The organizer of Saturday’s disastrous In a Pickle Festival New Braunfels apologized today to angry pickle enthusiasts who described the event as dangerously overcrowded and unsafe.
Krystal Wertman, founder of JG Events, said organizers underestimated public interest in the inaugural event, resulting in thousands of people overwhelming Comal County Fairgrounds.
“We want to extend our sincere apologies to everyone who attended the In a Pickle Festival and left feeling disappointed, as well as to the New Braunfels community,” she said. “We have heard your concerns and appreciate the honest feedback shared through reviews and messages.”
Wertman acknowledged that “unforeseen turnout” caused significant traffic congestion throughout the city.
Thousands of people arrived early to buy tickets instead of purchasing them online, only to learn the event sold out before they arrived. Volunteers in the logjammed parking area did “the best they could” with problems created by free parking.
Wertman said she did not hire a parking service because it would have increased costs for attendees who already paid $15 per ticket.
Although organizers rented 13 port-a-potties to alleviate crowding at the fairgrounds’ restrooms, she blamed long lines on attendees who traveled and needed to use the restroom as soon as they arrived.
Wertman said the 13 police officers and five medical staff hired for the event did the best they could under challenging conditions, which included 35 mph wind gusts.
“Our team used all available resources to assist vendors in removing their canopies to minimize loss and keep the vendors and customers safe.”
Statements posted on social media tell a different story.
Some 608 Facebook users responded to Wertman’s apology on the event’s Facebook page.
Many observed the fairgrounds — and the City of New Braunfels — are too small to host such a large event and suggested organizers consider other venues in San Antonio or Austin for future festivals.
“I live by the fairgrounds and my job was affected as well, for the back roads to be filled with cars and traffic was insane,” said one poster. “…after that day, I didn’t not want to hear or see a pickle.”
Another lifelong New Braunfels resident who lives down the hill from the fairgrounds said the traffic was worse than anything he’d ever seen during Schlitterbahn waterpark’s peak season.
Over on the popular Everything New Braunfels Texas Facebook page, vendor Amy Davis, who said she was speaking for herself and other vendors, described the festival as a “massive money grab to them, and this event was very dangerous.”
She said vendors followed the rules but were treated disrespectfully.
Port-a-potties were overflowing, there was no water in the handwashing station, and “multiple people came up to us who looked so flushed asking for water because they couldn’t find any and the food vendors didn’t have any left,” Davis said.
One festival-goer said she tried to buy pickle lemonade but the lines were horrendous and the crowds so large she was afraid to get her cellphone out for pictures. Another said she entered the festival at 11:30 a.m. only to find 20-minute waits for port-a-potties and hour-long waits just to order food.
But Lisa Freeman Rubey, who works with NBCERT to provide first responders at events including city festivals, said water was available to anyone who needed it.
“We had plenty of free water that we gave anyone who asked and treated every incident that was brought to our attention” she said, “We had first-aid supplies and AED (heart device) on site and communications with the fire department leadership. We were not asked to roam around but did anyway because we saw there was a need.”
Davis said she and other vendors prepared for the festival for months. They don’t think organizers deserve a second chance in 2026.
But Wertman said planning already is underway for a second pickle festival in New Braunfels.
Her family-owned business has successfully run a pickle festival in Houston for five years without any issues, she said.
“Our goal was simple, to bring our love of pickles to the Hill Country and create a space where fellow enthusiasts could gather and celebrate together.”
In a Pickle “delivered” on that promise, she said.
“We are proud of the diverse and creative offerings that showcased the love and passion for pickles that inspired this festival.”
MyCanyonLake.com contacted festival organizers to confirm the number of tickets sold and the estimated number of attendees.
