Pickle Fest

The first annual Pickle Fest will be held on October 14th in Paonia’s Apple Valley Park. Western Slope pickleball players, pickle makers, families, and folks of all ages are invited to come out and enjoy the fastest growing sport in the US, all while enjoying local food, drinks, a pickling contest, pingpong, cornhole, a costume contest, prizes, and live music.

In celebration of pickles, pickleball and the local food, wine, brews and spirits of the North Fork Valley, The Learning Council, in partnership with North Fork Pool, Park and Recreation District, are hosting a festival of fun based around all things pickles. The day will start off with a pickleball tournament that will go throughout the day. Coffee and hot cider will be available in the morning alongside a solar eclipse viewing. Local food vendors will open at 11:30 AM. A bar featuring a full spread of North Fork wines, spirits, and brews will be available after 11:30 AM.

The afternoon will feature a baby & adult costume contest, the inaugural pickle race, and award ceremonies that are sure to be silly and fun. A festival would not be complete without a good line-up of music. Come to see the Grand Ave Ramblers, June & Juice, Ellen Stapenhorst, John Whooley, as well as the highly anticipated “secret set” that will be unveiled in the coming weeks. Picklers are encouraged to bring their best pickles and enter into the pickled vegetable contest. There will be two pickling contest categories, one just for cucumbers and one for anything else pickled! The pickling contest will be judged by Pickle Fest attendees. Please note, all pickling contest entries must be submitted in a sealed jar.

Community Participants
Pickle Fest is hosted by North Fork Pool, Park and Recreation District, and The Learning Council, with sponsorship from Alpine Bank, First Colorado National Bank, Western Colorado Realty, Needlerock Mountain Realty & Land, Re/Max Mountain West, High Country Printing & Graphics, Rocky Mountain Inn, The Linden, and Rain & Shine.

Food & Beverages provided by Azura Cellars and Gallery, The Storm Cellar, Orchard Valley Farms & Market and Black Bridge Winery, Jack Rabbit Hill Farm, Alfred Eames Cellars, Aquila Cellars, Qutori Wines, Big B’s Delicious Orchards, Paonia United Brewing Co., Chrysalis Barrel Aged Beer, Espresso Paeonia, Stone Cottage Cellars, Sunshine Beef, Paonia Bread Works, Mountain Oven, and Wise Bar. Costume contest will be hosted by the North Fork Valley Creative Coalition and media sponsorship from the High Country Shopper.

Prizes donated by Kebler Corner, Rio Bravo, Heart Of The Dragon, Paonia Farm & Home Supply, Wooly Colorado , Don’s Market, Cirque Boutique & Gallery, Sweetgrass Paonia, Rubicon Coffee, Farm Runners, Rock ‘n Roots Farm, Root Rock Farm, Honey Moon Mesa, and North Fork Physical Therapy and Performance.

For more information on the festival contact:
Patrick McCarney at (970) 948-4343 // patrickjmccarney@gmail.com

For tournament related questions contact:
Max Heepke at max@northforkrecreation.com