I am somewhat ashamed to admit this, but I had no idea that Mississippi has an annual Pickle Fest. Much to my amazement, the Pickle Fest, held each year at the Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum, was voted the “Best Small Festival in Mississippi” in 2022 by the Mississippi Tourism Association. No wonder it is billed as a “Kind of a Big Dill!”
Now, I don’t know about you, but this year’s Pickle Fest (Saturday, June 13, through Sunday, June 14) sounds like something I would enjoy immensely – especially if there are some great dill pickles involved. And word has it that this family-friendly, educational festival will feature a wide variety of anything and everything pickled, not just my highly favored dill pickles.
The two-day festival also promises visitors a thoroughly fun-filled fundraising event for both the Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum and the National Agriculture Aviation Museum. Open both days from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., rain or shine, the day’s fun will include vendors, contests, a special play area and story time for the kids, plus great food, of course.
The official website for the festival (https://www.msagmuseumfoundation.org/pickle-fest) provides ticket purchase information, a list of participating vendors, and a schedule of both days’ events. There’s also information on the sponsors of each scheduled activity, including the annual pickle-eating championship.
Now, that sounds like my kind of championship contest!
The 2026 Pickle Fest is presented by the Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum, and the staff and volunteers of the museum cordially invite everyone to attend. They proudly proclaim that this unique festival will “bring together farmers, food lovers, artisans, and families for two days of Exposure, Education, and Exploration.”
In fact, the objectives of the Pickle Fest revolve around these three aspects:
Exposure – Promoting Mississippi’s growers, makers, and small businesses.
Education – Teaching the art, science, and history of pickling and fermentation.
Exploration – Celebrating unique local food traditions with contests, live music, and fun activities.
With over 7,000 people attending last year’s festival, and with lots of enthusiastic and devoted fans throughout the state and across the Southeast, the Pickle Fest is also a great opportunity for Mississippi businesses and organizations to help sponsor both of these fantastic museums. In fact, it’s a “dill-lightful” way to partner with the Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum to leave a lasting educational legacy for the people of our state. (Sponsorship information can also be found at the festival website.)
So, this weekend, make sure to head over to Lakeland Drive in Jackson, Mississippi, and enjoy the 2026 Pickle Fest at the Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum.
It really is going to be a Big Dill!
