How many pies can a nine year old eat? Find out at the Malibu United Methodist Church Pie Festival on Oct. 4. The festival is free and open to the public. Just bring your appetite from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to the Malibu Country Mart on the corner of Cross Creek Road and Civic Center Way.
Folks wishing to participate in the pie-eating contest may register between now and the day itself for just $1. Every entrant will receive a ribbon, and the winner receives a festival T-shirt stating, “I can’t believe I ate the whole pie.”
The festival came “as a crazy idea 14 years ago” to Malibu United Methodist Church’s Reverend Larry J. Peacock. “I saw the apples in Julian, California and thought about how everyone seems to say the church talks about ‘pies in the sky,’ so why not, ‘pies now?'” He spoke to a church member and baker who told him “it sounds sweet.”
Over the years, the contest has been featured in such magazines as Westways and Food Festivals of Southern California.
At the first festival 14 years ago, chocolate pie was featured in the pie-eating contest.
“There were no utensils. Everyone got a great buzz,” Peacock said. “So now, we’ve switched to vanilla custard and whipped cream. This way, people don’t get such a caffeine buzz.”
While contestants will test their skills with the traditional custard-filled, whipped-cream topped favorite, other temptations that day include chocolate cream, apple nut and smooth-as-silk cheesecake, which will be available either by the slice or whole pie.
There is also a baking contest open to all attendees. Contestants will be judged in several age groups, 9 and under, 10 to 12 year olds and adult.
“There will also be various categories, including chocolate, fruit and nut, cream, cheesecake, and an all-new category, apple. First, second, and third place will all win ribbons and the top winners receive an official pie festival apron,” said Katie Spangle, from the Church’s Media Planning Committee.
“We have some serious apple pie bakers in Malibu,” Peacock said. “So, this year we’ve instituted an all-new category of apple. We’re finally going to find out who makes the best apple pie in Malibu.”
While the funds raised from the festival initially went toward mission programs, today they go right back to the children. The proceeds from the event will support the Church’s Children in Youth Program. The program includes after school and evening sessions for elementary through high school students, Christian education programs and summer vacation Bible School. Funds raised will also go toward scholarships.
Pie lovers with good taste in music can chew to the beat of live bands, Jazz Funkadelics, made up of local Malibu High School students, recent grads and even some parents, and the popular Melvin Eddy’s Blues Band.
Adults may also participate in a silent auction, which was instituted nine years ago, for such items as restaurant coupons, gift certificates, a year of DirecTV and Total Choice Programming with Satellite dish, sporting events and artwork.
“We have the largest painting we have ever auctioned this year, 6-feet square, by a California artist,” Peacock said.
Three pie-eating contests will take place at 11:30 a.m., noon, and 1:30 p.m. There is a fee for those participating in the pie bake-off and pie-eating contests.
“We like to get people together who rarely are,” Peacock said. “So this year’s 28 judges include City council members, school principals, local service club presidents and other local business people. There are four judges for each of seven categories. We refer to the day as our Festival of Fun and Good Taste.”
Those wishing to pre-register for either the pie eating or baking contests can call the Malibu United Methodist Church at 310.457.7505 through Oct. 3. After that, you may register at the event.