Rules for Pie Baking Contest

All entries must be submitted by 5:00 pm on Monday, March 9, 2026.

Participants must currently reside in Lake Bluff.

We require 2 pies to be submitted for each entry.  One is for the judges to sample and judge. The second is for distribution to the audience and other bakers. As this is an event to raise funds for the parade, we will ask for a donation per slice.

All pies must include the recipe containing a list of ingredients and instructions. The recipe must be typed or legibly handwritten on either a 3x5 index card or an 8.5x 11 piece of paper.

Your pies must be delivered by 1 PM on Saturday, March 14, 2026, to the Community Room at the Lake Bluff Park District, 355 W. Washington Ave., Lake Bluff, Il 

All pies must be made from scratch. Purchased crusts and fillings are not allowed.

Pies are to be baked in an 8-9-inch disposable pie tin.

Cream and custard pies and those with uncooked eggs or dairy products must be kept refrigerated at 40F in a container supplied by the entrant throughout the competition, except when they are being sampled by the judges. There is no refrigeration available in the Community Room. 

The pie judged to be the best will be named the Official Pie of the Lake Bluff 4th of July Parade.

The winning baker and pie will be photographed, and her/his photo will be published, with the pie recipe, in the Lake Bluff 4th of July 2026 Parade Book. By entering this contest, all contestants and participants agree to be photographed and their photos used in the Parade Book.

Questions regarding the Pie Baking Contest can be emailed to: book@lb4july.com