Picklesburgh, America’s #1 Specialty Food Festival, Doubles in Size for 2019

Have you been jonesing for some dill pickle ice cream? Missing those potato and pickle pierogis? Fancy a cocktail crafted from a pickled spirit? Well good news – Picklesburgh, recently voted the #1 Specialty Food Festival in America by readers of USA Today, will return to Downtown Pittsburgh, for three days of pickled products, live music, no-holds-barred contests, demonstrations, and of course, selfie opportunities with the 35-foot inflatable Heinz Pickle balloon. This free event will be held Friday, July 26 through Sunday, July 28, 2019.

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New for 2019, the festival footprint will double in size to better accommodate the large, enthusiastic crowds that come to experience all things pickled. In addition to the Roberto Clemente Bridge, the festival will extend to the riverside lanes of Ft. Duquesne Boulevard between Stanwix and 7th Streets. The festival expansion is intended to allow for larger vendor spaces, easier access to the diverse range of products and many free samples.

“We are looking forward to welcoming Pittsburghers and visitors from far and wide as we transform Downtown Pittsburgh into Picklesburgh,” said Jeremy Waldrup, President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, the organization that produces Picklesburgh. “We have been hard at work on the design of the new festival footprint to ensure the event continues to be a success and an enjoyable experience for all who attend.”

Vendor applications are currently available. Creative, ready-to-eat, pickle menu items are encouraged, along with vendors of a wide variety of pickled and fermented products. Creative pickle-themed merchandise is also encouraged.

Competitive types who are interested in competing in the highly popular, and hotly contested, pickle juice drinking contest should register for PDP’s newsletter at the bottom of this page to be alerted to when registration will open closer to the event. The contest tends to fill quickly with the grand prize winner receiving a $500 grand prize and bragging rights as this year’s Mayor of Picklesburgh, presented by Pittsburgh Pickle Co.

Launched in 2015, Picklesburgh has attracted national and international attention with coverage that has included the Today Show, Good Morning America, Fox News, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Travel+Leisure, and dozens of local TV stations across the country. The State of Pennsylvania featured the event in the 2019 Pennsylvania State Tourism Guide as a signature event for the state. And, it’s even received global attention including 2018 coverage in a UK foodie magazine spotlighting it as one of the most interesting food festivals around the world, just as British Airways has recently begun direct service between Pittsburgh and London.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available, and inquiries can be directed to Russell Howard, VP of Development and Special Events.