North Carolina Pickle Festival set for April 25-26 featuring contests and local vendors

The Wayne County government meeting on April 25, 2025, highlighted the upcoming North Carolina Pickle Festival, set to take place in Mount Olive. The festival promises a vibrant array of activities and events, showcasing the community's love for pickles and local culture.

The festival kicks off on Friday, April 25, with a special evening dedicated to local residents, featuring carnival rides, a concert, and a unique "cute pets glow run." Organizers emphasized that this night is designed to give back to the community, encouraging local participation.

On Saturday, April 26, the festival will officially open at 9 AM and run until 6 PM, featuring four stages of entertainment and an abundance of free Mount Olive pickle samples. Food vendors will offer a variety of pickle-themed dishes, including pickle popcorn, pizza, donuts, and even pickle slushies. The festival will also host two main contests: a pickle-eating contest and a costume contest featuring Ollie Cucumber, the festival mascot.

The pickle-eating contest, scheduled for noon, will see 22 contestants racing against the clock to consume 20 kosher dill pickles in five minutes. Last year’s winner managed to eat 13 pickles, and the event is expected to draw a large crowd of spectators. The costume contest will follow at 1:30 PM, showcasing creative pickle-themed outfits from participants of all ages.

Organizers noted that this year’s festival will feature the largest number of vendors to date, with over 200 applications received. To accommodate the increased interest, the festival footprint has been expanded by two blocks. Safety measures have also been enhanced, with more police presence and barriers at entry points to ensure a secure environment for the expected crowd of 50,000 to 60,000 attendees.

The meeting underscored the importance of community involvement, with a dedicated planning committee and numerous volunteers working to ensure the festival runs smoothly. The collaboration between local officials, community members, and students from the University of Mount Olive was highlighted as a key factor in the festival's success.

As excitement builds for the North Carolina Pickle Festival, the community looks forward to celebrating its unique culture and traditions while enjoying a fun-filled weekend.