Attendee Competitions

The crowd favorite! Pickle eating, pickle juice chug, and the pickle bobbing contest are back!

These competitions are completely FREE to join. In 2026, we'll only be accepting sign-ups AT THE FESTIVAL, not beforehand online.

Pickle Competitions

General Rules

  • Eligibility:All contestants must be at least 18 years old to participate.
  • Registration:Contestants will be selected through the pre-registration process.Each participant may submit only one registration form per event—duplicate entries for the same event will not be counted.All contestants must complete a waiver of liability and publicity release on-site the day of the contest.
  • Competition Format:Contestants may compete in only one preliminary round per game.Preliminary rounds will start at 5pm at the main competition stage on the day of the festivalWinners of each preliminary round must stick around to compete in the championship round
  • Scheduling & Check-In:Contestants who pre-register online will receive a confirmation email if they are picked to compete.Assigned competition slots are non-transferable. If you are unable to compete, please notify the organizers.Contestants must check in at the competition stage no later than 20 minutes before their round begins, or they will forfeit their spot.
  • Walk-Ups:Forfeited or open slots will be filled via on-site walk-up raffles, open to any eligible adult.Raffles will occur 10 minutes prior to each round. Contestants must be present to enter and must accept that raffle results are final.Contestants who lose may re-enter the raffle for another chance to compete, but are not guaranteed additional rounds.
  • Event Conduct & Organizer Rights:Unsportsmanlike conduct will result in immediate disqualification at the discretion of contest judges.Organizers reserve the right to assign, reschedule, or cancel competition slots as needed. All such decisions are final and non-negotiable.Judges’ decisions are final in determining winners.
  • Additional Notes:Rules, eligibility, schedules, and prizes are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the event organizers.

Pickle Eating

  • What’s Provided:All contestants will be provided with a supply of pickled cucumbers that may be either whole pickles or spears. All contestants will receive the same number of pickles in their bucket.
  • How to Play:Contestants will have 3 minutes to eat as many pickles as they can, as fast as they can, from their bucket. If multiple contestants finish their bucket, the first person to finish will advance.After the 3 minutes are up, contestants will have an additional 30 seconds to swallow the remaining pickles in their mouths. Any pickles remaining after 30 seconds will have to be spit out.
  • Winning the Round:The contestant who either finishes first or eats the most pickles within 3 minutes will be deemed the winner of that round. Should multiple people finish their bucket, the person who finished first will advance.The winner will be determined by our two pickle MC’s/judges. The judges’ decisions are final and absolute.Contestants who regurgitate, or spit out, any pickles (aside from any pickles spit out in the additional 30 seconds) will be disqualified at the discretion of the judges.
  • Ties & Advancement:In the event of a tie in the first round, all winning contestants will advance to the final round.If the final round ends in a tie, the contestants will share the honor (and bragging rights) of pickle-eating champions. However, if one competitor craves ultimate glory, a tie-breaker round may be held—but only if both contestants agree to battle it out.
  • Championship Prize:The winner of this epic showdown will claim the ultimate prize: a gleaming acrylic pickle trophy, a giant pickle cookie, a $100 gift card to a local restaurant, and the title of “The Dill Destroyer”.
  • Runner-up Prize:An “emotional support pickle” to help them through these trying times.

Pickle Juice Chug

  • What’s Provided:Each contestant will receive one quart (32 oz) jar of pickle juice.
  • How to Play:Contestants may not touch their jars until the judges give the official “Go” signal.On the signal, contestants must chug their pickle juice as fast as they can.
  • Winning the Round:The first contestant to finish their entire jar will be declared the winner.Any contestant who spills, splashes, or regurgitates their pickle juice will be disqualified at the discretion of the judges.Judges’ decisions are final in all cases of disqualification or close calls.
  • Ties & Advancement:Preliminary Rounds: In the event of a tie, all tied winners advance to the Championship Round.Final Round: If the final round ends in a tie, the tied contestants will share the prize and glory of pickle juice supremacy.However, if both contestants agree, a tie-breaker round may be held to determine a single champion.
  • Championship Prize:The winner of the final round will receive a gleaming acrylic pickle trophy, a giant pickle cookie, a $100 gift card to a local restaurant, and the ultimate title of “The Gherkin Guzzler.”
  • Runner-up Prize:An “emotional support pickle” to help them through these trying times.

Pickle Bobbing

  • What’s Provided:Each contestant will be given the same number of pickled cucumbers, which may consist of whole pickles or spears.
  • How to Play:Contestants have 90 seconds to retrieve as many pickles as possible using only their mouths.Retrieved pickles must be dropped into the designated receptacle next to the basin.Hands may not touch any pickles—doing so results in immediate disqualification.Contestants may touch the sides of the basin or receptacle, as long as they do not touch the pickles themselves.
  • Winning the Round:The contestant with the most pickles in their receptacle after 90 seconds wins the round.All rulings by judges are final and binding.
  • Ties & Advancement:Preliminary Rounds: In the event of a tie, all tied winners advance to the Championship Round.Final Round: If there’s a tie in the championship, the tied contestants will share the title and glory of Pickle Bobbing Champions.If both contestants agree, a tie-breaker round may be held to determine a single champion.
  • Championship Prize:The winner of the final round will receive a gleaming acrylic pickle trophy, a giant pickle cookie, a $100 gift card to a local restaurant, and the ultimate title of “The Dill Diver.”
  • Runner-up Prize:An “emotional support pickle” to help them through these trying times.