PPG Plaza

Pittsburgh Has a 3-day Pickle Festival—and You Can Ride a Mechanical Pickle, Eat Pickled Cannoli, and Enter a Pickle Juice Drinking Contest

"An annual, city-center pickle festival launched in 2015 to activate downtown that has grown into a major, playful celebration drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors; its tenth anniversary expanded across downtown and onto two Sister Bridges. The event leans into the city's Heinz heritage and Eastern European roots, offering tongue-in-cheek contests (pickle brine drinking, eating, bobbing), novelty attractions like a mechanical pickle ride, a large vendor and food-truck scene, and a generally goofy, high-energy vibe that attendees—many traveling from out of town—embrace." - Angela Lian Angela Lian Angela Lian was the editorial intern at Travel + Leisure. She studies English at Brown University, where she edits and writes for The College Hill Independent. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

A lunchtime tradition curated by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, temporarily relocated from Market Square during renovations and covered by local outlets for its robust vendor mix and performances. Thursdays through Sept. 25, 2025.