Great American Pie Festival April 25 – 26

In what has become a traditional rite of spring for the city of Celebration, FL, the Great American Pie Festival returns to Lakeside Park April 25 – 26. The festival will be open 11:00 am – 7:00 pm on Saturday, April 25 and 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Sunday, April 26.

The highlight of the Great American Pie Festival is the never-ending pie buffet, featuring pies from Bakers Square, Bonert's Slice of Pie, Edwards, Key West Key Lime Pie Co., Inc., Mrs. Smith's Bakeries, Publix SuperMarkets Inc., Rocky Mountain Pies, Sara Lee Bakery, California Raisin Marketing Board, Schwan's Bakery, Village Inn Restaurants and Wick's Pies. Admission to the Never Ending Pie Buffet is $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and children age 6-12.

The event also features a kids’ area with games, crafts, pie making activities and inflatables. There will be live entertainment and cooking demonstrations on the main stage, and a pie eating contest for the die-hard pie lovers as well.

That same weekend Ramada Orlando Celebration Resort and Convention Center is hosting the 2009 APC Crisco® National Pie Championships®. This contest is an opportunity for professional and amateur bakers to compete for a $5,000 grand prize. Junior chefs (ages 14 – 17) can also enter pies to compete for a $1,000 gift certificate to the Chef Depot, a source for all Professional Chef Tools. For the past several years the Food Network has covered the National Pie Championship and broadcast a special presentation on the event in the fall.