Did you know that Americans consume 26 billion pickles a year, which equals nine pounds of pickles per person? Whether you are among the many pickle fanatics or just simply pickle curious, you’ll want to make the trip to Picklesburgh, a new annual free festival that celebrates pickling in all of its glorious incarnations.

For two days in July, the Rachel Carson Bridge in downtown Pittsburgh will transform 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 event times are Friday, July 17 from 3:00 – 10:00 p.m. and Saturday, July 18 from 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m., more information about Picklesburgh can be found at www.picklesburgh.com.

Picklesburgh is a culinary celebration that goes beyond the dill pickle to include international dishes and handcrafted foods from local chefs that house-cure pickled vegetables; informative how-to demonstrations that embrace the farm-to-table movement and the rising popularity of DIY canning; a selection of artisan cocktails, many featuring pickled ingredients; fun pickle themed merchandise, live music and even a competitive pickle juice drinking contest.

“We believe Pittsburghers will relish this new festival,” said Jeremy Waldrup, President and CEO of the Picklesburgh Downtown Partnership, the organization planning Picklesburgh. “We are so pleased to be partnering with some of Pittsburgh’s most iconic businesses to celebrate downtown and of course pickles.”