If you are the type of person who asks for extra pickles on everything, this one is for you!
A fast-growing Canadian festival dedicated entirely to pickled and fermented foods is making its way to Victoria this summer, promising a full day of briny bites, bold flavours and local makers.
Phillips Brewing & Malting Co. will host Picklefest Victoria on August 15th, at its Backyard event space, marking the festival’s Vancouver Island debut.
Organizers say the one-day event will showcase a wide range of Vancouver Island vendors specializing in pickles, fermented foods, hot sauces, drinks, snacks and more.
From classic dill favourites to inventive, boundary-pushing creations, the festival aims to celebrate the Island’s growing fermentation scene in one place.
Picklefest first launched in Toronto in 2023 and expanded to Vancouver in 2025. In 2026, the festival is set to appear in several additional Canadian cities, including Edmonton, Calgary and Charlottetown, as it continues to grow nationally.
Adin Wener, co-founder of Picklefest Canada and co-founder of Henderson Brewing in Toronto, said the event was created to spotlight small-batch makers and fermentation culture across the country.
“Picklefest has always been about celebrating the makers — the small-batch picklers, the fermentation nerds, the family recipes, and the wild new ideas,” Wener said in a release announcing the Victoria event.
Robyn Skinner, marketing director at Phillips Brewing, said the brewery is looking forward to welcoming the festival to its Backyard space.
“This is exactly the kind of event we love hosting here at Phillips — local, community-driven, and packed with great tasting food & drinks,” Skinner said.
“We can’t wait to bring together Vancouver Island’s makers and visitors for an unforgettable day.”
More details, including vendor announcements, programming and information about a home pickling competition, will be released in the coming weeks.
Early bird tickets go on sale February 26th, with general admission tickets available beginning March 2nd through the festival’s website.
Picklefest Victoria will take place at Phillips Brewing, located at 2010 Government Street.
