North Carolina Pickle Festival Set for April 27

MOUNT OLIVE, NC—Break out your pickle costumes, your pickleball paddles, and your pickle appetites. The 38th North Carolina Pickle Festival returns to downtown Mount Olive on Saturday, April 27.

The festival main day on Saturday, with vendors and a full day’s schedule of events, runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

With two record-breaking events in 2022 and 2023, organizers are improving on plans for larger crowds, an expanded footprint, and more vendors. And, it continues to seek out vendors with more pickle-themed offerings. Plans for digital mapping this year will help everyone navigate the festival easier using their cell phones.

Accommodating larger crowds also means providing more shuttles to downtown. The festival is adding multiple park and ride locations, including the Bobby Denning Shopping Center and the University of Mount Olive’s Kornegay Arena.

The popular Saturday helicopter rides return (taking off from UMO in front of Pope Wellness Center), as well as the traditional three stages of live entertainment downtown and the ever-popular Wayne County Car Cruisers classic car show. Saturday also features the Tour de Pickle Recreational Bike ride with new routes of 25, 50 and 75 miles, carnival rides, and roaming entertainers.

A final new development for the pickle festival is an updated pet policy: pets are not permitted at the festival this year, aside from service animals. Organizers cite safety concerns for the animals and for festivalgoers.

All of the festival’s details, including registrations in special events, can be found online at www.ncpicklefest.org.