Can You Bake a First-Place Apple Pie? Art & Apple Fest Wants Your Dessert Entry

How do you like your apple pie?

The upcoming in downtown Rochester is in search of the finest, most imaginative bakers looking to capture their talents as self-proclaimed apple dessert connoisseurs.

Anyone may submit either an apple pie or apple dessert for the contest — the only requirement is that apples are the main ingredient.

Applications are available at www.ArtandApples.com. A non-refundable application fee is $5 and must be submitted by Sept. 4.  All proceeds benefit Paint Creek Center for the Arts. 

Participating bakers will gather with their entries on Saturday, Sept. 8 at 11:30 a.m. at the Art & Apples Festival inside Rochester Municipal Park.  Guest judges will be on-site to sample each pie or dessert and award first, second, and third place in each category. 

Winners in each category will receive a one-of-a-kind dessert or pie dish created by an exhibiting artist; first-place winners will be featured in an article in the 2013 Art & Apples Festival Event Guide. Winners will be announced at 12:30 p.m. on the Main Stage following the judging.

Judges this year include: Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan K. Barnett, Dave Lewallen from WXYZ Channel 7, Miss Oakland County Shelby Gardiner and Mark Slessor, Pastry Chef at the Royal Park Hotel.

The festival will be held in Rochester Park in Downtown Rochester Sept. 7-9.  Parking shuttle service will be available from the Rochester High School parking lot to the Rochester Community House.

For more information about the Art & Apples Festival, call (248) 651-4110 or visit www.ArtandApples.com.