Pickle festival was a huge dill with largest turnout

MOUNT OLIVE — Thousands crowded the streets this year for the annual Mount Olive Pickle Festival.

Downtown Mount Olive was flooded with visitors who were ready to shop, dine, participate in the marathon or pickle eating contests and more.

For some it was their first time attending and others had not been to the festival in a while or frequently made the pilgrimage for the event. Audra Gray attended to support a motorcycle ministry that had a raffle stationed at the event. “It’s a big turnout,” said Gray. “We’re here with His Calling Revelation raising money for Hatcher’s Chapel Church in Chinquapin.”

Another ministry organization called Hope Center Ministries with their branch Hope Extended, performed on stage with several musical guests. NorthBound, Tommy Evans, Lydia Williams, and the Mills performed throughout the day on one of the main stages.

Their ministry aims to help people going through major life changes, addiction, recovery and more through community outreach. Jimmy Bryant is the founder and director of Hope Extended. “We offer just life lessons to help people and pull them out of addiction and out of divorce.” They also have a mobile medical unit which offers health checks which was parked at the festival.

Richard Phillips is the lead singer of the house band NorthBound Worship which was put together in 2018. “We started out with (Pastor Bryant) singing in prison ministries and soup kitchens,” said Philips. The band released their first studio album Upon the Cross in August of 2023 and NorthBound continues to share their hope for others through ministry and music across the state.

Vendors sold gifts, jewelry, merchandise, and food. The line to purchase festival merchandise made by the Mount Olive Pickle Company took about thirty minutes of wait time as attendees lined the block to make it to the cash register.

Coastal Creations by Kelsey Blakesley was a popular vendor at the event that specialized in coastal art. Everything is found locally on the shelves. Finding inspiration from Pinterest and the natural world, Blakesley makes her own wearable and framable art from the environment, resin, and other mediums. She aims to keep prices affordable and works with family to run the company. “My dad finds all the shark teeth…it’s a little family business and my mom does some stuff too,” she said.

Safiyyah Sykes and her sister Sadio are locals that have lived in Delaware and Virginia. They are now residents of Mount Olive. Safiyyah bakes and runs a catering business. She sold butter pecan cake, upside down pineapple cakes, assorted lemonades, and a pound cake which sold out.

Safiyyah started her entrepreneurial business “around 2010, I was full of faith and just went on a whim,” she said. I tried a homemade passion fruit lemonade which was absolutely delicious. As a vendor at the festival, “I’m glad to be a part of it,” Safiyyah said.

Last year’s Best of Show winners of the antique car show were back with their bright green 1941 Willys Coupe. The owners Charles and Dorothy Putnam were excited to be back and let me pop in the front seat. “It’s like a pickle with wheels on it,” said Charles.

Locals who lived nearby even celebrated at home with many visitors stopping by for barbecue. James Moore and his granddaughter Lennox escaped the crowd by hosting family gatherings outside Center Street to enjoy the beautiful dill-ightful day!