In a town like Branson, Missouri, where shows are a way of life, the announcement of a new show can become common place, but there’s just not been quite been anything like Branson’s newest announced show.. Branson has just about every type of show imaginable including comedy, magic, music of just about every type, and outdoor drama, but, until now, it has never had a pie show.
Well, it does now and it’s not just any pie show, it’s “Branson’s Great American Pie Show.” The pie show was announced the morning of Jan. 16 at the Branson Convention Center, as a major part of Branson’s newest event, “Ozark Mountain Spring,” by Mary Kellogg, the co-owner of the “Titanic – Worlds Largest Museum Attraction.”
Kellogg said, Branson’s Great American Pie Show, presented by the “Taste of Home” magazine, will be one of the new events presented as part of Ozark Mountain Spring and will be held at the Branson Convention Center on Friday, Apr. 24 and Saturday, Apr. 25. The “Taste of Home” website, www.tasteofhome.com/pieshow, states, “This Contest is sponsored by The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc. (the publisher of Taste of Home) and Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB” and gives a link to the “rules” (details) of the contest.
The rules require contestants to submit their pie recipes, either on line or by mail, to arrive at Taste of Home no later than 11:59 p.m. Mar. 13. All entries must be submitted in one of four categories Fruit, Nut, Pudding/Cream/Custard, or Refrigerator/Freezer. The Taste of Home judging panel will select 12 finalists, three in each of the four categories, from the submitted entries based on four criteria Creativity, Feasibility, Flavor and Visual Appeal.
According to the rules, all entries will be judged and the 12 finalists notified by email and mail within two weeks of the “closing date.” The 12 finalists have the opportunity to come to Branson and actually compete against each other for cash and prizes at “Branson’s Great American Pie Show” which will be held in the Branson Convention Center on Apr. 24 and Apr. 25. Although all finalists will receive two nights lodging and meals for two people, all transportation costs to and from Branson and all other costs are not included and must be paid by the finalists.
The semi-finals will be held between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on Friday Apr. 24 with the pie judging at 3:00 p.m. The four finalists will compete in the finals on Saturday, Apr. 25 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. with the pie judging at 2:00 p.m. and the awards ceremony at 4:00 p.m. The judges will use the same criteria in the semi finals and finals used to judge the original entries from which the 12 finalists were chosen.
Kellogg formally announced that NBC’s Al Roker will be a celebrity judge for the final pie judging on Saturday. He will also be available for a book signing and a question and answer session from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The First Place winner will receive a check for $2500 and a four day, three night trip for two (2) to Branson, MO including hotel accommodations, shows and meals. Air fare to and from Branson is not included. The prizes for Second through Fourth Place are Second Place $1000 and a Branson Gift Basket having an estimated retail value of $1040 Third Place $500 and a Branson Gift Basket having an estimated retail value of $540 and Fourth Place Winner $250 and a Branson Gift Basket having an estimated retail value of $290.