PREVIEW

New York City's Times Square is known for its unusual sights and characters, but a new addition has everyone puzzled.

Visitors to Times Square in recent days have encountered a colossal 65-foot-long hot dog sculpture. The giant hot dog, complete with a massive bun and mustard drizzle, isn't just strange in size - it also rises into the air daily at noon and releases confetti.

Titled "Hot Dog in the City," the eye-catching installation is the work of Brooklyn-based artists Jen Catron and Paul Outlaw, commissioned by Times Square Arts.

According to an official press release, the sculpture aims to "paint a unique portrait of America." The artists hope it will spark conversations about "the patriarchy of meat-eating," the realities of U.S. meat production, street vending politics, capitalism, immigration, and more.

To complement the hot dog's debut, a series of public programs will run through June 13. These include a "hot dog wrestling match," condiment debates, an unusual beauty pageant featuring dogs, and a qualifier for Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest, among other events.