Hebron residents line up on the sidewalk of Route 40 — adults lounge in lawn chairs and kids kick back in their wagons. Everyone watches the road in anticipation, patiently awaiting the first-ever Hebron Pie Festival Parade, part of the village’s third annual Hebron Pie Festival.

The parade featured around 40 participants, including the Lakewood High School marching band that blessed the streets with trumpet renditions of various pop songs and the firefighters who waved ethusticastically at the excited kids. 

The third annual Hebron Pie Festival took place on the corner of High and Main Street on Saturday Sept. 14, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Credit: Ella Diehl
Hebron residents line up in preparation for the parade. Credit: Ella Diehl
Lakewood High School Marching Band plays trumpet and drum renditions of “Locked Out of Heaven,” and other pop songs during the parade. Credit: Ella Diehl

The parade kicked off the Hebron Historical Society’s third annual Hebron Pie Festival. The pie festival featured performances by The Shining Stars, Matt Frampton and Chuck Ritchey, as well as a pie royalty contest, pie eating competition and a blue ribbon baking contest.

Mayor of Hebron Valerie Mockus observed the attendees sitting together, laughing and eating slices of pie. The Shining Stars, an organization for children singers, perform their hearts out on stage. 

“That is Americana at its finest,” Mockus said, smiling. “That is what I want. I want people to spend time together and take pride in our community because it’s a wonderful place to be.”

The Hebron Historical Society, nearing its 50th anniversary, hosts the annual pie festival to demonstrate community pride. According to Mockus, the nearly 200-year-old Village of Hebron has a traditional, hard-working culture.

“Something like a pie festival really ties into our roots. It’s a little old-fashioned but actually it is a really great fit for our community. Who doesn’t love a big old slice of pie?” Mockus said. 

Volunteers help attendees at the main booth at the Hebron Pie Festival. Credit: Ella Diehl
Attendees line up to buy a slice of pie. Credit: Ella Diehl
Pie slices sit on the shelf, waiting to be served. Credit: Ella Diehl
During the festival, Ken Apacki (center) and other members of the Licking County League of Women Voters helped residents check their voter registration. Credit: Ella Diehl

The pie festival has evolved since the event was first held in 2019.

This was the first year the festival included a parade. And the skies were clear all day — unlike the 2022 pie festival which was cut short due to thunderstorms.

Mockus said the plethora of volunteers are to credit for the success of this year’s festival.

“We brought people together and helped facilitate that work so we could have an awesome festival and wrangle the volunteers to make sure that this day happened,” said Brittany Misner, economic and community director for the Village of Hebron and co-chair of the event.

David McBride, volunteer for the Hebron Pie Festival, sells pies. He bought a cherry fried pie and a peach pie earlier in the day. “They were fantastic,” McBride said. Credit: Ella Diehl

Jack Justice, former Hebron Historical Society president and current museum director, reported an excellent turnout. 

“It’s been nice just seeing the community come together,” Misner said. 

Jennifer McDonald and her husband Shawn McDonald enjoy their blueberry pie. “It’s a great day for Hebron,” Jennifer McDonald said. Credit: Ella Diehl
Pam and Rodney Hankins adorned with “I heart Hebron” shirts. The two came in from Dayton, Ohio for the pie festival. Credit: Ella Diehl

At 3 p.m., it was time for the pie eating contest. The adults, aiming to finish a full pie without the use of their hands, stuffed their faces until they couldn’t anymore. They rinsed the pie down with water, then started eating again. 

In a close finish, Brandon Ours cleaned his pie tin first. His 10-year-old son, Eli Ours, stood in front, cheering him on the entire time.

The kids’ competition was next, some chose to cover their shirts with plastic bags in order to protect their clothes. Eli Ours decided he didn’t need one. In just a few minutes, Eli Ours cleaned his tin, following in his dad’s footsteps and winning the kids’ competition.

Brandon Ours, winner of the adult pie eating competition, puts his hands up in success as he finishes his pie. Credit: Ella Diehl
Eli Ours, winner of the kids pie eating competition, smiles with his newly-won medal. Credit: Ella Diehl
The father-son duo poses after their family sweep of the pie eating contests. Credit: Ella Diehl

But the pie-eating wasn’t the only pie contest for the day. The Blue Ribbon Pie contest had over 16 participants, and the competition was steep. Each participant was required to make two versions of their pie. One for the pie auction, one for the judges to taste. Attendees could bid on their favorite pies, and potentially walk home with a duplicate of the winning pie.

“We want to keep the art of pie baking strong. It’s almost a lost art,” said organizer of the baking contest and volunteer Penny Wolf.

The winners were announced around 4 p.m., and Mindy Kester took third place for her apple pie. Denise Keefe won second for her blueberry pie. The first place win went to Connie Schilling for her Pecan pie. 

Schilling was surprised by her win. Her son, lover of her pecan pie, encouraged her to enter.

“I came to see who the winner was. I thought, maybe I’ll know who wins,” Schilling said.

Connie Schilling and her husband Steve Schilling pose with her first place prize basket. Connie Schilling loves to bake. “There is something nice about getting that rolling pin out and all the fun little utensils. I did enjoy it,” Connie Schilling said. In her prize basket, she won a brand new rolling pin. Credit: Ella Diehl
Denise Keefe proudly shows off her second-place basket. Credit: Ella Diehl
Mindy Kester won third for her apple pie. She used her grandma’s pie crust for the recipe. “I’d love to open my own bakery sometimes,” Kester said. Credit: Ella Diehl

Ella Diehl writes for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison University’s Journalism program, which is supported by generous donations from readers. Sign up for The Reporting Project newsletter here.