From pina colada celebrations to black pudding throwing, Britain is famous for its eccentric festivals—and Manchester is about to host its own. This September, Track Brewery’s Pickle Club is bringing back Pickle Fest, a free event in Manchester dedicated to all things pickled and fermented – and this time they are going bigger, better and more pickled than ever! If you love sauerkraut, craft your own preserves, brew kombucha, or simply can’t resist a good gherkin, this is where you need to be.
When and where will Pickle Fest take place?
Pickle Fest will be held at Track Brewery on the Piccadilly Trading Estate, Manchester on Sunday 6th September from 12pm to 6pm.
What to expect at Pickle Fest
Bring-Your-Own-Pickle (BYOP)
If you’re a proud pickler and fancy sharing, Pickle Fest is inviting attendees to bring their own homemade pickle to the event. There’s bound to be plenty of tangy surprises to try.
Jar Judgement Competition
Fancy a bit of healthy competition? If you think your jar is tasty enough, you can enter it into the Pickle Fest competition. Bring your own homemade pickle, preserve or ferment, and you could be in with a chance of winning the title of ‘Top Pickle’ which includes a crown and bragging rights for a year!
You can enter by emailing hollpickles@gmail.com with your name, phone number and what’s in you jar by September 5. It costs £2 entry and all proceeds will go to the Track Pickle Club.
Pickle Market
This year will see Pickle Fest host a Pickle Market featuring some of the finest ferment producers in the UK as well independent artists and producers. The market will include small-batch pickle producer Fizzel Preserves selling pickle ice cream and pickle lemonade, Mickle Pickles Co known for their small batch pickles, sauces and ferments, foody art by Daisy Lewis DIY, gut-friendly ferments by Bwblin, and Shedletsky’s Foods, award winning picklers, fermenters and hot sauce makers.
Vendors
Coucou
Coucou is a sustainably sourced food and cocktail popup, with a focus on foraging, UK produce and local suppliers. You won’t find any fresh ingredients from outside the UK in our cocktails and snack – expect to see gorse, sorrel and fig leaf in place of mango, lemon and coconut
Stiff Tea
For all the ‘buch lovers, Stiff Tea will be at Pickle Fest. Stiff Tea first started brewing in 2024 and has exploded (not literally!) ever since creating delicious alcoholic flavoured kombucha. Zak will also be brewing a secret special Pickle Festival kombucha for the occasion.
Cardinal Rule
Famed for bringing the American biscuit to Manchester, Cardinal Rule will be serving up some scran on the day. You can expect plenty of moreish beer snacks like dill frickles with ranch, sweet frickles with honey mustard and mini biscuits with pimento cheese and sweet pickle.
