Pittsburgh’s iconic “Picklesburgh” festival returns this weekend, this time with an expanded city footprint and two different massive inflatable pickles.
Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, which runs the event alongside Kraft Heinz, revealed in a news release that the festival — it takes place on Friday and Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m. — will move from its former home on the Rachel Carson Bridge to the Boulevard of the Allies, Downtown.
This was a change made necessary by the 60% increase in attendance the festival saw in 2022, and it comes with a new 35-foot inflatable “World’s Largest Pickle Ornament” (to join the returning Heinz Pickle Ballon, of course). A host of holiday-themed shows, decorations and cocktails will round out the event’s new Xmas in July component.
The Xmas in July stage on Smithfield Street is a collaboration between the festival and the Pittsburgh Pirates, and it will feature special guest appearances ranging from Santa to the Pirate Parrot. Festive live music, Christmas pickle treats, and a pop-up bar with themed cocktails such as the HoliJuly and the Pickled Hollyburgh (for those who like a briney component to their seasonal beverages) also will be part of the celebration.
As always, the event will showcase a wide variety of food and drink options that incorporate pickles — from the more standard sandwich and salad offerings to pickle iced tea from Turner’s Dairy, and a twist on a yinzer classic: pickle-stuffed pierogis.
One planned specialty is the PGH Roll from Mancini’s Bakery, filled with cheese, chipped ham and, of course, pickle slices.
In honor of the festival, Primanti Bros. and the East End Brewing Co. are once again joining together to rerelease their Almost Famous Pickle Beer. East End Brewing founder Scott Smith noted in a statement that the beverage will have “some new tweaks to the recipe” this year, including red pepper. It will be available exclusively at the partners’ locations for a limited time beginning Friday and often sells out within 48 hours of its release.
Among the festivities planned for the weekend is one for only the boldest of brine lovers: the annual Pickle Juice Drinking Contest, where $500 and the Mayor of Picklesburgh title are on the line. The fierce competition where speed is of the essence will feature both preliminary and final rounds. While preregistration is closed, some sign-up spots will be available in person.
While Picklesburgh itself originated in 2015, Pittsburgh’s history with the Heinz company — and with it, all things pickled — dates back to the mid-19th century, when the company’s founder began to sell pickles, sauerkraut and horseradish in the city. Even after last July, which saw the Steelers’ stadium change its name from Heinz to Acrisure, Picklesburgh points to the company’s continued relevance in the city.
In the past, Picklesburgh has been a boon to local businesses. Vendors at the festival and nearby Downtown businesses alike told WTAE last year that the 2022 festival brought an economic boost to the area, with a whole new crowd experiencing Pittsburgh from a pickle lover’s perspective. In fact, the festival won the USA Today reader’s choice title for the Best Speciality Food Festival this year — the third time it has achieved this honor.
“Picklesburgh brings tens of thousands to Downtown every year, and those numbers are steadily growing,” said Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, in the news release. “With the new location and footprint, we want to ensure we continue to DILL-iver the best Picklesburgh experience.”
Delaney, a rising senior at the University of Pennsylvania, is a Union Progress summer intern. Reach her at dparks@unionprogress.com.