Never ending pie buffet returns to Celebration as part of Great American Pie Festival

Pie Lovers will be lured to downtown Celebration, Fla. on April 9 and 10, 2011 by the 83,000-Slice Never Ending Pie Buffet. It’s just one part of two very sweet days at the Great American Pie Festival.

Now in its 10th year, this pie extravaganza dishes up luscious layers of fun for the young and the young at heart. Whether looking to enjoy some of the most delectable desserts in America or simply partake in one of the many entertainment and baking demonstrations staged along Main Street in one of America’s most charming small towns, attendees are sure to enjoy pure pie perfection.

From top crust to two crust, juicy to sweet, chocolate to custard all matter of flavors and fillings will flow forth for two full days in April to the delight of an anticipated 28,000 pie lovers from around the world.

Presented by the American Pie Council (APC) – an organization dedicated to preserving America’s pie heritage – the popular free festival returns to Celebration with all the activities that have made it a favorite event for families.

The Crisco Kids Creation Station will give aspiring young bakers an opportunity to create their own pies or enjoy some fun with pie decorating, pie-scaping, Piecasso tin art at the Piecasso stage and many more activities. The Pietopia Demonstration Stage will feature entertainment and baking demonstrations with chefs from across the country. Of course, the Great American Pie Festival would not be complete without a pie eating contest. Attendees may opt to dig in and compete or simply sit back and enjoy the show. All festival events will be held both days.

As the festival favorite for the past nine years, the Never Ending Pie Buffet will once again feature an all you can eat smorgasbord of 83,000 award-winning pie slices – up from 70,000 in 2009 – ice cream, toppings and beverages from local, regional and national commercial bakeries, restaurants and markets. This is the only paid event at the festival. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors over 65 and children under 5 to enjoy all they care of eat and drink.

Hours for the Pie Festival in Celebration are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

---

The 17th AnnualAPC/Crisco 2011 National Pie Championships returns to Orlando April 8 to 10, 2011 at the Caribe Royale hotel. A record number of entries across all categories are expected to top last year’s record entries: 417 commercial, 170 professional, 321 amateur and seven junior — totaling an astounding 907 pies.

New this year are three categories created to reflect the sign of the times. A “Gluten-free” category requiring a pie that is gluten-free in all aspects including crust, filling and toppings: “Crisco Innovation” category sponsored by Crisco in honor of the brand’s 100th Anniversary this year. The “Innovation” pie requires a blend of classic and contemporary innovative pie making technique and pie flavor selections. Finally a “Royal Wedding” pie suitable for a soon-to-be-married Prince William and Kate Middleton rounds out the third new category. The pie’s the limit with all three of the new categories as well as familiar favorites.

It will take a record number of judges — 200 prequalified volunteer pie aficionados — to eat through almost 1,000 pieces to find the crème de la crème of North American pie bakers. It comes as no surprise that the largest number of entries for a single flavor goes to America’s collective favorite — apple pie — with 39 entries in the amateur category.

Entry forms are available online for junior, amateur, professional and commercial divisions. Entry costs are free for juniors and $15 for amateurs. APC members receive discounts on entries.

For more information, visit the Front Porch Celebration Community or the American Pie Council.