The final countdown is on for Picklesburgh, the three-time winner of USA Today’s #1 Specialty Food Festival in America! Not only will this year be even more dill-ightful with a new location bringing more space to enjoy tons of pickled food, beverages and products, but also with a few new and exclusive additions.
⏰ Friday, July 21: Noon – 10 p.m.
⏰ Saturday, July 22: Noon – 10 p.m.
⏰ Sunday, July 23: Noon – 6 p.m.
Here are a few things to expect as we continue to count down the days ⬇️
PRE-PICKLESBURGH
Taste of Picklesburgh
Satisfy your pickled cravings at 17 participating restaurants around Downtown. Now through Thursday, July 20, you can enjoy pickle-themed food and beverages that put a fun twist on the average happy hour. Plus, when you order a pickled item, you can receive a free Heinz Pickle Pin with your purchase (while supplies last). Find the full line up HERE!
Pickles & Giggles Live Comedy Show
Hosted by YaJagoff’s John Chamberlin and Rachael Rennebeck, Pickles and Giggles is once again dill-ivering the funny on the eve of the Picklesburgh festival, Thursday, July 20. Get ready for two of the ‘Burgh’s funniest comics: Collin Chamberlin and Ray Zawodni, both originally from Pittsburgh. What better way to kick off Picklesburgh than to bring two expats back home for a celebration of pickles? Purchase your ticket HERE!
AT PICKLESBURGH
Xmas in July
Chill out in the summer heat with a touch of holiday magic! The three-story-tall giant Heinz Pickle Ornament will provide a centerpiece for a Xmas in July celebration! Get a jump on your holiday plans with discounts and exclusive early access to a wide variety of holiday shows from the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust along with holiday photo ops with the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Parrot and Pierogies, the Pittsburgh Ballet’s Nutcracker and a larger-than-life inflatable Leg Lamp from the Pittsburgh Public Theater’s live edition of A Christmas Story.
And if you crave a taste of the holidays, The Christmas Pickle pop-up bar will be serving up festive cocktails such as the HoliJuly (vodka, pickled cranberry, allspice, lemon, pickled ginger and soda) and the Pickled Hollyburgh (pickled apple, bourbon, lemon and simple syrup), plus tasty treats like Santa’s Walking Tacos and Mrs Claus’ Ham Sliders. And take a bite out of Christmas with Helmut’s Strudel, a true family favorite treat straight out of the annual People’s Gas Holiday Market.
Mancini’s Bakery’s Exclusive ‘PGH Roll’
Mancini’s Bakery is ‘rolling out’ its new PGH Roll—a freshly baked Mancini roll stuffed with Heinz Pickle slices and Islay’s Chipped Ham, topped with shredded mozzarella and provolone. This triple treat will be available during the Festival at Mancini’s booth located in PPG Plaza, or can be delivered warm from Mancini’s ovens in the Strip District during Picklesburgh!
Turner’s Dairy Limited Edition Pickled Iced Tea
New and exclusively for Picklesburgh, Turner’s will be offering a limited-edition Pickled Iced Tea! The ‘Official Iced Tea of Picklesburgh’ is set to become Pittsburgh’s favorite summer refreshment and will be offered as a special edition beverage along with Turner’s other classic iced teas and lemonades at multiple locations around the festival.
Two Stages of Live Music
Picklesburgh will offer two large performance venues at opposite ends of the footprint on the Blvd of the Allies — the Stanwix Street Stage, presented by Jim Shorkey Mitsubishi and the Smithfield Street Stage presented by the Pittsburgh Pirates. The stages will be programmed throughout the festival with a diverse range of genres and local favorites including Sierra Sellers, Nash.V.Ill, Big Blitz, Justin Fabus, Miss Freddye’s Blues Band, Pickup Line, plus up-and-coming headliners from Point Park University’s Pioneer Records. A complete entertainment schedule is now available.
Pickle Juice Drinking Competition
Festival goers will have the chance to cheer on courageous chuggers seeking to take home a $500 grand prize and the title of 2023 ‘Mayor of Picklesburgh’ in the fiercely fought Pickle Juice Drinking Contest, presented by the Pittsburgh Pickle Company and hosted by Pittsburgh’s popular YaJagoff! Podcast and Radio Show. Taking great fortitude, agility and tenacious tastebuds, this Pickle Juice Drinking Contest puts dill-votees of pickle juice in the hotseat for some intense preliminary rounds on Friday and Saturday, culminating in a punishing pickle juice punch-up championship round on Sunday. Registration has now closed, but some limited walk-up opportunities to participate may be available on site.
Lil Gherkins Kidsplay
For some free creative pickle-themed arts & crafts, children will want to stop by the Li’l Gherkins Kidsplay area, presented by Turner’s Dairy, until 7:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and until 6:00 p.m. on Sunday when the festival comes to a close. Kids will be able to create pickle-shaped jewelry and puppets in conjunction with creative staff from Arts Excursions Unlimited.
Parking
No matter where you’re coming from, there are lots of convenient parking options for this year’s Picklesburgh.
NEW THIS YEAR: Advance reservation parking is available through iParkit: Picklesburgh Parking with iParkit. Be sure to select the date and time that suits your plans!
Bargain Parking is available for only $6 after 4 p.m. on Friday and all weekend at the First Ave Garage, which has more than 1,000 spaces and is just a couple of blocks to the Picklesburgh entrance at Smithfield Street. Real-time parking availability around Downtown can be monitored HERE.
Covered bike parking will be available on Fourth Avenue, adjacent to PPG Plaza and visitors can also choose the convenience of public transit – there are multiple lines that get you close to the festival footprint!
Road Closures
Blvd. of the Allies, between Smithfield St and Stanwix St
Tuesday, July 18, 9 AM – Wednesday, July 26, 4 PM
Access to Pgh Parking Authority Garage from Wood St Tues, July 18 – Thurs July 20, 9am, and Monday July 24 7am-Wed July 26, 4pm
Market St. between Third Ave. and Blvd.
Tuesday, July 18, 9 AM – Wednesday, July 26, 4 PM
Market St. between First Ave. and Blvd. – Deliveries and local traffic only
Tuesday, July 17, 9 AM – Wednesday, July 26, 4 PM
Wood St., between First and Third Ave
Thursday, July 20, 9 AM – Monday, July 24, 11:59 PM
Third Ave. between Smithfield Street and Stanwix St – Garage access only
Thursday, July 20, 9 AM – Monday, July 24, 11:59 PM
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