If you’d like to have some “Hard Core Fun,” plan on taking in the North Central Chamber of Commerce’s Apple Fest, which will make its 27th annual appearance on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20-21, inside Johnston War Memorial Park.
Among the event’s major attractions will be the apple pie baking and eating contests. And in keeping with tradition, the Chamber this week issued the call for any and all apple pie lovers to enter the baking competition.
“We draw bakers from all over the state and as far away as Massachusetts,” said Kelly Patz, the Chamber’s events coordinator, who is originally from California and won the event several years ago. “It’s fun being selected ‘Queen of Pies.’”
Patz noted that Warwick resident Stephanie Dancouse is the reigning apple pie baking champion.
So, what does a person need to do to enter the annual baking contest?
The entry fee is $5 per pie, and people may enter as many pies as they’d like. However, each pie needs to be different in some way and is judged on crust type, filling, overall taste and overall appearance. First-, second- and third-place prizes will be awarded.
There’s also another important part of the baking contest. Patz wanted it known that “only amateur pie bakers may enter” the competition.
This year’s contest will again feature celebrity judges chef Frank Terranova of NBC10’s “Cooking with Class” and Johnson & Wales University pastry chef Mitch Stamm, as well as other well-known personalities.
Winners will be announced immediately following the judging.
Each entry form must include the person’s name, address, city or town, state, zip code, telephone number, email and the total fee enclosed. Patz said all pies entered become property of the North Central Chamber of Commerce. Also, the Chamber is not responsible for lost pie plates.
Patz said people should send entries to the Chamber office, 255 Greenville Ave., Johnston, RI 02919, or simply bring their pies to the Washington Trust-sponsored Main Stage inside War Memorial Park between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 20. Judging will begin at 1 p.m.
“So, if you know someone who makes fabulous pies, or if you think your pie is the absolutely the best in the land, make sure to enter the fun and bring a pie – or two – to our 27th apple pie baking contest,” Patz added. “Please remember the cost is only $5 per pie. And why not see if you can bake the best apple pie around?”
The Chamber will also again host an apple pie eating contest during the festival.
Patz said this year’s contest will be held on Sept. 21, also inside Johnston War Memorial Park, beginning at 3:30 p.m. It will feature ambitious eaters in three different age categories.
Damon Bedford, three-time winner of the contest, will return this year to defend his title in the division for people ages 13 to 18. Other categories are ages 12 and under and 18 and over.
There’s no entry fee for the pie eating contest, but Patz said “people who decided to enter should like eating apple pie” and “must do so in a fast time than all other entrants.”
This year’s Apple Fest promise to be the biggest ever, as the Chamber already has close to 100 vendors and more applications coming in daily. That total includes many returning vendors as well as many unique and new participants.
“We’ll have lots of different jewelry,” Patz said. “There will be tons of hand-crafted items, delicious food and lots, lots more.
As a new twist, the Chamber will be selling official Apple Fest T-shirts at $10 if they’re pre-ordered through the organization. This year’s slogan, as created by Patz, is “Hard Core Fun!”
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