The Pie Festival in Pie Town is an annual event.
File photos

A call for Pies

It’s time to pre-heat those ovens, put on your dancing shoes and catch a horned toad! The 41st annual Pie Town Festival kicks off this Friday evening, September 8 with live music and a potato bar fundraiser. Saturday morning activities begin at 8 a.m. with a 5k walk/run followed by a jam-packed day of music, fun and friendly competition.

“Don’t forget to bring your pies!” said Jewel Star, coordinator of the pie baking contest.  Star is requesting more pie entries in hopes to get back to the pre-covid participation of 35 to 50 pies.

The historic site of Pie Town, population, 118, can attract up to two thousand people from all over the state and nation to their annual Pie Town Festival. They offer something for everyone with food trucks, local vendors, live music, entertainment, kids games, a horse shoe competition, and contests including the famous horned toad race and pie eating contest.

“What I love about the Pie Town Festival is that it is so indicative of the old fashion ways, it’s just a really fun day,” Star said. “ and our focus is always about the kids.”

This year Star said they have a couple of surprises in store for attendees. “You don’t want to miss this year’s Pie Queen!” she added.

The Pie Town Festival is organized by the Pie Town Rising Stars, a non-profit dedicated to the improvement and preservation of the historic community of Pie Town. Before you start baking please check out the website for updated registration, contest rules, map and schedule.

https://pietownrisingstars.org/

Friday, Sept. 8

5 p.m. Playground Fundraiser Potato Bar Dinner and Dance – Donations

6 p.m. Music by Shane Vanlandingham Trio

The popular pie eating contest.

Saturday, Sept. 9

7 a.m. PiK Run registration opens

8 a.m. PiK Run begins

9 a.m. Souvenir stand opens, kids games registration opens at souvenir stand, pie eating contest registration opens at souvenir stand, and the registration for pie baking contest opens at Pie Baking Contest tent.

9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Live entertainment in the pavilion – Terri SunFlower and Horseshoe tournament registration opens at pits.

10:30 a.m. Pie baking contest entries closes

10:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.Pie baking contest entries viewing at Pie Baking Contest tent

10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Kids games

11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Live entertainment in the pavilion – Shane Vanlandingham Duo

12:30 p.m. PiK run winners announcement and kids games winners announcement

1:00 p.m. Imagine A Horse show

1:30 p.m. Crowning of Pie Festival Queen/King in Pavilion

1:45 p.m. Pie baking contest pies brought to Pavilion & winners announced. Silent auction for pie baking contest pies opens in Pavilion.

2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Live entertainment in the pavilion – Roon

2:30 p.m. Pie eating contest

3:00 p.m. Imagine A Horse show and souvenir stand closes

3:15 p.m. Silent auction for pie baking winners closes in Pavilion

3:30 p.m. Horned toad race on basketball court – no fee, being your own toad

3:30 to 4:30 Live entertainment in the pavilion – Jack Bugayong

4:30 Raffle draw at Pavilion

7:00 p.m. to 11 p.m. Dance (Community Center, Pavilion if good weather)

“Wild Whiskey”, cover charge collected at the door.

Jessica Carranza Pino, Editor