The Summer Event You Missed: Why the Connecticut Pickle Festival Belongs on Your Bucket List

Wishing you did more this past summer? Looking for something new to add to the bucket list?

Well, you're not alone. The Connecticut Pickle Festival at Mohegan Sun is a must and it's super family-friendly.

"When you get inside, you'll see every vendor has something pickle. Whether they're a crochet crafter, they'll have a crochet pickle. You have people that make soap that have pickle-scented soap," co-organizer of the Connecticut Pickle Festival Nicole Soulier said.

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A Family-Friendly Tradition at Mohegan Sun

I've been to many events at Mohegan Sun before and always love the atmosphere. Whether it's a concert, Beer Fest, Wine Fest or restaurant opening, it's always fun in the sun. However, many opportunities are strictly adult-friendly, so when I saw that the Pickle Festival was coming back, I knew I had to go.

Obviously, there are tons of pickles, plus hundreds of vendors, over 40 food trucks and plenty of pickle-loving people in attendance to take in the fun. There was even pickle wrestling with heels claiming "I hate pickles" to rattle the crowd.

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"They dress up and they love it. That's my favorite part, seeing all these people so excited about pickles," Soulier said. I couldn't believe how much was packed into the weekend. It's no wonder guests purchase multiday tickets so they can see (and taste) it all.

Wild Pickle Treats: From Fruit Roll-Ups to Hot Honey

"There's candied pickles wrapped in fruit roll-ups topped with chamoy sauce and sugared candy. There's one called the hot honey hottie where it's Mike's Hot Honey with edible glitter on it. There's pickled Mexican street corn, there's a pickled fried dough. I just think it's those really unique twists that people can't find other places that makes the event so special," Pickle Festival co-owner Jillian Perez said.

Adding and improving to the festival has made it a huge success with tens of thousands of guests attending year after year. "We make sure that we curate vendors that have pickle items as well as their pickle festival special," Perez said. "But I think even if you don't like pickles, it's just a super fun, funny day to hang out and relax."

That's exactly why my family and I loved it. While my daughter and I tried pickle slush, donuts, giant pickles on a stick and more (such as a pickle martini for me), my husband and son enjoyed the classic fair foods, barbecue sandwiches and more.

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The 64-Ounce Pickle Juice Chugging Championship

One event, the pickle juice chugging competition, was both impressive and slightly nauseating to watch, but we couldn't look away. Competitors tested their guts with a sodium-packed 64 ounces of pickle juice. Many gave up, but it was Steven from Bourne, MA who came out victorious.

Yes, we left with plenty of souvenirs. Yes, we ate our way from vendor to vendor. Yes, we'll be returning next year.