National Pickle Day is November 14. Can you tell a dill pickle from a bread-and-butter one with the jars out of sight? Put three dishes on the table and let everybody make a prediction. The person who says “I know my pickles” absolutely gets a ballot.
What is National Pickle Day?
National Pickle Day is November 14, a celebration of the crunchy, tangy foods that brighten sandwiches, snack plates, and cookouts. Dill, sweet, spicy, whole, or sliced—there is plenty to compare even with just a few jars.
How pickling became a food tradition
Pickling developed as a way to preserve food long before modern refrigeration. University extension guidance describes two familiar approaches: fermentation in brine and preservation using vinegar. Cucumbers are the usual American pickle-jar favorite, but many other vegetables can be pickled too. That long preservation tradition is the interesting story behind today’s crunchy snack. University of Alaska Fairbanks guide to pickles and relishes.
A simple way to enjoy the day
Host a small tasting of store-bought dill and sweet pickles, compare cucumber slices with another pickled vegetable, or add a new pickle to a favorite sandwich. Ask about crunch, sweetness, tang, and seasoning rather than simply choosing “good” or “bad.” The activities below add a little friendly pickle-day silliness.
Holiday dates for planning
| Observance | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Pickle Day | Saturday, November 14, 2026 | Sunday, November 14, 2027 | Tuesday, November 14, 2028 | Wednesday, November 14, 2029 | Thursday, November 14, 2030 |
National Pickle Day date reference
Set up a three-jar blind tasting
Allow 15 to 20 minutes. Choose a dill, a bread-and-butter pickle and a third variety your group is curious about. Try garlic dill if you want a closer contest. Set out one small piece from each jar per volunteer, plus a few extras. For six tasters, that’s at least eighteen pieces. Check ingredients with your guests first.
Have one host label dishes A, B and C and write the key where nobody can peek. Cut similar-size pieces, give each dish its own fork, and put water between samples. Keep the jar labels handy for anyone who needs to check an ingredient privately. Nobody has to taste all three to join in.
Listen for the crunch
Taste in letter order. Give crunch a score from one to five and write a flavor clue before guessing the jar. “Sweet first, then sharp” tells the table more than “pretty good.” Save the guesses until everyone has marked a favorite so the loudest pickle fan doesn’t sway the room.
Count one favorite vote per person, reveal the jars, and compare the guesses. A pickle can win the crunch contest and still lose the favorite vote. If two tie, crown both. For little kids, let a grown-up write down their exact tasting notes. Those words might be the best souvenir of the night.
Free printable activity sheets
The Pickle Tasting Scorecards set comes with three pages: meet the mystery samples, my pickle ballot and crown the pickle. Print a ballot for each taster and keep the host key out of sight.