April 26, 2009

Sunday 12:00pm - 5:00pm

Detail: Orlando, the city known for world-class theme parks and family fun will boast yet another claim to fame as the 2009 Great American Pie Festival sponsored by Crisco® rolls into town April 25 through 26, turning the idyllic town of Celebration into the undisputed pie capital of the world for two flavor-filled days.

From fruit to sweet potato, chocolate to custard, pumpkin to citrus, and nuts to berries, all matter of flavors and fillings will flow forth for two full days in April to the delight of an anticipated 25,000 pie lovers from all over the world.

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

The highlight of the festival is the Never Ending Pie Buffet, a smorgasbord of an anticipated 50,000 award-winning slices from local, regional and national commercial bakeries, restaurants and markets, including Bakers Square & Village Inn restaurants; Publix SuperMarkets, Inc.; Bonert’s Slice of Pie, Harlan Bakeries, Rocky Mountain Pies and Wick’s Pies. An abundant array of ice cream flavors and toppings from The J.M. Smucker Company and Publix allow everyone the opportunity to create their ultimate “pie in the sky” fantasy.

Between trips to the buffet, festival attendees can enjoy pie-eating contests (by participating or cheering on contestants), baking demonstrations by professional pie makers on the Bakers Square Village Inn “PieCasso” Demonstration Stage, food and beverage vendors, more than 20 craft vendors and live entertainment. Young pie enthusiasts can make their own pies at the Crisco® Kids Creation Station, make pie tin art, make a “PieCasso” painting or play in inflatable bounce houses, a rock climbing wall or the world's largest pinball machine. All festival events will be held both days.

Whether they’re bonafide pie lovers or merely casual nibblers looking for an afternoon of fun, Orlando residents and visitors are encouraged to stroll through the free-admission festival and enjoy two days of family fun.

While attendees enjoy the food and fun, competition heats up with the APC/ Crisco® National Pie Championships® held April 24-26 at the Orlando Sun Resort by Lexington in Kissimmee. Here, the nation’s leading Commercial, Professional, Amateur and Junior Chef pie bakers vie to determine the top pie in each division. Grand prize in the amateur and professional divisions is $5,000 and serious bragging rights. Last year’s winners whipped, pureed and rolled their way to victory with their own versions of Key Lime, Strawberry Cream and “Funky Monkey” pies.

Among the pie judges are Orlando’s own celebrity Chef Jon Ashton, an English-born culinary artist who is currently the Food Correspondent for the nationally syndicated morning show "The Daily Buzz".  Ashton has made cooking appearances on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” is a regular on “The Today Show” and travels the country doing media appearances and seminars.

The host hotel, Ramada Orlando Celebration Resort and Convention Center in Celebration, Fla., located just 1.5 miles from Walt Disney World Resort, is offering a special per night room rate for those attending or participating in the Great American Pie Festival.

Baking competitions are not open to the public. However, the award ceremonies for the Amateur and Professional divisions will be held at Celebration as part of the festivities, with the Amateur awards presented at 6:45 p.m., April 24; and Professional and Junior Chef awards presented at 2 p.m., April 25. Commercial division awards will be presented in an industry-only ceremony on April 26.

The festival will be held at Lakeside Park at 631 Sycamore St. in downtown Celebration, Florida 34747. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, April 25; noon to 5 p.m., Sunday, April 26. Admission to the festival is free. Costs for the Never Ending Pie Buffet are: $10 adults, $5 ages 65 and up; $5 ages 6-12.

For more information, visit the Front Porch Celebration Community Web Site at www.celebration.fl.us; or the American Pie Council®, www.piecouncil.org. Crisco® is a registered trademark of The J. M. Smucker Company.  For more information, visit www.crisco.com.The American Pie Council® is the only organization committed to maintaining America’s pie heritage, passing on the tradition of pie-making and promoting America’s love affair with pie. The APC offers personal, professional and commercial memberships. For more information, please visit www.piecouncil.org.

Misc Info: Never Ending Pie Buffet: $10 adults, $5 ages 65 and up; $5 ages 6-12.