Picklesburgh 2025: What To Know

PITTSBURGH, PA — Picklesburgh, the four-time winner of USA Today’s ‘Best Specialty Food Festival’ contest, is back for its 10th anniversary this weekend.

This year’s festival footprint will be the largest one yet, spanning two of the Sister Bridges, PPG Plaza, Market Square, 6th Street, Ft. Duquesne Boulevard, Allegheny Landing and Isabella St.

From Friday through Sunday, people can experience 57 vendors, 23 Taste of Picklesburgh merchants, exclusive culinary offerings, Dill-Cathlon contests, a mechanical pickle, live music, KidsPlay activities and the return of the 35-foot-long signature Heinz pickle balloon flying high above the Roberto Clemente Bridge.

Created by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and presented by Kraft Heinz, Picklesburgh has grown each year, boosting the Downtown economy and welcoming people from around the country and the world. According to VisitPittsburgh, Picklesburgh 2024 brought in an estimated $23.2 million in direct spending to Pittsburgh, which includes overnight lodging, transportation, retail and recreation, generating $1.1 million in sales tax revenue.

“This year’s festival will be our biggest one yet, further amplifying the Pittsburgh as a major summer destination, while showcasing our year-round offerings for dining, retail and entertainment,” said Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. “With a plethora of culinary favorites, artisan vendors, local bands, contests, and a brand-new bucking gherkin, this year’s festival is sure to dill-iver on all its pickled promises and more.”

Since its launch in 2015, Picklesburgh has become one of the largest festivals in Western Pennsylvania. What started as a quirky idea is now an internationally recognized event and a powerful economic driver for the region. Picklesburgh continues to break records for attendance year after year, boosting summer tourism in the region. In 2024 alone, more than 250,000 attendees flocked to Downtown for the festivities, a 1000% increase in attendance since the inaugural event.

To celebrate its 10th year, the PDP is unveiling new additions to its lineup, including the debut of “Pickle Riding,” a mechanical bull-style gherkin stationed near PPG Plaza. The anniversary celebration will also feature an expanded footprint and signature pickle-themed fun that continues to draw visitors from across the country and the globe, spotlighting Pittsburgh’s creativity on a national stage.