Viva Fresh Pickleball Tournament Returns to San Antonio for Second Year

The second annual Viva Fresh Pickleball Tournament is returning to San Antonio, Texas, on Thursday, April 16. Half the seats are already spoken for: 50 percent of player slots for the tournament have been filled, and the organizers are not holding back on scale this year.

Hosted by the Texas International Produce Association and sponsored by SunFed and Perlag Imports, the tournament is a signature social and networking event held in conjunction with the Viva Fresh Expo, focused on building industry relationships through healthy, active competition. What started in Houston in 2025 as a brand-new experiment earned enough goodwill to justify a full upgrade: following last year's incredibly successful tournament and the tremendous amount of positive feedback from participants and attendees, this year's tournament moves to the Texas Pickle Hall.

That venue change is significant. The indoor facility ensures the event will proceed rain or shine, with the added comfort of air conditioning, and with 12 courts available, the event has expanded capacity to offer larger tournament brackets and more space for open play. Compare that to the inaugural edition, which was held at Drop Shots HTX in Houston's historic Farmers Market district: the jump to a dedicated pickleball hall with 12 courts signals that Viva Fresh is treating this as a permanent fixture, not a novelty add-on.

The competition is designed to be inclusive and balanced, catering to everyone from novices to professionals, with players paired with a different partner for every game to keep things fair across skill levels. Participants do not need prior pickleball experience or their own equipment to join the fun, as registered players will receive a complimentary Viva Fresh Pickleball Bag and towels. The mantra organizers are leaning into: "You don't have to know pickleball to enjoy pickleball."

Logistics are handled. Transportation will be available from the JW Marriott to Texas Pickle Hall for players and spectators starting at 8 a.m. Spectators are encouraged to come early to guarantee entrance. Music, food, and beverages will be provided to keep the energy high throughout the day. The Thursday events, including pickleball, are not included in any standard Viva Fresh Expo registration and must be purchased separately.

The inaugural Houston tournament drew genuine enthusiasm and, in Brian Boutin's words at the time, was "the start of something special," with pickleball described as "the perfect blend of competition and connection" and the event positioned to crown the first-ever Viva Fresh Pickleball Champions. That momentum has carried straight into San Antonio, where 12 courts and a climate-controlled hall are waiting for whoever grabs the remaining slots before they disappear.