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The Village of Berrien Springs, the Berrien County Historical Association (BCHA), and the Berrien Springs Community Library are excited to share planning is underway for the festival's 5th Anniversary!
What started while having a “what if” conversation at the end of 2020 quickly turned into the return of a beloved celebration on July 4th, 2021. Originally, the committee hoped maybe a few hundred people would join them for a day of pickle fun, but shortly after the event started, they realized it would grow to be much more than that. Five years later, planning and prep work is underway for what could be the largest Pickle Festival to date with an estimated 7,500 attendees planned.
Pre-event auxiliary activities kick off with the Pickle Fest Preview Weekend and the coronation ceremony for the 2025 Pickle Festival Royalty at the History Center at Courthouse Square on Friday, June 13th at 6:00 p.m. where a new Grand Dillmeister, Princess, and Prince will be crowned.
Princess & Prince registration runs April 27th through May 24th and will be available on the Berrien County Historical Association’s website berrienhistory.org or via email at bspringspicklefestival@gmail.com. Contestants must live or attend school in Berrien Springs, Berrien Center, Berrien Township, Eau Claire, or Oronoko Township. For more information about the pageant, including contestant requirements, please email Rhiannon Cizon at rcizon@berrienhistory.org.
Nominations for the highly coveted title of Grand Dillmeister runs through May 10th. Nominees must live or work in the Berrien Springs, Berrien Center, Berrien Township, Eau Claire, or Oronoko Township and share a love for all things pickle. To nominate an individual please send their name and contact information to bspringspicklefestival@gmail.com. Self-nominations are welcome! Voting will take place May 18th – June 6th on the official Berrien Springs Pickle Festival Facebook page (facebook.com/BerrienSpringsPickleFestival).
The 4th Annual In a Pickle 5K Run and Walk at the beautiful Andrews University campus is set to take place on Sunday, June 15th and wraps up the Preview Weekend activities. Early bird registration is now open at runsignup.com. All participants will receive a finisher’s medal and those who register by the early bird deadline will be guaranteed a shirt. Questions regarding the 5K should be directed to Rachel Keele at the Andreasen Center for Wellness at Andrews University by emailing wellness@andrews.edu. Early bird pricing ends on May 10th and pre-registration ends on June 11th. Limited day-of registration will be available. Full details can be found at: www.runsignup.com/Race/MI/BerrienSprings/InaPickle5K.
Leading up to the 5th Annual Festival will be the wildly popular Pickle Fest Scavenger Hunt June 23 – 29th. All week, pickle fans are invited to visit participating businesses to search for a series of hidden Dillard’s, the official Pickle Festival mascot. Participants can pick up their scavenger hunt sheet at the Berrien Springs Village Hall, the History Center at Courthouse Square, and the Berrien Springs Community Library starting June 29th. Completed forms must be returned to any of those three locations by 4:00 p.m. Monday, June 30th. All completed and correct forms will be entered to win a special Pickle Festival prize and will be announced during the Pickle Festival.
The 5th Annual Pickle Festival will once again be held at the History Center at Courthouse Square and the Berrien Springs Community Library in Berrien Springs on July 4th from
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Guests will see the return of Vendor Alley, the Pickle Fling, the Big Wheel races, the Pickled Piper Tasting Room, the Flamm Pickle & Packing Company Relish Eating Contest, and the dunk tank with proceeds going to Friends of Berrien County Animal Services.
The Pickle Festival committee continues to look for sponsors and pickle specific vendors for the event. Interested parties should reach out to the committee via email at bspringspicklefestival@gmail.com. Final registration for all vendors is June 13th.
For additional details, including an updated schedule of events visit the Berrien Springs Pickle Festival’s Facebook page (@BerrienSpringsPickleFestival) and the BCHA website (berrienhistory.org)
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