Food festivals in Pittsburgh worth planning a trip around, by month.
Food festivals in Pittsburgh worth planning a trip around, by month.
Picklesburgh takes over Pittsburgh's Sister Bridges each July, a free festival built around pickles. A giant flying Heinz pickle balloon, vendors and pickled everything.
Focus: Pickles and pickled foods
Tip: Free; takes over two bridges downtown. Go early before the lunchtime crowd peaks.
Bloomfield Little Italy Days fills Liberty Avenue each August in Pittsburgh's Little Italy. Free since 2002, with Italian food vendors, music and a meatball contest.
Focus: Italian food and culture
Tip: Free; runs along Liberty Avenue. Go hungry for arancini, sausage sandwiches and cannoli.
The Original Pittsburgh Taco Festival runs each September at the Stacks at 3 Crossings in Pittsburgh. Dozens of taquerias, tequila and a taco-eating crowd in the Strip.
Focus: Tacos and Mexican food
Tip: Ticketed; gold tickets get early entry. Tacos and tequila across dozens of vendors.
Pittsburgh Restaurant Week runs each January and August across the city. More than 50 restaurants offer three-course, fixed-price menus to spotlight the dining scene.
Focus: Fixed-price restaurant menus
Tip: Two editions a year, winter and summer. Book the bigger rooms early; tables go fast.
Three Rivers Beer Week runs each April across Pittsburgh. The 40-plus breweries of Allegheny County pour special releases and host events celebrating the city's beer scene.
Focus: Craft beer
Tip: Spread across breweries citywide. Plan a route; the special releases sell through fast.
The Holy Cross Greek Festival runs each June in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. Homemade Greek food, pastries and dancing at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church.
Focus: Greek food
Tip: Go for the spanakopita, gyros and loukoumades made by the parish. Free admission.
The Greater Pittsburgh Food Truck Festival runs each May in Pittsburgh. Dozens of food trucks, live music and drinks across a multi-day open-air gathering.
Focus: Food trucks
Tip: Ticketed and busy; go at off-peak hours to skip the longest truck lines.
The Steel City Big Pour pours craft beer each September in Pittsburgh to fund Construction Junction. Dozens of breweries and local food in a warehouse fundraiser.
Focus: Craft beer and food
Tip: Ticketed fundraiser for Construction Junction. Buy ahead; it sells out most years.
The South Side Soup Contest runs each February in Pittsburgh. Walk East Carson Street sampling soups from 20 local restaurants and vote for the city's best bowl.
Focus: Soup
Tip: Ticketed crawl along East Carson. Dress warm; the sampling is mostly walk-and-taste.
The Pittsburgh Soul Food Festival celebrates Black-owned food vendors each summer in Pittsburgh. Soul food plates, music and community across an open-air gathering.
Focus: Soul food
Tip: Free and family-friendly. Go for fried chicken, mac and cheese and peach cobbler.