Calling all apple lovers for the Apple Festival Pie & Dessert Contest & Community Social in Bayfield, WI

Calling all apple lovers for the Apple Festival Pie & Dessert Contest & Social!

Do you have a favorite apple pie or dessert recipe? Think it's pretty good? Then you need to bake it up and put it to the test with the 2011 Apple Pie & Dessert Contest judges during this year's 50th annual Bayfield Apple Festival. Entries for pies and desserts will be accepted at the Bayfield Lakeside Pavilion between 4-5pm on Thursday, October 6th with the community social following from 6-8pm.

The Bayfield Apple Festival Pie & Dessert Committee along with the 2011 event sponsor Bremer Bank invites you to enter the contest, or if you just are hankering for a delicious apple treat, try some handcrafted apple pie and dessert samples at this year's Community Apple Pie Social. Beat the crowds and take part in this early bird event before the Apple Festival officially begins. There will be plenty of ice cream and pie for everyone, so bring your family and friends.

Attend this fun event at the Bayfield Lakeside Pavilion and taste the winning entries! The Social will take place from 6-8pm on Thursday, October 6th. Admission to the social is $2 if wearing a 2011 Apple Festival button or $4 without a button. Included in the admission is a slice of delicious apple pie, Tetzner's cinnamon ice cream and a beverage. The winning pies and desserts will be announced at 6:30pm, and you will have the opportunity to sample all of the winners!

For those wishing to enter the Pie & Dessert contest, download an application and a copy of the rules online at bayfield.org or pick up one up at the Bayfield Chamber office. There are six categories this year: Home Baked All-American Apple Pie, Commercial All-American Apple Pie, Home Baked Creative Apple Pie, Home Baked Apple Dessert, Commercial Apple Dessert (New in 2011!) and Youth Apple Dessert. The Youth category can be any treat made with Bayfield apples and is open to anyone under the age of 15.

A 1st and 2nd place prize will be awarded in each category and the names of the winners will be announced in local media following the contest. The winners in each category will be the recipients of a unique commemorative Apple Festival gift created by a local artist especially for the 2011 Apple Festival Pie and Dessert Contest.

Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy delicious desserts and celebrate the harvest season with the community of Bayfield. We'll even share this recipe for Caramel Apple Crisp from the Pier Plaza Restaurant to get you in an apple mood: Caramel Apple Crisp

Apple Festival is a yearly celebration of Bayfield's apple harvest and 2011 marks it's 50th annual celebration. This year's events take place October 7th - 9th, from 10:00am to 5:00pm each day. There are activities for all ages including a kid's carnival, fine art and craft booths in Memorial park, orchard and festival food booths and live entertainment provided by Big Top Chautauqua. For a full schedule of Apple Festival activities visit bayfield.org or call (800) 447-4094.