The 30th annual Old-Time Music, Ozark Heritage Festival will celebrate Missouri culture June 7 and 8 in downtown West Plains, and as part of the festivities, the pie competition will return for a fifth year.
The free festival is dedicated to celebrating Ozarks music and culture, and it will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. both days, with music scheduled to begin at noon.
The pie contest will kick off the second day of festivities, and this year’s competition will again include a children’s division and cash prizes. The youth division is open for any pie made by children 15 years old and younger, said officials. A contribution from 154th District Rep. David P. Evans has made possible prizes of $30, $20 and $10 to be awarded to first through third place youth winners. The first place winner will also receive an inscribed pie plate.
The adult division will include three categories: fruit pies, such as apple, cherry, banana cream or key lime; other dessert pies, such as pecan, peanut butter, chocolate or shoofly; and savory pies, such as spinach, tomato or quiche. Prize money in the amounts of $50, $30 and $20 will be awarded for first through third places in each adult category along with an inscribed pie plate for first place winners. The grand prize baker will receive $100 and an inscribed pie plate, said officials.
To enter, bring a pie to the Redbud Room at the West Plains Civic Center between 10 and 10:45 a.m. June 8. Judging by a select group of experts will begin shortly after, with awards announced — and samples offered — at 12:45 p.m. in the Brush Arbor. Competitors are strongly urged to be present for the awards.
Pies should be prepared “from scratch,” and homemade crust is preferred, said officials. Pies should be brought in nonreturnable tins. Multiple entries in one category are allowed. Organizers invite contestants to include their recipes for future promotion and acknowledgement.
The Old-Time Music, Ozarks Heritage Festival seeks to celebrate, preserve, pass on and nurture an appreciation of the old-time music and folk life traditions distinctive to the Ozark Highlands. Admission to all festival events is free.
2024 festival partners include the West Plains Council on the Arts, the City of West Plains, the Ozark Heritage Welcome Center, West Plains Civic Center and Missouri State University-West Plains. Partial funding for the event is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency. Additional support has been provided by Missouri Humanities and Missouri Department of Tourism.
For more information on the festival email info@westplainsarts.org, visit the website at www.oldtimemusic.org or follow @old.time.music.festival on Facebook.
