Don’t Get In A Pickle: Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Picklesburgh

The festival runs July 15-17 and adds comedy shows, new pickled foods to the line-up.

July 7, 2022

Abigail Hakas,

PHOTO COURTESY PICKLESBURGH

Pittsburgh’s annual pickle festival is making a big and briny splash this year with its largest-ever Picklesburgh.

The free festival, set for July 15-17, will be held on the Rachel Carson (Ninth Street) Bridge and is expanding to the 10th Street Bypass. Also new this year are three comedy shows — featuring pickle jokes — at two local theaters. The entrance to the festival on the Rachel Carson Bridge can’t be missed; it will be marked by the 35-foot Heinz Pickle balloon.

Hours are noon to 10 p.m. Friday, July 15, and Saturday, July 16; and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 17. For a full list of food and drink vendors, merchandise, music line-up and event schedules and other festival details, go to the Picklesburgh website.

Here are some events to watch for:

Before Picklesburgh starts, pickle fans can get a taste of what the festival has to offer with Taste of Picklesburgh. Participating Downtown restaurants are serving up pickle dishes and drinks through Thursday, July 14. Pickled food items include pizza, pierogies and grilled cheese. A full list of restaurants and times can be found on Pickleburgh’s Taste of Picklesburgh page.
The inaugural Pickles and Giggles Comedy Showcase will take the stage at 8 p.m. Thursday, July 14, at the Byham Theater. The show will feature four touring comedians: Jackie Fabulous, Sammy Obeid, Rojo Perez and Steven Rogers. Attendees will be able to drink pickle beer and receive $10 Dollar Dills to spend at Picklesburgh. Tickets can be purchased here.
Arcade Comedy Theater continues the pickle jokes with a stand-up show, featuring Samantha Bentley, Chrissy Costa and more at 9:30 p.m. July 15 and a brine-themed improv set at 8 p.m. July 16. More information can be found on Arcade Comedy Theater’s website.
Picklesburgh sponsor Kraft-Heinz will have speed painter Revel wielding a pickle brush to make pickle portraits at their booth. This will happen five times each day. The booth also will distribute free Heinz pickle pins and Picklesburger recipe cards from TikToker Bobert.
Kids can stop by the Li’l Gherkins Kidsplay area from UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh for pickle-themed arts and crafts activities. The Kidsplay area will be open until 7 p.m. on July 15 and 16 and until 6 p.m. July 17.
Of course, Picklesburgh is first-and-foremost a food festival. A long list of vendors will be selling pickle dishes and their own pickles. Some of the more surprising combinations include Copper Coast Confection’s pickle swirl fudge, The I’Dill Pickle’s cheese-stuffed pickle and The Pickle Jar’s pickle donut. The full list of food vendors is also on the Picklesburgh website.
Festival bars will feature limited-edition pickle beer from Southern Tier Brewing and Great Lakes Brewing. Participating restaurants will be serving up other pickled alcohols. Happy Hour begins at 4:30 p.m. on July 15 and 16 and runs all day on Sunday, July 17.
The Picklesburgh Pickle Juice Drinking Contest boasts a $500 prize and the winner receives the title Mayor of Picklesburgh. There will be 10 preliminary rounds on July 15-16 with the championship round at 2 p.m. on July 17. Pre-registration has ended but walk-ups can enter a raffle to join the competition as space allows.