Pumpkin Pie Everywhere at the Annual Pie-Eating Contest

It's messy, sweet and fun. The pumpkin pie-eating contest is certainly a Pumpkin Festival event not to miss. There's nothing more entertaining (and more gross) than watching kids dump their faces into a pumpkin pie and devour everything in the pie dish as fast and as creatively as they can.

The pie eating contests take place in the Bank of America Family Fun Zone, located in the Bank of America parking lot at 620 Main Street in Half Moon Bay.

On Saturday at 2 p.m., kids 11 and under and at 2:15 p.m., kids 12 and over claimed their spot at the table and were handed a 9-inch pumpkin pie loaded with whipped cream to gobble up.

"To me, the pie eating contest embodies the essence of Pumpkin Festival,” said Wilbur Collins, the spiritual and emotional leader of the contest organizing team for many years. “It encourages participation, it’s loads of fun, and it’s open to everyone. Seeing kids with face and hair full of gooey pumpkin pie, whipped cream and a big smile, it’s a truly sight to behold.”

The winners are chosen by audience applause, so style, flair and humor count as much as anything.

“This competition isn’t necessarily about how much you eat or even how fast you eat it,” said Naropa Sabine, pie eating contest Creative Director. “The winner is usually the person who ends up gnarliest and shows some imaginative flair, so anyone can win.”

Today, Sunday, Oct. 14, the pie eating contest happens again in the Bank of America parking lot, 620 Main Street in Half Moon Bay, at 2 p.m. for kids 11 and under and at 2:15 p.m. for “kids” 12 and over.

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