertainer
- Peter BD
- Jordan Cooley
- Claywoman
- Curtis Sliwa
- Waris Ahluwalia
- Lily Marotta
- Jean Cooney
- Hannah Einbinder
- Laraine Newman
- Donald Trump
- James Baldwin
Institutions
- Hyperallergic
- New York Times
- PBS
- IMDb
- Saturday Night Live
Locations
- Times Square
- New York City
- New York
- United States
- Washington, DC
- Butler
- Mar-a-Lago