"The Great Pickle Disaster" - by the Kingwood Audit

1.2 yrs App
~ 1 year, 3 mos ago Jul 6, '25 2:06pm

The great pickle disaster was an event hosted by Krystal Wertman of JG Events in New Braunfels, aka, "In a Pickle Festival New Braunfels". Unlike in Kingwood, she chose to charge attendees and vendors fees to participate and attend the event. It was reportedly so bad ambulances, medical staff, police were on site to prevent injuries and a group was created stating they were targeted by Krystal Wertman and her supporters for publicly posting complaints and/or demanding refunds. She allegedly bragged about how she sold over 10,000 tickets, however when it came to the event disaster Krystal claimed she was unaware of the turnout. Krystal Wertman is known in the NB area for her poorly planned and overcrowded event, with many reporting that she ghosted and allegedly ran off with the money collected, disabling the refund option on the ticket site, without offering any refunds for those who were reportedly not even able to get inside after buying a ticket due to entry and food lines going 8 blocks into the surrounding neighborhood. After the event, a Facebook group was made "Victims seeking refunds from new Braunfels pickle festival disaster". She was reportedly very hostile towards anyone who showed negative views towards the disaster and many reported that she intentionally blocked individuals or businesses speaking out against her.

The event host of the New Braunfels In a Pickle Festival, Krystal Wertman owner of JG Events, is the same person who hosted this years Town Center 4th of July Festival.

Have you or someone you know experienced something similar?
The Kingwood Audit is actively collecting statements, screenshots, and firsthand accounts related to this matter. If you have information to share, please reach out. You may choose to remain anonymous.

Replies:

1.2 yrs
~ 1 year, 3 mos ago Jul 6, '25 3:23pm

The Kingwood Audit is an independent citizen-led initiative dedicated to investigating and reporting unethical or illegal behavior affecting the Kingwood community, with the goal of keeping residents informed and safe.

Here you'll find coverage over the following topics:

• Event Fraud (misuse of vendor/sponsor funds, false advertising)

• Business Practices (unsafe operations, labor violations, scams)

• Public Safety Hazards (fireworks mishandling, unlicensed operations)

• Online Misconduct (defamation, targeted harassment)

• False Advertising or Misrepresentation (individuals pretending to be "volunteer-led" when profiting)

Have you or someone you know experienced something similar?
The Kingwood Audit is actively collecting statements, screenshots, and firsthand accounts related to these matters. If you have information to share, please reach out. You may choose to remain anonymous.

We don't stir the pot, we just show you who's been poisoning it.
- The Kingwood Audit

3.2 yrs
~ 1 year, 3 mos ago Jul 6, '25 3:25pm

I love how invested we've all become in the Great Pickle Disaster after seeing it casually referenced in some thread. I don't even mean that sarcastically. Genuinely like it.

16.8 yrs
~ 1 year, 3 mos ago Jul 6, '25 3:44pm

Here is a link to the failed pickle festival from a local news paper.
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.
( the balance of the story available in the link) mycanyonlake.com/org anizer-apologies-aft er-pickle-festival-l eaves-sour-tast

1.2 yrs
~ 1 year, 3 mos ago Jul 6, '25 3:55pm

seem2 :
I'm honestly surprised I didn't hear about this sooner. I personally spoke with the commenter who shared her experience, and what she described dealing with Krystal Wertman was nothing short of a horror show. These aren't isolated incidents, there seems to be a troubling pattern with events hosted by Krystal, and the community deserves to be aware of it.

1.2 yrs
~ 1 year, 3 mos ago Jul 6, '25 3:58pm

mellen :
Thank you for sharing the link, I actually wanted to share it too, but I just recently learned that Kingwood even has a website! Definitely something more residents should know about.