Can You Bake? Bring Your Pies to Art on the Avenue

If you're confident in your pie-making abilities, Art on the Avenue—to be held rain or shine on Saturday, Oct. 5—is your chance to see how your grandmother’s secret apple pie recipe stacks up against your neighbor’s exquisite chess pie.

For a ninth consecutive year, Del Ray’s signature event will include a pie-baking contest.

The contest awards cash prizes in two divisions: youth (17 and under) and adult.

The pies must be officially entered before noon on Saturday, and judging will begin promptly at 12:15 p.m.

The pies will be on display next to the Avenue Store located on Mount Vernon Avenue between Del Ray and Oxford avenues.

Every pie must be submitted with an entry form. For complete contest rules, visit the Art on the Avenue website and download the form.

Pies will be judged on taste and presentation (this is an arts festival, after all), as well as a special bonus category that can be added at the judges' discretion.

“The pie-baking contest provides a fun and different way for people to explore their creative side,” said Stacy Biddinger, an event organizer. “From unique flavor combinations to pun-filled names for the entries, we never know what we'll end up with each year.”

After judging, the pies will be sold for $3 a slice and $5 for a la mode, with ice cream being donated by Artfully Chocolate owner Eric Nelson.

All profits will then be given to Stop Child Abuse Now of Northern Virginia, a local nonprofit. This is the fifth consecutive year SCAN will be the beneficiary of the pie contest.

“By entering a pie or purchasing a slice, you are contributing to the mission of SCAN to support children and families in Northern Virginia,” Biddinger said.

Local Realtor Bobi Bomar is sponsoring the contest and will serve as one of the judge’s of the adult competition along with Sheriff Dana Lawhorne and Del Ray resident Randee Hilton, the winner of the contest the previous two years.

“Mango” Mike Anderson and Bill Blackburn of Pork Barrel BBQ, Holy Cow and the sushi bar will serve as judges of the youth contest.