PICKLE FEST 2026 CONTEST INFO

Presented by the Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum Foundation
to benefit the MS Agriculture & Forestry Museum and the National Agricultural Aviation Museum.

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  • REGISTER ON-SITE

    • Entry Fee: $10 per entry

    • Drop off Friday, June 12 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

    Celebrating the art of pickling, enter your homemade pickled items of any variety, from traditional cucumber pickles to unique creations like okra, fruits, and more.

    RULES

    1. Age Categories:

      • Youth Division: Ages 18 and under.

      • Adult Division: Ages 19 and older.

    2. Freshness Requirement: All entries must have been pickled within the past 12 months.

    3. Jar Specifications: Each entry must be presented in two sealed, sterilized jars (one for judging, one for display).

    4. Tasting Rules:

      • Judges will only taste from jars opened on-site.

      • No opened or compromised jars will be accepted.

    5. Recipe Transparency: All participants must submit a recipe card detailing all ingredients and the pickling method used. Card will be displayed next to the product during the contest. Recipe can have a mystery ingredient but the pickle component must be written in the recipe.

    6. Multiple Entries:

      • Participants can submit more than one entry, but each product requires a separate fee and jars.

    JUDGING (Scale of 1-10)

    Flavor: Is the taste balanced, pleasant, and unique?

    Texture & Crispness: Is the texture ideal for the item? Not too soft or over-pickled?

    Visual Appeal: Does the product look appealing in the jar?

    Use of Ingredients: Are the ingredients chosen well for pickling?

    Overall Creativity: Is the product unique, surprising, or inventive?

    PRIZES

    Youth Division (18 and under):

    1st Place: Trophy + $150 Cash Prize

    2nd Place: Ribbon + $75 Cash Prize

    3rd Place: Ribbon + $50 Cash Prize

    Adult Division (19+):

    1st Place: Trophy + $300 Cash Prize

    2nd Place: Ribbon + $150 Cash Prize

    3rd Place: Ribbon + $75 Cash Prize

    SUPPLIES

    Provided by the Organizer:

    • Display tables and labels for entries

    • Judging station (with plates, utensils, napkins)

    • Sanitization station for safe food handling

    Provided by Contestant:

    • Two jars per entry (1 display, 1 for tasting)

    • Recipe card (one per entry)

  • REGISTER ON-SITE

    Showcase your creativity and culinary skills with all things pickle.

    From savory to sweet, spicy to dill, Pickle Fest is looking for the most inventive, mouthwatering dishes that incorporate the beloved pickle.

    Location: Ethnic Building
    Entry Fee: $25 per contestant/team

    PRIZE CATEGORIES & AWARDS

    • People's Choice Award (determined by event attendees). Trophy/Certificate + $500 Cash Prize

    • Judge's Award Favorite (determined by judges). Trophy/Certificate + $1,000 Cash Prize

    AUDIENCE ADMISSION: $5 per person (to vote on the People’s Choice)

    RULES

    Entry Requirements:

    • Contestants must incorporate at least one pickle-related component (any variety, such as dill pickles, pickled vegetables, pickled fruits, etc.) into their dish.

    • Contestants must submit a recipe card (detailing ingredients and method) that highlights the pickle component used.

    • Contestants may enter up to 3 dishes. Entry fee is $25 per dish.

    Dish Types:

    • Appetizers, entrees, desserts, or drinks are all welcome, creativity is encouraged!

    Contest Rules:

    • Dishes must be prepared in advance; some on-site assembly or plating is allowed.

    • Contestants must provide sample portions for judges and the public (suggested: 150 to 200 small tasting portions).

    • Contestants must display their dish with the recipe card provided for transparency. (Some ingredients may be a mystery, example mystery sauce, mystery seasoning but the pickle component must be written out in the recipe.

    • No raw meat or unpasteurized dairy allowed due to health regulations.

    JUDGING CRITERIA

    Judges’ Panel: Flavor (40%), Use of Pickle Component (30%), Presentation (20%), Creativity (10%)

    People's Choice: Based on public voting (tasting attendees will cast their votes at the event).

    SCHEDULE

    10 AM - 11 AM: Contestant Check-in and Setup

    11:30 AM - 2 PM: Public Tasting & Voting Begins

    2 PM - 3 PM: Judges' Panel Tasting and Deliberation

    3:30 PM: Voting Closes

    4 PM: Announcement of Winners and Award Ceremony

    SUPPLIES

    Provided by the Organizer:

    • Tables and chairs for setup

    Provided by the Contestant:

    • Dish and ingredients for assembly

    • Serving plates, cups, and utensils for tasting

    • Recipe card to display

    • Serving equipment or displays for their presentation (if needed)

  • WHEN: Saturday and Sunday of Pickle Fest – 2 PM to 3 PM

    WHERE: Main Stage

    THEME: Costumes can be:

    • Pickle-themed

    • Green in color

    • Punny food characters

    • Farmers/agriculture inspired

    • Silly and fun!

    CATEGORIES/PRIZES:

    1. Best Overall Costume: $150

    2. Best Kids Costume (Ages 0–12): $60

    3. Best Teen Costume (13–17): $70

    4. Best Adult Costume (18+): $120

    ENTRY DETAILS:

    • Entry Fee: $5 per participant

    • Registration:

      • Online in advance, and

      • On-site Sat from 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. (Winner announced at 4 p.m.)

      • On-site Sun from 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. (Winner announced at 4 p.m.)

    • Deadline: Registration closes 30 minutes before contest time

    JUDGING CRITERIA

    • Creativity (1–10 pts)

    • Effort/Detail (1–10 pts)

    • Theme Relevance (1–10 pts)

    • Stage Presence / Enthusiasm (1–10 pts)

GET PICKLE FEST TICKETS

  • REGISTER ON-SITE

    This contest invites participants of all ages to see how many pickles they can eat within a set time!

    Contestants will compete in different age groups for bragging rights, cash prizes, and trophies.

    It’s a fun, fast-paced event that’s perfect for pickle lovers and spectators alike.

    SATURDAY

    • Date: June 13th, 2026

    • Location: Main Stage

    • Entry Fee: $5 per participant

    • Registration Deadline: On site registration

    2. Age Divisions:

    1. Youth Division: Ages: 10-18

    2. Adult Division: Ages 19–49

    3. Masters Division: Ages 50+

    Each age group will compete separately, with the winners from each division crowned as the Pickle Eating Champion of their group.

    3. Contest Format & Rules:

    1. Pickle Type:

      • Dill pickle spears will be used for consistency.

    2. Time Limit:

      • All contestants will have 3 minutes to eat as many pickles as possible.

    3. Rules:

      • Pickles must be fully swallowed to count.

      • Contestants cannot drink water during the contest.

      • No spitting or throwing away pickles.

      • Any remaining food in the mouth at the end of the time limit will not count.

      • Contestants who vomit are automatically disqualified.

    4. Ties: In the event of a tie, a 30-second sudden death round will determine the winner.

    4. Event Schedule:

    • 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM: Contestant Check-in & Registration

    • 12:15 PM - : Youth Division ( 10-18) 

    • 12:30 PM  -: Adult Division (Ages 19–49)

    • 1:00 PM    -: Masters Division (Ages 50+)

    • 4:00 PM: Award Ceremony

    5. Prizes & Awards:

    • 1st Place (Each Division):

      • Trophy + Cash Prize Money $75

    • 2nd Place:

      • Cash Prize Money $50

    • 3rd Place:

      • Cash Prize Money $25

    6. Safety Measures:

    • Waivers: All participants must sign a liability waiver before competing.

    • Hydration Station: Water will be available before and after the contest.

    SUNDAY

    • Date: June 14th, 2026

    • Location: Main Stage

    • Entry Fee: $5 per participant

    • Registration Deadline: On site registration

    2. Age Divisions:

    1. Youth Division: Ages 10-18

    2. Adult Division: Ages 19–49

    3. Masters Division: Ages 50+

    Each age group will compete separately, with the winners from each division crowned as the Pickle Eating Champion of their group.

    3. Contest Format & Rules:

    1. Pickle Type:

      • Dill pickle spears will be used for consistency.

    2. Time Limit:

      • All contestants will have 3 minutes to eat as many pickles as possible.

    3. Rules:

      • Pickles must be fully swallowed to count.

      • Contestants cannot drink water during the contest.

      • No spitting or throwing away pickles.

      • Any remaining food in the mouth at the end of the time limit will not count.

      • Contestants who vomit are automatically disqualified.

    4. Ties: In the event of a tie, a 30-second sudden death round will determine the winner.

    4. Event Schedule:

    • 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Contestant Check-in & Registration

    • 2:30 PM -:  Youth Division (Ages 10–18)

    • 2:45 PM - : Adult Division (Ages 19-49)

    • 3:00 PM -:  Masters Division (Ages 50+)

    • 4:00 PM: Award Ceremony

     5. Prizes & Awards:

    • 1st Place (Each Division):

      • Trophy + Cash Prize Money $75

    • 2nd Place:

      • Cash Prize Money $50

    • 3rd Place:

      • Cash Prize Money $25

    6. Safety Measures:

    • Waivers: All participants must sign a liability waiver before competing.

    • Hydration Station: Water will be available before and after the contest.

Download MSU Extension Service's Complete Guide to Home Canning