Hot dog brand Kayem is commemorating America’s 250th birthday with a new campaign called There When It Mattered Most, developed in partnership with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA). The campaign transforms key historical artworks and figures by inserting hot dogs into pivotal scenes from the nation's founding.

The artwork featuring hot dogs will appear in a one-day exhibition in Boston's Faneuil Hall Marketplace June 4, 2026, before the pieces travel to additional locations in New England throughout June and July. They will also be featured on Kayem social media throughout the summer.

"Kayem is always there for when it matters most. BBQs, family dinners, ballgames, and now America's 250^th birthday," said Matt Monkiewicz, president and CEO of Kayem Foods. "We want to celebrate the moment with an unexpected and fun campaign that highlights our connection to New England and our commitment to the food that makes these moments special. We're thrilled to be partnering with the MFA Boston and inviting people to see these historic works in a new and unique way that honors the hot dog, America's most iconic food."

Following their public debut at Faneuil Hall, select campaign works will be on display at the MFA June 24 to July 24, displayed in the museum's cafeteria. Visitors can see the original artworks in the MFA's newly reopened 18th-century Art of the Americas galleries, which will be unveiled at the Museum's annual Juneteenth event June 19, followed by an America at 250 Open House June 20. Both events will be free for Massachusetts residents.

"This collaboration with Kayem offers a fun and timely entry point into American history," said Nonie Gadsden, Katharine Lane Weems senior curator of American decorative arts at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. "We're excited to invite audiences to engage with both playful interpretations and the real stories and works that define our shared past."

Hot dog history hits the road

Additional viewing opportunities of select works will be available across New England throughout the summer:

• Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport, June 15–21
• Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, June 24–July 24
• Cisco Brewers – Boston Seaport, June 22–24
• Boston Red Sox – Fenway Park, Gate A, June 25–26
• American Independence Museum, Exeter, N.H., July 11–19
• Narragansett Brewing Taproom, July 15–19

In addition to the campaign, Kayem continues to celebrate America's 250th with commemorative 250th packaging on their boxes as well as the launch of a limited-edition Cannon Fire Hot Dog, a smoky, spicy take on a classic created for America's 250th, available at retailers across New England for $2.50 per four-pack.

Source: Kayem Foods