Special Event

Arkansas Pie Festival to explore all things pie

There are few things more comforting than pie. Filled with fruit or cream, double-crust or topped with fluffy meringue, the pie is a flaky slice of lovely deliciousness.

So, it's about time it got its own festival.

Arkansas Pie Festival

10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Cherokee Village Town Center, 10 Santee Drive, Cherokee Village

Tickets: advance $9, at the door $12, children 5-12 $5

(870) 335-7409

arkansaspiefestival…

The inaugural Arkansas Pie Festival takes place Saturday in Cherokee Village.

"Pie is one of those nostalgic foods that brings people together," says event co-host Graycen Bigger. "It's all about family and celebration and home."

The idea for the festival sprang from a conversation between Senior Assistant Attorney General Shawn Johnson and Jonathan Rhodes, community developer for Cherokee Village. Rhodes is also the chairman of the board for the Spring River Innovation Hub, where Bigger is executive director.

She says, "We had been talking about having a festival in the village and thought what a great opportunity to raise awareness about the Innovation Hub and everything we're doing."

Money raised at the festival will go to the innovation hub and its programs in the area supporting small business and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics) education for children.

Also, the Regional Innovation Hub in Little Rock will bring its Mobile Makerspace, the STEAMroller, so guests can try their hands at STEAM-focused creativity.

The "real corner piece," according to Bigger, is the pie, particularly the pie competition.

There are three entry levels: commercial bakers, home bakers and student bakers (under 18). There will be 20 commercial bakers and there's no cap on the other categories. Bigger says they've had strong response.

Everyone will be competing for the ultimate prize: the Pie in the Sky Award. Other award categories include Best Fruit Pie, Best Savory Pie, Best Meringue Pie and Best Wild Card Pie. The panel of judges: author and "authority on Arkansas pie" Kat Robinson, Democrat-Gazette columnist Rex Nelson and Steve Shuler of Rock City Eats.

There will also be a People's Choice category. Each attendee will receive a token that they can then use to vote for their favorite pie.

And guests can have a chance to take a pie home with them for Easter dessert. Home bakers are being asked to make two pies: one for judging, one to be auctioned off.

For yet more pie, there are pie-eating and -throwing contests.

But it's not all pie. Miss Arkansas Claudia Raffo will sign autographs, music will play throughout the day and there will be book signings. Food trucks will sell other food items and sponsor Lost 40 is donating some beers.

"It's a full day," Bigger says. "So we just want to invite people to come to Cherokee Village and spend the day with friends and family."

Weekend on 04/18/2019

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