Pittsburgh's Rivers of Fire Festival 2026

A FIERY WEEKEND OF FLAVOR AND FUN

Rivers of Fire is Pittsburgh’s hot sauce festival—back for year two at Velum Fermentation in the South Side.

  • Sample sauces from mild to wild from 22 hot sauce vendors
  • cheer on contestants in the hot pepper eating contest
  • try a hot pepper yourself then cool off with an ice bath with Nervana Health to benefit Animal Friends for Veterans
  • Participate in the scavenger hunt and win prizes
  • Witness the fire & aerial show by Iron City Circus Arts
  • Watch Pittsburgh's Hot Talk where the Positively Pittsburgh Podcast will interview a few locals as they are eating increasingly hot wings
  • Try the Hot Talk wing line up for yourself
  • Experience the mobile escape room on site
  • Play some pinball games between pours
  • Grab some food from the food trucks and cool off with some ice cream

Friday night warms things up for free; Saturday is the full-tilt main event.

WHERE: Velum Fermentation - 2120 Jane Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203

WHEN: October 9th 5pm-9pm & October 10th 12pm-7pm

WEBSITE: https://www.pittsburghsriversoffire.com/