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National Geographic
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- National Geographic
Inside Pittsburgh's iconic pickle festival
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Ten glass jars of briny pickle juice are lined up on tables swathed in neon green and yellow cloths. Each is filled to the brim with just under a litre of the acidic liquid, and behind them there's a row of competitors gearing up to chug the contents. While many seem confident, playing up to the crowd with frenetic waving, others shift on the spot, eyeing the jars nervously while contemplating their decision to participate in this curious event. After a run through of the rules — no hands off the jar until you're finished, and no excessive spillage — the participants inch closer to the table and unscrew the jars' lids, liberating the sour scent. 'Three, two, one, go!' a voice screeches over a microphone, and in swift synchronicity, the contestants knock their heads back and bring the jars up to their gaping mouths. Clapping rips through the crowd, each spectator looking on in awe, disbelief or disgust. Within eight seconds, an emptied jar is slammed back onto the table, the pale-faced victor spitting into his waste bag before raising his arms in triumph. This curious ritual is one of three 'dill-cathalon' games — the others being pickle bobbing and pickle eating — that encapsulate the chaotic and competitive spirit of Picklesburgh, an annual festival which transforms Downtown Pittsburgh into a three-day celebration of all things pickle, gherkins and dill. Pickle-reletated memorabilia is in hot demand at Picklesburgh. Photograph by Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership Founded in 2015 by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, a non-profit organisation developing community initiatives in the area, the event was created to recognise the city's connection to the humble pickle, from its origins as the birthplace of Heinz (which first bottled pickled condiments in Sharpsburg, just across the Allegheny River from Pittsburgh, before creating its iconic ketchup) to more multicultural iterations of the delicacy found in the city today. 'There wasn't much on here in the summer months and we wanted to change that,' explains Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of the partnership. Its debut saw 20,000 pickle fanatics descend on the city. This year — the festival's 10th anniversary — saw 200,000 attendees peruse almost 60 stalls stretching from PPG Plaza to Market Square and continuing across two of the city's Three Sisters bridges. 'It's taken on a life of its own. We see this as much more than a street festival — it's a uniquely Pittsburgh celebration we're proud to be stewards of.' My exploration of pickled goods begins at the Roberto Clemente Bridge, where I notice a giant inflatable pickle floating in the sky before I stop at Pittsburgh Mobile Bars to try some pickled pink lemonade. Visually, it's got a signature rosy-coloured tint, but a sip quickly reveals a sharp tang slicing through the sherbet. It's zingy with a strong taste of dill, yet somehow not overpowering. 'Every year, the pickled pink lemonade seems to be very popular,' says team member Heather Luimes, who mentions that the bar also serves an alcoholic version made with vodka later in the day. Any initial reservations I might've had subside; it's the perfect cooler on a hot July afternoon. Next, The Brinery at Two Acre Farm offers sliced pickles stuffed into a cup of juice infused with maple, bourbon and peach, while Burgatory serves up pickled smash burgers with layers of gooey cheese, crispy bacon and chunky tomato slices. One of the longest lines is for Giovanni's on Sixth Street, where large slices of pizza topped with pickles, bacon and onion are being churned out to meet relentless demand. I make my way to Andy Warhol Bridge and stop at the Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop stand. 'We're Pittsburgh born and Pittsburgh proud, so it [Picklesburgh] is somewhere we have to be,' says Kate Speer, Grandpa Joe's VP of marketing and brand development. Treats on offer include the company's bestselling pickle saltwater taffy. At first, the pale-green candy's flavour is gentle, but the dill quickly gains momentum as the stretchy remnants stick to the roof of my mouth. Another sweet treat gaining traction is Redbeard's pickle mango sorbet, which has liquidised in the heat. The sorbet, now resembling a slushie, is punchy — the mango flavour fades but the tang of pickle lingers. Many of the stalls are operated by businesses from across southwestern Pennsylvania, and 'many of them have been with us for the entire 10 years', says Jeremy. One such vendor is Gosia's Pierogies, run by Terry Smith-Rawecki and her husband Jan. Every year, they put a briny spin on the classic Polish dumplings with their limited-edition dill pickle pierogi, also made with potato and cheese. The dumpling recipe is from Terry's family in Poland, and the remaining ingredients are a closely guarded secret. 'Picklesburgh makes us very proud of the work we do,' says Terry. 'I'll be there until I'm physically unable [to return].' The festival hosts three 'dill-cathalon' games — pickle juice drinking, pickle bobbing and pickle eating. Photograph by Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership Over on PPG Plaza, intergenerational festivalgoers fly through air as they're flung off a bucking mechanical pickle, arms flailing, onto an inflatable mat below. The ride, a new addition for this year, resembles an oversized, asymmetrical pickle fitted with a single front handle and Velcro strap. It careens erratically, tilting riders in all directions before vaulting them off. Excitement spills out from under the tent, the crowd cheering for those managing to stay on for more than half a minute and offering a consolatory clap for those on the mat within seconds. Once defeated, participants receive green, sparkly medals and rejoin the masses, brows sweatier than before. In its decade of existence, Picklesburgh has solidified itself as a flagship event not only for the city, but its 50,000 out-of-state and international visitors, too. 'There are folks from all walks of life coming together, from those in their business clothes on a Friday afternoon lunch excursion to others who've made their own T-shirts because they're excited to celebrate the pickle,' says Jeremy. 'I love how our businesses and our community have taken this event on.' Amid the memorabilia emblazoned with puns, including 'I'm kind of a big dill', three friends clad in pickle costumes stand out. 'This is a holiday for us,' say Alexandria Sahyoun, Aidan McDanel and Julia Gurevitz in unison, their upbeat, breathless voices overlapping. They've each just had a turn riding the pickle and their cheeks are flushed as they fiddle with the medals they received for taking on the challenge. Originally from neighbouring Ohio, they've been coming to all three days of Picklesburgh for the last five years. 'This is our Christmas and our New Year's Eve. We're here every year — we can't miss it.' Picklesburgh takes place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is free to attend. Pittsburgh Regional Transit provides bus, light rail, and incline services across the city, and from Pittsburgh International Airport. Taxis are also widely available. Stay at Tryp by Wyndham in Lawrenceville, double rooms from $148 (£110). For more information, head to Visit Pittsburgh. This story was created with the support of Visit Pittsburgh. To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
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Travel + Leisure
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Travel + Leisure
Pittsburgh Has a 3-day Pickle Festival—and You Can Ride a Mechanical Pickle, Eat Pickled Cannoli, and Enter a Pickle Juice Drinking Contest
'Welcome to Pittsburgh, you jagoffs!' That's how I was greeted—playfully—on a sweltering Saturday in July by the emcee of the pickle brine drinking contest. Five words I'd certainly never heard strung together before. The event, part of Pittsburgh's aptly named annual pickle festival, Picklesburgh, drew a large, spirited crowd. And judging by a show-of-hands prompted by the emcee, most had traveled from out of town just for the occasion. Suffice to say, these people take their pickles seriously. As interest in bold flavors and gut health continues to rise, it's no wonder that pickles are trendier than ever. And with its Heinz heritage and vibrant Easter European community, Pittsburgh is a natural home for the celebration. Founded in 2015 to help activate downtown, Picklesburgh began in good fun. "It started as a cheeky, funny thing,' Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership CEO Jeremy Waldrup told Travel + Leisure . 'And then it just kept going. Now, people come from near and far just for Picklesburgh.' This year, marking its 10th anniversary, the festival welcomed more than 200,000 attendees. To accommodate the surge, organizers expanded its footprint, stretching it across downtown and spilling onto not one but two of the Sister Bridges spanning the Allegheny River—it's largest and "most ambitious" layout yet. My best friend (and Pittsburgh native) Eleanor and I kicked off our day in PPG Plaza, where contests like pickle brine drinking, pickle eating, and pickle bobbing contests took place. By 11:45 a.m., just 15 minutes before the festival officially resumed for its second day, the plaza was already buzzing. Lines snaked arounds stands and food trucks, hawking everything from pickle crab rangoons and bratwurst with pickle cabbage to pun-filled T-shirts. We weaved through a sea of green-clad crowds and stumbled upon the festival's newest attraction: a mechanical pickle. Most riders were thrown off within seconds, and not wanting to share their fate, we decided to watch from a safe distance and pass on this experience ourselves. After browsing the Briny Bazaar, a marketplace of pickle- and Pittsburgh-themed arts and crafts, it was time to eat. We started with flavorful Mexican street pickles from Tako and a pickle-studded slice from Giovanni's Pizza & Pasta. Then came the boldest bites: the "Meat Monster" from the Pittsburgh Irish Festival (a hot dog stuffed into a hollowed-out pickle and wrapped in bacon), a pickle cannoli from DiAnoia's Eatery, and chocolate-covered pickles from Pickle Me Pete. I can't say I'd go back for some of these, but they were undeniably fun to try. Luckily, we unknowingly saved the best for last: the pickle eggrolls from Le's Oriental, a longtime festival favorite, lived up to the hype. And against all odds, the pickled peachsicle milkshake from Burgatory—a burger-and-milkshake joint known for its inventive concoctions—was a creamy, refreshing, and just sweet enough. As we made our way toward Picklesburgh's signature giant Heinz pickle balloon, Jack Dougherty, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership's senior director of constituent services, summed up the festival's energy. 'This whole thing is kind of goofy, and that's kind of the point of it,' he said. That sentiment reflects Pittsburgh itself: a city that doesn't take itself too seriously. It's quirky, rooted in an eclectic history, and full embraces its oddities. As Pittsburgh continues to rise as a travel and culinary destination, it's never pretended to be anything it's not—and Picklesburgh showcases that authenticity. One of the festival's newer additions is Taste of Picklesburgh, a weeklong collaboration with local businesses offering pickle-themed specials. In Love, a women-owned concept store in Market Square, a pickle-themed table stood proudly near the entrance, decked with ornaments, plushies, and other pickle trinkets made by local artisans. Co-founder Kelly Sanders told T+L that construction-related disruptions in the area had hurt business, but Picklesburgh, she said, "boosted traffic a ton." That seemed to be the case at every Taste of Picklesburgh-affiliated business we visited. At Space Bar, a buzzy new spot with futuristic decor and an inventive cocktail menu, the line stretched out the door by 5 p.m. As we entered, a woman on her way out whispered that we had to try the pickle "Red Dwarf" shot. The bar's special festival menu, titled Picklesburgh in Orbit, also featured a pickle martini and the "Dill Void," made with olive leaf liquor, clarified grapefruit, and dill. We landed at a gas-giant-inspired table, sipping mocktails—mine, called Space Milk, came in a milk-carton-shaped glass and featured pandan leaf and acid-adjusted lime. There, we chatted with co-owner Elizabeth Menzel, who had relocated from L.A. to Pittsburgh with her partner before opening the bar in 2023. When I asked why, she smiled: 'We thought, 'This place is really weird.' And we love weird.' Our final stop was Alta Via, an upscale restaurant just steps from Space Bar, which general manager Jennifer Johnston said was 'super busy all weekend long' thanks to the festival. The menu leans toward elevated classics—think lobster tagliatelle, seafood arabbiata, and ridiculously pillowy sourdough focaccia—but Taste of Picklesburgh gave the team an opportunity to play. Clearly, the experiment paid off: at the table next to us, all four diners ordered a second round of spicy pickled palomas. I ended that day thoroughly satisfied, belly full of pickles (and tiramisu). By the time we returned to Market Square, the crowds had begun to thin, and vendors were starting to pack up for the third and final day of the festival. I've been to Pittsburgh many time, but something about this visit stood out. Maybe it was the pickles. Maybe it was the people. Maybe it was my new "I'm kind of a big dill" T-shirt. Or maybe it was simply the undeniable charm of a Rust Belt city proudly leaning into everything that makes it different. As Waldrup put it best: 'You can't manufacture that.'
CBS News
14-07-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
10 years on, Picklesburgh remains as popular as ever, organizers say
After a weekend of sweet and sour fun, Picklesburgh 2025 is in the books. The event was expected to bring 250,000 people and millions of dollars in revenue to the city. The question is: How did it go? It's all over but the brine, as in pickle juice. From weather to lines, attendees faced a few challenges, but the man who heads up the effort says while there's always room for improvement, it went as well as could be expected. The annual cavalcade of all things pickle-related saw massive throngs of gherkin and dill-loving attendees take to the streets, hot streets at that. "Standing next to those fryers in line makes it 10 times as hot," Philadelphia resident Heather Wirzberger said. "Mother Nature wasn't very easy on us this year," said Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. Heat aside, the event remains a moneymaker for the city. "A $23 million impact on the region," Waldrup added. For some attending, the crowd size was surprising, as were the lines. "I think everyone who lives in Allegheny County is here," Plum's Lisa Bonacci said. Waldrup told KDKA-TV that the crowds may have seemed a lot thicker because of the following. "Last year, we did it over four days. This year we did it over three." Waldrup says the event was, space-wise, literally the biggest Picklesburgh ever to space out people. "This year it was almost three times larger, clocking in at 1.2 miles." Will it be bigger next year? Waldrup says it's way too early to tell. "We have a lot of notes. I personally like the footprint. We heard it was too long and people didn't want to walk that much," Waldrup said. One thing that everyone seems to agree on is what needs to make a return: the popular pickle-riding attraction. "I will say that mechanical pickle was a hit," Waldrup said.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PITTSBURGH'S "PICKLESBURGH" CELEBRATES 10 YEARS AS AMERICA'S MOST BUZZWORTHY SUMMER FESTIVAL WITH FIRST-EVER MECHANICAL PICKLE RIDE
Quirky grassroots event grows into a national phenomenon, drawing 250,000+ attendees and $23.2 million in economic impact PITTSBURGH, July 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- What began as a quirky ode to pickled foods has officially become a national phenomenon. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this weekend, Picklesburgh returns to Downtown Pittsburgh, July 11–13, with its most talked about lineup yet, including the debut of a one-of-a-kind mechanical pickle ride. Bucking, spinning, and photo-ready, it's the kind of moment made for headlines and hashtags. "Picklesburgh has always been about more than just pickles – it's about bringing people to Downtown Pittsburgh," said Jeremy Waldrup, President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. "Ten years later, it's become a symbol of what's possible when cities invest in public spaces. We're drawing hundreds of thousands of people Downtown and reminding the country that Pittsburgh is a city on the rise." Since launching in 2015, Picklesburgh has grown more than tenfold, evolving from a quirky weekend celebration into a signature event on Pittsburgh's summer calendar and a major driver of Downtown's economic momentum. The festival has received national recognition from outlets including USA Today, Travel + Leisure, Food Network, Good Morning America, the Today Show,and Delish, and has been named USA Today's Best Specialty Food Festival four times. In 2024, Picklesburgh drew more than 250,000 attendees and generated $23.2 million in direct spending across Downtown restaurants, hotels, shops, and attractions. According to VisitPittsburgh, hotel occupancy Downtown jumped nearly 30 percent during the weekend, with 90 percent of rooms booked, underscoring the festival's growing role in summer tourism and local vitality. A decade of dill-ightful data:In 10 years, Picklesburgh has delivered both fun and financial impact: Nearly 1,000% increase in festival attendance 114% growth in vendor participation 95,000 pickle beers poured 14,000 pickle balloons sold 800 quarts of pickle juice consumed in competition As Pittsburgh continues to revitalize its Downtown, Picklesburgh stands as proof of what's possible when a city leans into its character, and shares it with the world. This year's festival features: The first-ever mechanical pickle ride—a headline-making twist on the classic mechanical bull An expanded footprint stretching across two Sister Bridges, Market Square, PPG Plaza, Allegheny Landing, and Fort Duquesne Boulevard Commemorative 10th anniversary merchandise New pickle-inspired food and beverage creations Family-friendly activities at the Lil Gherkin Kids Area The return of fan favorites like the Pickle Juice Drinking Contest and multiple live music stages Media assets, including photos and video of the mechanical pickle ride, available upon request. For more information, visit About the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership: Formed by Downtown businesses, professionals, civic organizations, foundations, and residents, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership (PDP) is a non-profit community development organization that leads Downtown's transformation with innovative programs that drive growth, vibrancy, and engagement. For more information, visit and follow us on social (@downtownpitt). Contact: Ashlee Wallaceawallace@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership
CBS News
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Picklesburgh to debut "pickle riding" attraction as part of 10th anniversary celebration
The Picklesburgh festival is days away from taking over Downtown Pittsburgh, giving pickle lovers the world over all the more reason to explore the three-day extravaganza. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the "dill-lightful" festival, event organizers have announced the debut of the newest attraction. "Pickle riding" will put festivalgoers atop a mechanical bull-style gherkin stationed near PPG Plaza. Tickets can be purchased on site for $12 per ride. Patrons must be at least 18 years old to ride and are required to sign a waiver upon purchasing their ticket. Riders will have time to snap a quick photo before the ride begins. "Just when you thought you've seen it all, Picklesburgh is once again proving that it still has some weird and wonderful surprises up its sleeve for its anniversary," said Jeremy Waldrup, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership president and CEO. "Ten years is a really big dill for us, and we can't think of a better way to mark the occasion than with something as one-of-a-kind as a mechanical pickle." More information about the new ride can be found here. Picklesburgh expands its footprint In 2024 alone, more than 250,000 attendees flocked to Downtown for the festivities, a 1,000% increase in attendance since the inaugural event, according to a press release from event organizers. As Picklesburgh has grown in popularity, the event has evolved from a simple street festival to one that takes over Downtown. This year, the festival will be held on the Roberto Clemente and Andy Warhol bridges, in Allegheny Landing on the North Shore, along Fort Duquesne Boulevard and a stretch of 6th Street, in the Heinz Hall courtyard, in Market Square, and PPG Plaza.
