EXPLORE
KIND of a BIG DILL The North Carolina Pickle Festival celebrates the savory cucumber with food, games and more by NOOR AZEEM photography by MADELINE GRAY
T
he town of Mount Olive takes few things more seriously than pickles—they celebrate New Year’s Eve, for example, with a Pickle Drop at the University of Mount Olive (for this, a four-foot long pickle is lowered into a vat). The biggest pickle party of all, though, is The North Carolina Pickle Festival, held every April. It began 34 years ago to honor the role
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agriculture played in the community, particularly the storied history of the Mt. Olive Pickle Company. This year, the main festival takes place April 25. Guests can park for free at Kornegay Arena and take a free shuttle to the festival, which takes up the entire downtown area of Mount Olive. While a few prefestival activities are scheduled for April 24, it’s Saturday that’s the bigger dill. A first-time guest might want to
start their visit with the Pickle Trail, which highlights “all things pickle,” according to co-chairperson Julie Beck. This is where one can find each year’s particular variety of pickle food. 2020’s newest item will be a pickle doughnut—a challenge put forth by Beck and her co-chair Lynn Williams, accepted by Mickey’s Pastry in Goldsboro. Last year’s new creation was Pickletown Lager, a pickle beer, by
