MOUNT OLIVE — Downtown Mount Olive will be filled with vendors, food trucks, music, rides, and festivalgoers on Saturday for the 38th North Carolina Pickle Festival.

Here’s the important information to know for those planning on attending the festival:

When and Where

The 38th Pickle Festival actually gets underway tonight with pay-one-price carnival rides from 5 p.m. to 9, a live outdoor concert featuring Steel County Express from 7 p.m. to 10., and the Cuke Patch 5-K Glow Run from 8 p.m. to 9.

The Pickle Festival’s main day is Saturday and festivities are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The festival will take place along Main Street, Center Street, James Street, and adjacent streets in downtown Mount Olive.

An official Pickle Festival map can be found here.

Entertainment

The Pickle Festival will feature live music on four stages throughout the day that will cater to a variety of musical tastes. The full schedule of live music can be found here.

The highly anticipated pickle eating contest is held at Noon, and a pickle costume contest takes place at 1:30.

A stage featuring dance will be set up on North Center Street, and the Wayne County Cruisers will hold a car show in the parking lot of Mount Olive First Baptist Christian Life Center, as well as on West John Street and Center Street.

There will also be helicopter rides taking off from in front of the Pope Wellness Center on the University of Mount Olive campus, carnival rides, and roaming entertainers.

Parking

Pickle Festival organizers have expanded the Park & Ride Shuttle locations this year: Walmart Super Center, Roses Shopping Center, and Bobby Denning Furniture in Mount Olive, plus three locations on the campus of the University of Mount Olive – Kornegay Arena, Scarborough Field, and the College Apartments, across from the track. Watch for signs for all of these locations.

Handicapped Parking is available at 111 N. Chestnut Street (the offices of the Original Free Will Baptist denomination).

If you park on a downtown street, pay attention to the no parking signs. Parking is allowed on one side of the street only. Towing will be enforced. Note that several paid parking lots are also available downtown.

Updated pet policy

Pets are not permitted at the festival this year, aside from service animals. Organizers cite safety concerns for the animals and festivalgoers.

All of the festival’s details, including registrations in special events, can be found online at ncpicklefest.org.