After the Pickle Party

Wow. Just… wow.

How do you even begin to put into words a day like that? My first Pickle Parade as a Pickle Queen… and I’m still riding the dill-irium of it all.

If you read last week’s Salutation, you know this story didn’t start here. I remember standing on the corner of Main and Broad years ago, holding my kids’ hands—watching their eyes light up at something so simple, so joyful, so… Mansfield. Back then, I was just soaking it in.

This year? I was in it. Crown, sparkles, and all.

And let me tell you… it hits different when you’re not just watching the magic—you’re part of making it.

My day started at 3:18 AM. (Yes… you read that right. No snooze button for royalty.) Hair, makeup, sparkle-on-sparkle, crown secured like one of the queens of cucumbers I have become. From there, straight into the brine of it all—the Pickle Run, the 5K, the Fun Run… and then rolling right into a full day of parade magic that didn’t wrap up until after 9 PM (with some well-earned enchiladas as the grand finale).

There is no sitting for royalty, besides the short little stops to cool off in between our pickle duties.

Worth it. Every single second.

Now, let’s talk about what people don’t see. This parade doesn’t just magically pop up like a pickle in a jar. There are hours—and hours—of behind-the-scenes work. Details stacked on details. Bands booked, routes mapped, logistics dialed in tighter than a pickle lid. It takes a whole lot of people who care deeply to make this event feel effortless.

And getting to be part of that this year? Absolute honor. Truly.

But the real magic… Oh, the real magic got me. The kids. Every single one of them.

The big eyes. The little hands reaching out. The pure, unfiltered excitement when they caught a string of beads like it was the greatest treasure on earth. The conversations. The smiles. The moments where time just paused long enough for you to feel it all.

I got teary more than once.

Because that right there—that’s the heart of it.

Not the crown. Not the title. Not even the parade itself.

It’s the connection. The joy. The shared energy of a community coming together to celebrate something dillightful… and somehow deeply meaningful.

Now, I’ll be honest—my heart longed to be with my Sunshine family and my husband Eric during the parade. Our Sunshine aerialists still got to fly down Main Street—spinning upside down in silks for 50,000 people (which, by the way, is its own kind of adrenaline pickle). That’s the studio’s piece, our contribution, our flavor in the mix.

This year, my role shifted. More waving, less flying.

But I did get to be with everyone after… and even though my Queenly duties kept me moving all day long, the love was still there. Always is.

And here’s what I know for sure—

This whole thing? It just keeps getting better.

Bigger. Brighter. More brined with joy every single year.

Whether you love pickles… or you’re just here for the party… Mansfield shows up in the most beautiful way.

And me?

I’m just over here, heart full, slightly exhausted, still finding glitter in places it has no business being… and already looking forward to doing it all again.

Because once you’ve felt that kind of joy…

You’re kind of in a pickle—you just want more.

💛