If you’re looking for something to do after a long week, consider heading out to Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles on Friday, where many will be proudly enjoying the natural greenery that once made the city a center of attention.
Pickles, of course, are the focus of the St. Charles Park District’s newest event, taking place on Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.: Pickle Paradise is a free, all-ages event that celebrates the city’s pickle history while also providing the perfect excuse to bring the family out to the park for some fun.
“When we created this, we were just thinking about what would be funny and what would get the community outside,” said Taylor Krawczyk, assistant recreation manager for the park district. “We wanted a fun community event that families could come and spend time together on a Friday night.”
This strange turn of events may leave some perplexed as they try to figure out why the park district went down this path, but for those with a passion for the past, the answer may be clear: The Illinois State Legislature once declared St. Charles the “Pickle Capital of the World.”
In honor of this unique honor, the St. Charles Park District has organized a number of pickle-themed events.
Let’s start with “The Big Dill,” a pickleball tournament for adults over 18. Mixed doubles matches, which will take place from 4 to 6 p.m., are for intermediate to competitive players, according to a district news release.
Participation in the Big Dill Tournament guarantees five games and an event T-shirt with prizes awarded to the top three finishers. Entry is $50 per pair for residents and $60 for non-residents.
Those whose pickleball skills aren’t developed enough to play but who still want to stay active can join Dill Dash instead.
This one-mile fun run has participants donning pickle pieces and running along the park’s paved walkways, stairs, and gravel paths. For those in need of a quick snack, cucumbers will be available along the race route.
The race will start at 5:30 p.m., pre-registration is $24, and the event is open to anyone age 3 and older, according to the release.
For those looking to sample pickled products without breaking a sweat on their early summer run, there’s a Pickle Patch that’s fun for all ages: for a $5 ticket, attendees can sample pickles and related products from local producers.
Participants in the Big Dil Tournament or Dil Dash will also be admitted to the Pickle Patch.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the district’s financial aid program, which aims to provide recreational experiences for all, according to the release.
The event will also feature a food truck from Caputo and pickle-inspired drinks from Pollyanna and Riverlands Brewing Companies. Valid ID is required for adult beverages upon entry, and wristbands can be purchased in advance for those interested.
To purchase tickets or learn more about the various events, visit stcparks.org/events .
Admission to Pickle Paradise is free, so everyone can enjoy entertainment from a DJ, quizzes from the St. Charles History Museum, pickle-making conversations with Primrose Farm and selfie opportunities, organizers said.
Therefore, no one should “grow pale with jealousy,” the St. Charles Park District declared in a news release.
While the marketing is eye-catching, the pickle puns, references and alliteration (as well as the pickle theme itself) are all part of an effort to honor the city’s history.
St. Charles wasn’t named the “Pickle Capital of the World” in 1978 because pickles were grown or produced in large quantities: the city was once home to Pickle Packers, Inc., a nonprofit organization that promoted and sold pickles around the world.
The group moved to Washington, D.C., in 2004 but had been active in St. Charles for nearly half a century, having moved to the city in 1955, according to records at the St. Charles History Museum.
An exhibit about the 1960s and 1970s at the St. Charles History Museum explains why the city is known as the “Pickle Capital of the World.” (R. Christian Smith / Beacon News)
During that time, Pickle Packers launched a number of marketing campaigns to promote the green snack, from new products like pickle phon to a fitness campaign touting the health benefits of eating low-calorie pickles, according to museum records.
The face of the Pickle Packers during their time in St. Charles was the organization’s vice president, William R. Moore, better known as “Bill the Dill.”
Some of the marketing ideas were relatively ordinary, like a National Pickle Week and a manual the organization would publish to teach grocers how to best buy and promote pickles, but others were more outlandish.
The group organized beauty contests to choose a “Miss Pickle,” promoted a “Pickle Peace Plan” to end the conflict, and distributed pamphlets with recipes such as a “Yogurt Veggie Shake” that recommended blending carrots, cucumbers, pickles, pickle juice, and low-fat yogurt in a blender.
The Pickle Packers will not be in attendance Friday, but John H. Cox, the company’s current vice president, said in an email that the organization is pleased that St. Charles continues to hold the title of “Pickle Capital of the World.”
“We are so grateful to the St. Charles History Museum and the St. Charles Park District for organizing such a lively and fun event for pickle lovers,” Cox said.
Now that the pickle makers have finished packing pickles and left St. Charles for good, it’s up to the St. Charles Museum of History and the St. Charles Park District to carry on the tradition.
Eric Krupa, collections and exhibits manager at the museum, said pickle fever died down in St. Charles after the Pickle Packers left, but both organizations are working to bring attention to the history.
Krawczyk said if enough people show up to help, Pickle Paradise could become an annual event.
rsmith@chicagotribune.com
