An event that was supposed to make a long-awaited return (albeit under a new name) to Brandon this summer is going to have that wait extended until next fall. Organizers of the Brandon Brine Bash say the event will now take place in fall of 2027 after initially being scheduled to take place this month.
According to a post on the event’s Facebook page, a big part of the reason for the delay was the ongoing dispute surrounding the event’s name. They had intended to revive it under it’s former moniker of Pickle Fest but quickly hit a snag.
“Our optimistic volunteers had their dreams dashed, as we fended off the challenges after being disrupted during critical months of planning with the necessity of changing the brand due to “Pickle Fest” being a trademarked title,” reads the Facebook post. “We lost opportunities for grants, connecting with community partners, food vendors, entertainment, resources, along with having to do a full-stop of our merch because of the previous title of “Downtown Brandon International Pickle Fest” and this trademark dispute.”
Though the name Brandon Brine Bash is now registered with the Manitoba Companies Office, organizers had no choice but to postpone. They said the postponement is disappointing but it will enable them to bring the event back in a way that its proponents can be proud of.
“Brandon Brine Bash is going to take over Downtown Brandon with activities, local entertainment, perfectly pickled food vendors, and fun competitions,” continues the post. “Same as the past Downtown Brandon International Pickle Fest, the Brandon Brine Bash is all about community and giving back. Part of any profits made during the Fall 2027 event will be donated to our Brandon Bear Clan, an Indigenous-led organization of volunteers who work hard to support vulnerable neighbours in downtown and Brandon.”
