It’s a big weekend in the city of Pittsburgh, one that officials say could help the local economy. Thousands of people are expected to attend Little Italy Days and tens of thousands of people are expected at Picklesburgh.Picklesburgh opened on Friday along the Andy Warhol Bridge in downtown Pittsburgh. The “destination for all things pickled” runs through Sunday.”I work a lot so I don’t get to come out and have fun very often so it’s nice to be able to do that,” said Kari Womack of Pittsburgh.The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership says this festival has become a huge success, and was named the best specialty food festival by USA Today two years in a row. They say that’s bringing much-needed crowds to support downtown businesses.”We have hundreds of restaurants and retailers in downtown Pittsburgh who aren’t seeing that daily influx of traffic like we have so events like this are critical,” said Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of the PDP.Vendors like Lina Vetter, who sells Lina bags, say the business is critical.”We’ve been going pretty strong since we opened at 12 today so it’s been a steady crowd and it started picking up a little more after 5,” she said.But this isn’t the only festival in Pittsburgh this weekend. Little Italy Days in Bloomfield is hosting more than 200 vendors and is also seeing the crowds and economic support.Bloomfield lost more than four businesses during the pandemic, and this festival, event officials say, is like Christmas for those trying to survive.”This is huge for the Bloomfield businesses,” said Sal Richetti, event producer. “They got their labor. They got employees. They got taxes. They got rents. They got inventory. So the revenue they make from this helps them throughout the year keep their business.”As for COVID-19 protocols, both festivals are requiring those who are not vaccinated to wear a mask.
PITTSBURGH —
It’s a big weekend in the city of Pittsburgh, one that officials say could help the local economy. Thousands of people are expected to attend Little Italy Days and tens of thousands of people are expected at Picklesburgh.
Picklesburgh opened on Friday along the Andy Warhol Bridge in downtown Pittsburgh. The “destination for all things pickled” runs through Sunday.
“I work a lot so I don’t get to come out and have fun very often so it’s nice to be able to do that,” said Kari Womack of Pittsburgh.
The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership says this festival has become a huge success, and was named the best specialty food festival by USA Today two years in a row. They say that’s bringing much-needed crowds to support downtown businesses.
“We have hundreds of restaurants and retailers in downtown Pittsburgh who aren’t seeing that daily influx of traffic like we have so events like this are critical,” said Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of the PDP.
Vendors like Lina Vetter, who sells Lina bags, say the business is critical.
“We’ve been going pretty strong since we opened at 12 today so it’s been a steady crowd and it started picking up a little more after 5,” she said.
But this isn’t the only festival in Pittsburgh this weekend. Little Italy Days in Bloomfield is hosting more than 200 vendors and is also seeing the crowds and economic support.
Bloomfield lost more than four businesses during the pandemic, and this festival, event officials say, is like Christmas for those trying to survive.
“This is huge for the Bloomfield businesses,” said Sal Richetti, event producer. “They got their labor. They got employees. They got taxes. They got rents. They got inventory. So the revenue they make from this helps them throughout the year keep their business.”
As for COVID-19 protocols, both festivals are requiring those who are not vaccinated to wear a mask.
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