In A Pickle Festival debuted in Helotes in September 2026 after its event last year in New Braunfels sparked backlash. Here’s what attendees said this time.
Courtesy of Kimberly Jones
A food festival returned to the San Antonio area over the weekend, featuring more than 150 vendors, contests, and carnival games. Guests shared positive reviews about the event this time around, marking an optimistic turnaround from last year.
The In A Pickle Festival took place on Saturday, September 19, and Sunday, September 20, at the Helotes Festival Grounds. Photos from the event, shared on Facebook, show a large crowd attending, many of whom fittingly wore green attire.
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Many ticket holders said the food offerings were enjoyable, with one visitor, Wendi Marie, writing that it was “great for anyone who loves pickles” and “full of samples, including pickle lemonade, pickle salsa, a variety of craft pickle flavors, and pickle nachos.”
Meanwhile, seller Texas Kickles LLC noted that even though it was “hot,” the festival was “successful and fun.” Other vendors, including Sloth & Brine and Papi Chulo’s Salsa, said they sold out or nearly ran out of products, given the turnout.
Changes at pickle festival after backlash
In July, organizers of the In A Pickle Festival announced that “after drawing thousands of visitors to previous festivals,” there would be changes in 2026. The announcement came after a previous event in New Braunfels sparked online backlash, with many guests claiming long lines and disorganization tainted the experience.
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One major difference was offering timed-entry tickets. Organizers explained that tickets would sell out and that the purpose was to make the experience “more enjoyable with easier parking, shorter lines, and more room to explore.” Earlier this month, the festival said on social media that several entry times were filling up and that once a period sold out, it was gone for good.
Last year, an attendee claimed the entry line stretched eight blocks as early as 11:30 a.m., half an hour after the event began. Another told MySA that parking in the nearby neighborhoods was also overflowing, as it seemed residents had “no idea the event was happening.” Others alleged there were not enough restrooms to accommodate the crowd, that hand-washing stations lacked water, and that some vendors were mistreated.
Organizers told MySA that 13 porta-potties were available on-site, along with restrooms at the fairgrounds. They said they believed “there were attendees who had traveled and needed to use the restroom as soon as they arrived, creating longer lines” than those seen at past events.
Another change was adding more activities for children and young adults, another element some attendees said was missing in 2025.
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The Helotes celebration added new attractions such as the Pickle Olympics, where teams compete for the Grand Champion title; a pet parade featuring pets in costumes; and giveaways. The festival also featured carnival rides and a show by San Antonio Style Wrestling.
“We wanted to create more than just a food festival,” the festival founders wrote in the July press release, saying the San Antonio area event was slated to be its biggest and most entertaining yet.
It’s unclear whether and where the festival will take place in 2027. Before launching in the Hill Country, the festival had five successful years in Kingwood, a master-planned community northeast of Houston.
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MySA reached out to In A Pickle Festival for comment but did not immediately hear back before publication.