What to eat, see and do at Picklesburgh
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Photo: Courtesy of Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership
Pickle pandemonium is back for its 11th year, serving up inventive gherkin-inspired eats, vendors, contests and the return of a bucking pickle Thursday through Sunday.
Why it matters: Picklesburgh is set to pack Downtown and the North Shore with more than 200,000 visitors for what's expected to be its biggest festival yet, expanding into the newly renovated Market Square and Arts Landing.
Zoom in: Dozens of local vendors are serving pickle beer, spirits, fudge, egg rolls, ice cream, cotton candy, cupcakes, pizza, meatballs, pierogies and just about every off-the-rails pickle creation imaginable — from Eat'n Park Smiley cookies and Turner's Pickled Tea to The Brinery at Two Acre Farm's root beer pickle.
- There's handmade art, live music, games and crowds decked out in green costumes.
- Pickle riding on a custom-built mechanical pickle returns this year. Buy tickets ($12) at its Market Square location. Must be 18+ to ride.
What's new: Pickleball joins the festival lineup at Arts Landing with tournaments, beginner demos and open play. The new courts will remain at Arts Landing after the festival ends.
What to watch: The Dill-Cathlon Games, where champs win $500, concert tickets, street cred and other prizes.
- Pickle juice drinking: Competitors slam a quart of Pittsburgh Pickle Company's Picklexir as fast as possible to advance to the finals and compete for the Duke of Drinking coronet.
- Pickle bobbing: Whoever devours the most pickles by weight in 90 seconds, no hands, claims the coveted Baron of Bobbing title in the championship.
- Pickle eating: Contestants have four minutes to eat the most pickles by weight ("chipmunking" is allowed) for a shot at becoming the Earl of Eating.
Zoom out: The Plaza at North Shore's Pickle! At the Silent Disco is Saturday, with pickle-inspired food and drink specials. Two sessions: 7:30pm-9:30pm and 10pm–midnight. Tickets are $18.
- Find other pickle dishes and items at participating Taste of Picklesburgh restaurants and retailers.
- Head to the South Side Street Fest's 21+ pickle after-party.
- Find flash tattoos at the South Side's Carson Street Tattoo and Downtown's Bridge City Body Art.
By the numbers: Picklesburgh brought more than 208,000 visitors Downtown last year and generated about $20 million in direct spending, per the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.
If you go: Picklesburgh spans two bridges (Warhol and Clemente), Allegheny Riverfront Park, Market Square, Arts Landing, Sixth Street and PPG Plaza and beyond. Map here
- Hours: Noon-10pm Thursday-Saturday; Noon-6pm Sunday.
- Free to attend.
- Expect road closures, find available parking here, and consider taking public transit.