Pickle Bobbing and More at Asheville’s Unique Annual Pickle Festival
The city of Asheville was teeming with a unique flavor on yesterday’s date, as locals convened for the city’s quirky but undoubtedly beloved annual pickle festival. The festival, organized by the craft beer collective, “The Whale,” celebrated its second year running, and according to the organizers, this year’s turnout was “kind of a big dill.”
Celebration of Fermentation
At first glance, it might seem odd for a beer collective to organize a festival centered around pickles. But Andrew Ross, owner of The Whale, points out the natural connection between the two. “Well so pickles are fermented — so everything we do with beer, wine, everything in between is a fermented product,” said Ross. “So it’s only natural that we’d get to gather together and celebrate our favorite fermented item, the pickle.”
A Variety of Vendors
The festival was not just about pickles tossed in brine. Participants were treated to a variety of pickles on offer from multiple local vendors. Some of the notable vendors included DJs Pickles and Silas Sauce, offering varieties that ranged from tart to tangy and everything in-between.
Pushing the bounds of pickle-themed creativity was vendor Creationivity, who was offering attendees a selection of pickle-themed jewelry. Proving that the love for pickles in Asheville can transcend the culinary and extend into the realm of personal accessorizing.
Phenomenal Pickle Games
No festival is complete without games, and the pickle festival did not disappoint in this regard. The organizers had set up several pickle-themed games, designed to add an element of fun and excitement to the entire event. Engrossed in the excitement, participants took part in pickle bobbing, attempting to seize a floating pickle using only their mouths. There was also pickle on a rope, a hilariously unique game that got quite a few laughs and cheers from the crowd.
Feasting on Pickles… and More!
For the seriously brave, there was a pickle eating contest. This drew a crowd of onlookers as contestants pushed their pickle-eating abilities to the max, striving for the honors of being the quickest to consume a plate full of pickles. Amid the laughter, cheers, and tense moments, many pickles were consumed, with the winner earning undoubted bragging rights for surviving this test of gustatory endurance.
After such a large turnout and a successful run this year, the organizers excitedly announced that they were looking forward to keeping this unique tradition alive next year. Given the synergy between pickles and all things fermented, and the zestful energy of the festival-goers, it looks like Asheville’s pickle festival is here to stay, growing bigger and better with each annual celebration.
