Pickle lovers and international food fans have a reason to head to Sterling this weekend, as the Fall Pickle & International Food Festival returns to Crooked Run Fermentation for two days packed with vendors, cuisine and live entertainment. The event runs Saturday and Sunday, with general admission open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days following a 10 to 11 a.m. VIP hour.
The festival takes place at Crooked Run Fermentation, located at 22455 Davis Drive, Suite 120, in Sterling, Virginia, according to Crooked Run Fermentation. Organizers describe it as a two-day celebration of pickle-inspired foods, international cuisine, craft beer and live entertainment, building on a first event this spring that organizers say drew more than 6,000 people to the property over the weekend, per the brewery's own recap published on Crooked Run's Substack.
Exactly how many vendors will show up this time around depends on who you ask. WJLA reports the festival includes more than 80 vendors, while a separate listing from edibledc.com puts the figure at more than 95. Either way, organizers describe the fall event as featuring nearly double the vendors and food trucks seen at the spring edition, per the same Crooked Run account.
What's on the Vendor Row This Year
Festivalgoers can expect a dedicated pickle row featuring a dozen pickle vendors from across the East Coast, the festival's own event page notes. Beyond the brined specialties, organizers say shoppers can browse more than five dozen local vendors selling art, crafts, treats and other goods, alongside two dozen global flavors spanning culinary traditions from around the world.
Among the food vendors, Oh Gee Bagels will serve its special fall bagel bowls, with Tim Clarke representing the business at the festival, according to WJLA. Peppers and Onions, meanwhile, will showcase offerings inspired by bold, homemade recipes, with Norris Riley on hand as the vendor's representative. Festival founder Francesca Campbell has said the diverse vendor lineup is meant to let guests sample flavors from around the world in one place, per organizers cited by the station.
Tickets, Hours and What to Bring
General admission tickets will be sold on the day of the event for $5 plus a credit-card fee, according to Crooked Run Fermentation. Children 12 and under can attend for free, per edibledc.com's event listing. The festival will go on rain or shine, Crooked Run Fermentation confirms, so attendees should plan accordingly regardless of forecast.
Organizers also have some practical guidance for the crowds expected on-site. Shopping bags, purses and backpacks are all permitted, though bag searches will be performed, according to blueridgepickling.com's event page. The same source strongly suggests attendees leave pets at home given the anticipated turnout, though service animals remain welcome.
From a Spring Debut to a Bigger Fall Event
This isn't the first time Crooked Run Fermentation has hosted the festival. A spring edition ran April 18-19 at the same Sterling venue, featuring food vendors, drink tents, live music and family-friendly activities throughout the weekend, according to dullesmoms.com's listing for that event. Tickets were required for the April gathering as well, the site noted at the time.
Organizers say the festival has grown into an event featuring a wide variety of foods, cultures and products from local businesses, a description that tracks with the expanded vendor count planned for this weekend. Whether the final tally lands closer to 80 or 95-plus, Sterling residents won't have to travel far this Saturday and Sunday to find pickle row, global food stalls and the rest of the fall lineup waiting at Crooked Run Fermentation.
