Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Burton.
Hi Matt, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Canton Pickle Fest started because we were looking for a good reason to throw a giant party — and realized Canton didn’t have a Pickle Fest yet. We’d seen how popular pickle-themed events were becoming across the country, and it just clicked. Pickles are fun, widely loved, and refreshingly uncontroversial — the perfect excuse to bring people together in a joyful, unexpected way.
Before launching the festival, we spent years as vendors at some wonderful grassroots events across the country. That experience taught us what makes an event feel truly magical: thoughtful organization, quirky fun, and real community connection. Inspired by creative peers like the team behind “We Are the Weirdos,” we set out to create something totally new for Canton — an inclusive, offbeat celebration that welcomes everyone.
But beyond the fun, we also wanted to build something meaningful — a platform to create lucrative opportunities for small business owners, artisan chefs, artists, creators, and nonprofit community staples like the library, parks department, and food bank. We’re proud to host an event that brings people together while boosting the local economy in a real and lasting way. We’re passionate about creating a free, unforgettable experience for the public—one that sparks joy, builds lasting memories, and plants the seeds of a new cultural tradition everyone can look forward to year after year.
Our first year was in 2024, and the response blew us away — about 10,000 attendees came downtown according to the Canton Police Department’s Lt. Travis Pellegrino, and our online engagement exploded. Now in our second year, we’re growing again: introducing five new pickle companies, hosting the first-ever Canton Pickle Fest 5K — The Iron Pickle, and bringing back high-energy DJ JT, along with interactive elements, photo ops, and seriously fun swag.
How we got here today is thanks to collaboration with nonprofits like the Downtown Canton Partnership, the Stark County Tourism Board, and the City of Canton, all of whom have played a key role in helping us bring this vision to life. We also take great care in listening to both our attendees and vendors, considering every detail to create a highly organized, enjoyable experience. Starting an event production company from scratch has come with its fair share of learning curves—missteps, miscommunications, and unexpected setbacks—but the joy, energy, and enthusiasm we see from our guests make every challenge worth it.
We’re still a grassroots festival, but our mission is big: spread joy, celebrate creativity, and bring people together — one pickle at a time.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
What is tough is securing funding, of course. We are a free event for the public, so we work closely with partnerships in the community to help make it all happen. It is hard to get the timing right also. You can’t put the cart before the horse as the saying goes, so it is hard when you want to share all the exciting things you are working on, but some elements aren’t always set in stone until the end of the planning process. It can be a harrowing and nail-biting experience to say the least. But we’ve learned to stay flexible, stay persistent, and trust the process.
We are learning the ropes and just like everything else, life is one big learning curve.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about LHG Productions DBA Canton Pickle Fest?
Canton Pickle fest is about bringing people together. We throw one heck of a party fueled by community spirit, crunchy pickles, and a whole lot of creativity. Our secret specialty is joyful chaos—the kind where you might run a 5K dressed like a pickle, discover five new pickle brands, dance to a 90s hit you forgot you loved, and leave with a tote full of handmade goods and pickle-scented swag.
Pickle fests are known for being weird in the best way, but our focus is staying organized in a way you don’t expect. Canton Pickle Fest is full of heart in a way that sticks with you. We may only be in our second year, but we’ve got old soul energy when it comes to celebrating what makes a community shine: small businesses, bold flavors and good food, good music, big laughs, and shared memories.
What sets us apart? CPF is not just a festival—it’s a love letter to local culture, a stage for people chasing their dreams, cultivating creativity and just being a reminder that something as simple as a pickle can be the reason people from all walks of life come together and smile.
What are we most proud of? Spreading happiness.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Never give up hope in the power of collaboration, cooperation and communication.
Pricing:
- Canton Pickle Fest is free to attend.
- Our 5k has tiered pricing and a virtual option- registration through Race Penguin
- The Pickleball Tournament registration is open through Pickleballden.com
- Canton Pickle Fest is sponsored by Victors.com
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cantonpicklefest.com
- Instagram: @cantonpicklefest
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/cantonpicklefest
