It's a Big 'Dill’- It's Almost Picklesburgh!
Written By Kristin Muir
Pickle enthusiasts around the world are getting excited for the return of one of Pittsburgh’s biggest… and quirkiest celebrations, Picklesburgh! The event will be kicking off on Thursday, July 18th with a 35-foot-tall Heinz inflatable pickle strung across the Boulevard of the Allies.
Visitors of this unique festival get to spend their weekend indulging in pickle-themed food, merchandise, contests, and even beer!
Since its creation in 2015, Picklesburgh has swiftly become one of Pittsburgh’s biggest signature events in history, even being voted the “Best Specialty Food Festival” in America by USA Today! With garnering more and more visitors each year, there’s still much to be asked on how this event came to be and what inspired it all.
“[We were] interested in bringing a food festival to Downtown, and Pickles seemed like the perfect candidate given their historical connection with the city through Heinz, their versatility as a food and flavor, and their passionate ‘fanbase’,” says Jack Doughtery, Senior Director of Constituent Services of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, the founders of Picklesburgh. “It was a collective effort to bring the vision to life and calling it ‘Picklesburgh’ made perfect sense!
Although many cannot imagine our city without Picklesburgh, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership didn’t anticipate just how huge this event would be, both in scale and in our hearts.
When asked what he believed to be the cause of Pickleburgh’s huge success, Jack cited the event’s quirky nature and the “plethora of pickle puns” to be the culprit. However, he believes that another key to the event’s success is the support from our downtown community. “Pittsburghers were quick to adopt Picklesburgh as part of the fabric of their community,” Jack expressed.
“My favorite part of Picklesurgh is simply seeing the event grow year over year,” says Jack. In less than a decade, Picklesburgh has grown to attract visitors across the country and worldwide, bringing in thousands of Pickle enthusiasts each year. “Picklesburgh really has become a signature event for the City and we are thrilled to continue to make it an even bigger dill every year.”
And an even bigger dill it is! Picklesburgh is making immense strides to grow even more as a festival. This year, the event has expanded to four days for the first time, kicking off on Thursday, July 18th! Alongside expanding to being a four-day event, Picklesburgh 2024 will feature a brand-new event that compliments its infamous pickle juice drinking contest.
The first ever Olympickle Games will be making its grand debut at this year’s Picklesburgh! Hosted by Rachael and John from the YaJagoff! Podcast, the Games will feature the fan-favorite Pickle Juice Drinking Contest, along with two new events: Pickle Eating and Bobbing for Pickles. The games will kick off Friday in the Market Square, finishing off on Sunday with the championship rounds.
With thousands of Pickle fans coming to the event each year, Picklesburgh may seem jarring for newcomers. We asked Jack if he has any pieces of advice for new attendees, and here’s what he said:
“Between the Olympickle games, great food from local establishments, pickle beer and cocktails, merchandise including pickle balloons, a 35ft inflatable pickle providing the perfect photo op, multiple stages programmed with great local artists, and the ‘Lil Gherkins’ there truly is something for everyone. The event does get busy on weekends, so plan to come early on Thursday or Friday for the shortest lines!” - Jack Doughtery.
So matter if you’re a die-hard Pickle enthusiast, or are looking for a unique way to spend your weekend, you certainly don’t want to miss out on Picklesburgh 2024! For more information on the event, visit downtownpittsburgh.org.
