A briny battle royale is coming to Fairfield this January.
Jungle Jim’s International Market will host its annual Pickle Wars in its Oscar Event Center on Saturday, Jan. 31. The event will run in three sessions from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. While the 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. session is sold out, you can still get tickets for the 1-3 p.m. or 3-5 p.m. sessions.
At Pickle Wars, pickle vendors will face off to see who will earn the Championship Belt and the title “Biggest Dill.” While there, you can try different pickles, as well as pickle-themed food and cocktails, including a variety of Bloody Marys. There will also be games and you can vote to decide who will be the 2026 Pickle Champions.
For the first time this year, the event will host a Pickle Wars Rodeo, where, for a small fee, you can take a ride on the mechanical pickle The Sour Stallion, “the roughest, toughest clydesdill of them all.” You can also take the Gherkin Gauntlet challenge and compete in events like Bobbing for Brine, Brine Chugging and Pickle Eating. The winner will receive a $100 Jungle Jim’s gift card and a 2026 Pickle Wars Champion medal. Each session will have its own Gherkin Gauntlet, and names will be drawn at random to invite you to compete in the Pickle Arena.
Tickets to Pickle Wars are available for $5 (plus fees) here. Children under 10 can get in for free, but you’re asked to reserve their spot on EventBrite.
Oscar Event Center, 5440 Dixie Highway, Fairfield. More info: eventbrite.com.
