Relish in Pittsburgh’s Annual Picklesburgh Festival

By Layla Joseph

The returning festival packed with dill and sweet pickle enthusiasts has a new location for this year's event.

From July 21 to July 23, people will be celebrating Picklesburgh on Boulevard of the Allies between Stanwix Street and Smithfield Street.

To avoid getting in a pickle when parking, visitors are recommended to utilize ParkPGH.org to see the availability of spots in parking garages Downtown.

The #1 Speciality Food Festival in the US according to USA Today is free to attend and no tickets or registration are necessary to participate.

The festival will run from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday and is sponsored by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.

Free wristbands will be presented to those over 21-years-old with forms of valid ID for adults who plan to indulge in beer and specialty cocktails.

Cocktails will be served after 4:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and all day Sunday.

The block of Boulevard of the Allies will host over 50 vendors throughout the weekend, consisting of pickle themed food and drink, accessories, clothes, candles and more.

Among the vendors are face painting funnel cakes, popcorn, cotton candy and ice cream to satisfy any pickle cravings.

Try an alcoholic pickle slushie from Country Hammer Moonshine to recharge your electrolytes and refresh while enjoying getting a buzz, or Visit Pittsburgh Mobile Bars for cocktails and mocktails and a thirst-quenching dill pickle lemonade.

Pittsburgh Pottery will be hosting a table that includes novelty pickle and Pittsburgh items that make for great city souvenirs.

In addition to pickle themed food, drink and merchandise, Picklesburgh tourists should expect live music throughout the weekend and a shaded area dedicated to activities for kids.

A pickle juice drinking contest will appoint 2023’s Mayor of Picklesburgh. 100 people will compete across ten preliminary rounds to qualify for the Sunday championship.

All candidates will be given one quart of pickle juice and the participant who can drink that fastest will be crowned the new Mayor of Picklesburgh and get a cash prize.

Last year’s mayor was a Wisconsin native who won the championship round by slugging back the quart in about four seconds.

Picklesburgh tourists who think they have what it takes must be over 18-years-old, sign a waiver of liability and register online.