Great American Pie Festival returning to Celebration April 27-28

By Banks Lee

Pies. From grandma’s cooking, to the local bakery and specialty shops, pies have been enjoyed by almost everyone throughout the years. On April 27 and 28, 2013, guests in Celebration, Fla. can experience the love of pies for themselves at the 12th Annual American Pie Council (APC) Great American Pie Festival.

The APC, America’s only organization dedicated to preserving America’s love affair with pie, will be holding its popular, free event again in downtown Celebration. The increasingly popular festival returns with all the activities that have made it a family favorite, including the Pie Creation Station, the pie tin art activity for art lovers of all ages, and the Demonstration Stage sponsored by Village Inn and Bakers Square Restaurants, featuring entertainment and baking demonstrations with chefs from across the country. Always a crowd favorite, the kids’ and adults’ pie eating contests return this year, once again sponsored by Private Selection.

But the highlight of the festival is the Never Ending Pie Buffet, which last year featured an astounding 90,000 slices of pie as well as ice cream, toppings and beverages from America’s best known commercial bakers. The Never Ending Pie Buffet has grown each year, from 83,000 slices in 2010 and 70,000 in 2009. The buffet and the children’s activities are the only paid events at the festival. All stage entertainment and demonstrations are free. Tickets to the Pie Buffet are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors over 65 and children under 5 to enjoy all they care to eat and drink.

The festival will be held at Lakeside Park at 631 Sycamore St. in downtown Celebration. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, April 27; and noon to 5 p.m., Sunday, April 28.

For more information, visit celebration.fl.us or piecouncil.org.