by 
By Mark A Leon
If you love pickles—or simply appreciate a festival that refuses to take itself too seriously—September is bringing a very big, very briny weekend to Charleston.
Pickle Palooza III: A Briny Bash returns to Charleston September 18–20, 2026, expanding from a one-day festival into a full three-day weekend following last year’s reported sellout and strong demand. The festival will take place at 1734 Signal Point Road in Charleston, at Cannon Distillery.
Official Pickle Palooza website
Three Days. Three Different Ways to Get Your Brine On.
Organizers are giving each day its own personality.
Friday, September 18 — Palooza Kickoff Party
6–10 p.m.
The weekend begins with a pickle-powered happy hour and dance party featuring pickle-inspired drinks, food, a DJ, themed photo opportunities and early access to festival merchandise.
Saturday, September 19 — The Main Festival
2–6 p.m.
Saturday is the big event—and the day for serious pickle enthusiasts. The festival promises 40+ food, retail and artisan vendors, live entertainment, pickle competitions, interactive games, pickleball activities, themed photo installations and plenty of opportunities to sample the goods.
Expect everything from pickle-inspired dishes and drinks to the wonderfully ridiculous competitions that have helped make Pickle Palooza a Charleston curiosity.
Among the planned activities are pickle tasting, pickle-eating and pickle-juice-chugging contests, pickle bobbing, pickle-themed games and Clash of the Cukes, a competition highlighting some of Charleston’s best pickles.
And this year, pickleball gets a much bigger role, with organizers promising expanded activities, challenges and opportunities for newcomers and experienced players alike.
Sunday, September 20 — Pickle Brunch & Market
11:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Sunday slows things down with a pickle-inspired brunch and market. Guests can expect brunch dishes, mimosa and Bloody Mary bars, artisan vendors, live acoustic music and a more relaxed atmosphere to close out the weekend.
Tickets & Planning Ahead
General admission tickets are available for individual days, while a VIP Weekend Pass provides access to all three days, early entry, exclusive merchandise and access to a Saturday VIP lounge. Ticket prices increase as the event approaches and ticket batches sell out.
The festival is family-friendly, with children 12 and under admitted free when accompanied by a parent or guardian. Alcohol will be available, but guests must be 21 or older with valid ID to drink. Organizers also note that parking is limited and encourage carpooling or rideshare services.
Whether you’re passionate about fermented cucumbers, curious about pickleball, looking for a wildly unconventional weekend outing—or just want to see what happens when Charleston goes all-in on pickles—Pickle Palooza III is shaping up to be one of the city’s most unusual festivals of the fall.
After all, Charleston has festivals for food, wine, music and art.
Why not pickles? 🥒
Pickle Palooza III
📅 September 18–20, 2026
📍 1734 Signal Point Road, Charleston, SC
🌐 thepicklepalooza.com
🎟️ Tickets & festival information
Photo credit: Pickle Palooza
