Wrigley residents are invited to flex their baking skills for the neighborhood’s third annual pie-baking contest next week.
“I mean, it’s obviously a massive event of international proportions,” competition organizer Bill White said. “No, it’s actually just a little neighborhood gathering, some neighbors trying to increase our connectivity to each other, our happiness and, you know, our taste buds.”
The pie baking competition began pre-pandemic in White’s backyard, starting with a small gathering of neighbors. It became so popular that White now holds the event in his front yard.
“I was thinking, “Hey, what would my neighborhood like? What would bring people together?’” White said, noting that he was tired of organizations leveraging their buildings or funds to get people’s attention. He gathered a few neighbors—”really good cooks”—and set his plan into action.
During the last event, White gathered 80-something neighbors and over 15 pies, he said.
“This year, we’re hoping to break 100,” White said of the number of attendees—not about the pies.
Residents may bring multiple pies, but can only enter one to receive votes.
Competition has been fierce in past years. White said that a banana cream pie swept the floor one year, leaving with three awards. Another year, an apple pie baked by a first and third grader with the help of an older neighbor won first prize—cuteness, evidently, is a factor in the judging.
White has not decided on the competition categories yet, noting that he will “make them up” closer to the event.
To be a judge, “just show up,” White said. Judges will be given spoons and tokens which can be used to cast their votes.
To enter a pie, email Justin Simon at justinsimonwrigley@gmail.com.
The contest will take place on Wednesday, July 20 at 7 p.m. at 2490 Maine Ave.
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