The Union County Heritage Festival will once again celebrate the baking traditions of the community with its 2026 Pie and Cake Contest. Bakers of all ages are invited to showcase their favorite homemade recipes and compete for cash prizes, with no entry fee required.

The Pie Contest will feature three categories: Fruit, Cream, and Nut/Other. The Cake Contest will include Layered Cake, Sheet Cake, and Bundt Cake categories.

Entries must be completely homemade. For the Pie Contest, both the filling and crust must be homemade, while Cake Contest entries must include a homemade cake and homemade frosting or glaze. Store-bought pie crusts, fillings, cake mixes, and pre-made frosting are not permitted. Each entry must also include a recipe card listing the ingredients and instructions, as well as a completed registration form.
Entries should be delivered to the Union County Extension Office, 2721 Maynardville Hwy., Maynardville, TN 37807, during one of the following drop-off times:

Thursday, October 1: 4:00–5:00 p.m.
Friday, October 2: 8:00–11:00 a.m.
Judging will take place on Friday, October 2, at 12:30 p.m. Pie entries will be evaluated on overall appearance, crust, and taste. Cake entries will be judged on overall appearance, texture, and taste.
Cash prizes will be awarded, including $100 for the Grand Champion and $50 for first-place winners.

Following judging, any pies and cakes that have not been pre-sold will be offered for sale on Facebook at 2:00 p.m. Friday, October 2, on a first-come, first-served basis. The proceeds from the sale will benefit Union County Family and Community Education (FCE) programs, helping support their activities and services in the community.
The Heritage Festival Pie and Cake Contest is an opportunity for local bakers to share their talents, showcase treasured recipes, and celebrate the food traditions that help make Union County special.

For additional information and complete contest rules, contact the Union County Extension Office.