Picklesburgh Festival
The Destination for all Things Pickled
(July 26 – 28, 2019)
The Roberto Clemente Bridge in Downtown Pittsburgh transformed into Picklesburgh, highlighted by a giant flying Heinz pickle balloon, custom built by a team that also crafts balloons for Disney and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. The Picklesburgh festival is a culinary celebration that goes beyond the dill pickle to include international dishes, prepared foods and artisan cocktails that feature pickled ingredients; an embrace of the farm-to-table movement and the rising popularity of canning; a selection of handcrafted foods and artisan cocktails from local restaurants; informative how-to demos and author talks at our demo area; merchandise such as pickled goods, books and DIY products.
Have you 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.
Details
The flying pickle is back, and this year is bigger than ever!
Voted the #1 Specialty Food Festival by USA Today, Picklesburgh returns for the biggest, briniest celebration of all things pickled yet!
We’re doubling the festival footprint to include the Roberto Clemente (6th Street) Bridge as well as Ft. Duquesne Boulevard between Stanwix and 7th Streets, bringing you more ways to enjoy everything from dill pickle ice cream to selfies with the 35′ flying pickle balloon.
Friday, July 26 | 12:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 27 | 12:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 28 | 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Free admission!
Picklesburgh is a culinary celebration that goes beyond the dill pickle to include international dishes, prepared foods and artisan cocktails that feature pickled ingredients; an embrace of the farm-to-table movement and the rising popularity of canning; a selection of handcrafted foods and artisan cocktails from local restaurants; Pittsburgh Pickle Co. pickle juice drinking contests; informative how-to demos and author talks at our demo area; and merchandise such as pickled goods, books and DIY products.
Picklesburgh is brought to you by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, Heinz, KDKA-TV | CBS Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh’s CW, Q92.9 FM, and 96.9 Bob FM.
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.”
Picklesburgh is the REAL DILL! USA Today announced that Picklesburgh took top honors in their readers’ choice “Best Specialty Food Festival” contest in America. Pittsburghers played a significant role by voting daily to ensure that this uniquely Pittsburgh event won the top spot against fierce competition from multi-city touring festivals and festivals from cities such as Miami, Houston, Louisville, and Baltimore.
“Thank you so much to the thousands of Pittsburghers who feel passionately about Picklesburgh and brought home another win for the City of Champions,” said Jeremy Waldrup, President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. “Pittsburgh has embraced Picklesburgh in so many ways – by turning out in incredible numbers, creating spectacular culinary creations, impressively drinking pickle juice at lightning speeds, and most of all, embracing a uniquely Pittsburgh experience. We are so honored to have won this incredible distinction.”
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.
WIGLE WHISKEY & PDP TEAM UP ON LIMITED RELEASE PICKLE SPIRIT FOR 2018 PICKLESBURGH
Picklesburgh is for everyone – from pickle fanatics to just pickle curious. With the help of our sponsors, vendors and volunteers, we’ve assembled a multi-day event around all things pickled. It’s not just about pickled food though. No celebration would be complete without music. A broad selection of local musicians and genres will grace the stage, all set to the backdrop of a glorious Downtown Pittsburgh.
Program highlights
- Handcrafted prepared foods and artisan cocktails featuring pickled ingredients from local chefs and restaurants, many of whom pride themselves on house-cured pickled ingredients.
- Traditional ethnic foods that incorporate pickling such as corned beef, sauerbraten, chow-chow, sauerkraut pierogies, pickled beet eggs, and dilly beans.
- Pickle-themed snack foods like dill flavored popcorn, pickle flavored ice cream and deep-fried pickles.
- International foods that utilize traditional pickling methods such as kimchi, chutney and pickled ginger.
- DIY farm-to-table demonstrations and tips from pickling/canning experts, chefs, and authors at the demo area.
- Merchandise: event memorabilia, pickle-themed gifts DIY products and cookbooks.
- Fun competitions like pickle-juice drinking contests.
- Live entertainment on the set to the backdrop of a glorious Downtown Pittsburgh.
This annual festival showcases Downtown Pittsburgh’s riverfront and is designed to have wide appeal across the Greater Pittsburgh community including young adults, suburban families, and small-town citizens. Picklesburgh is brought to you by The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership (PDP), the non-profit organization behind some of Pittsburgh’s most successful, popular, and imaginative events including Comcast Light Up Night®, the Market Square Farmers Market, Downtown Rooftop Shindigs, Saturday Night Market, and the Peoples Gas Holiday Market™ among many others.
The PDP is a dynamic, non-profit consortium of Downtown stakeholders including corporations, professionals, civic organizations, foundations and residents. PDP serves as a catalyst for fostering the economic vitality of Downtown and improves the quality of life for Downtown residents and businesses. PDP manages Downtown’s Business Improvement District and is responsible for the ubiquitous yellow-shirted Clean and Safe teams around town. Notably, PDP was the lead entity behind the reinvention of Market Square and the recent proliferation of sidewalk cafes and façade renovations.
