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In a pickle about something to do this summer?
Lucky for you, the third annual Pickle Fest is planned for June 11
at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum.
SUSAN MARQUEZ
According to Justin Nipper, the event
started as a joke, but quickly developed into
a wonderful family-friendly event. The origins
of the event are pretty simple, actually,” says
Justin, who serves as both the marketing
director and events coordinator for the
Museum.
At a staff meeting in 2019, a staff
member with the last name “Pickle” gave
the museum’s director at the time an idea.
“He joked that we should have a pickle
festival,” says Justin. But the joke was on
the director. “He said it in front of the right
people.”
The idea took off and the first Pickle
Fest was held at the Museum that year.
“It actually ties in perfectly with what we
do here at the Museum,” Justin says.
“The festival highlights fermenting, pickling,
and canning food, which one hundred
percent ties in with our agricultural mission.
It gives people an opportunity to enjoy a
fun outdoor event, and in the process, they
can learn something, which also is part of
our mission.” Pickling and canning have
long been methods of preserving foods.
With more people planting home gardens,
there is an increased interest in preservation
methods to enjoy the harvest all year.
Justin came on board at the Ag Museum
in 2020, and due to Covid, the event was not
held that year. “I took over the event in 2021.”
The first couple of years the event was held
from 10am to 3pm, but that will change this
year. “To offset the summer heat, we are
kicking the event off at 3pm and going to
8pm,” Justin explains.
Pickle Fest will offer something for all
ages. Outdoor activities will include water
slides, an inflatable obstacle course, and live
music on a main stage. Combined with the
children’s activities will be a farmers’ market.
If you relish fermented foods and other
items, you won’t want to miss the market.
“This year we are partnering with the
Magnolia Market, and in addition, we will
have over thirty vendors returning from last
year selling canned and preserved foods,
crafts and more,” Justin states. “The vendors
will be located inside our two largest
buildings where it will be nice and cool.
We will also have educational demos on
the ground to teach those in attendance
how to can and ferment foods.”
No festival is complete without a
contest, and the Pickle Fest will deliver
with a pickle eating contest and pickle jar
packing contest, complete with prizes and
the distinguished honor of being the person
who can eat the most pickles or pack the
most pickles into a jar.
The Mississippi Agricultural Museum
Foundation is the primary sponsor for the
event. Other sponsors include Visit Jackson,
Cathead Distilleries, and Southern Beverage.
Admission to the event is $8 for ages 3 and up.
All the regular museum attractions will be
open, including the Children’s Barnyard and
Small Town, Mississippi.
For more information, call 601-432-4500 or
email msagmuseum@mdac.ms.gov.
Hometown MADISON • 45