Saturday, April 20, 2019
Saturday, April 20, 2019
Saturday, April 20, 2019
ARKANSAS
Pie Festival
Saturday, April 18, 2020
Cherokee Village
ARKANSAS
Pie Festival
Saturday, April 18, 2020
Cherokee Village
ARKANSAS
Pie Festival
Saturday, April 18, 2020
Cherokee Village
ARKANSAS
Pie Festival
Saturday, April 18, 2020
Cherokee Village
ARKANSAS
Pie Festival
Saturday, April 18, 2020
Cherokee Village
ARKANSAS
Pie Festival
Saturday, April 18, 2020
Cherokee Village
ARKANSAS
Pie Festival
Saturday, April 18, 2020
Cherokee Village
ARKANSAS
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Join us in Cherokee Village
April 25, 2026
Pie Day 5k starts 9 am
festival 10 am - 3 pm
CHEROKEE VILLAGE, Ark. — 9/30/25 — The Arkansas Pie Festival has been officially inducted into the
Arkansas Food Hall of Fame, a program of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. The
honor recognizes the festival’s unique role in celebrating Arkansas’s culinary culture, supporting small businesses,
and creating community connections across the state.
“This recognition is a sweet moment for our community,” said Jonathan Rhodes, festival co-founder and Cherokee
Village Community Developer. “The Arkansas Pie Festival began as a way to bring people together, celebrate
creativity, and spotlight Cherokee Village and our region. Today, it’s grown into a statewide event that draws
visitors, showcases Arkansas talent, and generates real economic impact. We’re thrilled to see that work
recognized.”
Since its debut, the Arkansas Pie Festival has become a destination event, featuring pie contests, local bakers
and entrepreneurs, family-friendly activities, and live entertainment. The festival is also an official qualifying event
for the World Food Championships, awarding a coveted “Golden Ticket” each year to its champion baker to
compete on the world stage.
Beyond the kitchen, the festival fuels STEAM education and entrepreneurship by supporting the Spring River
Innovation Hub. The Cherokee Village non-profit provides technology access, training, and resources for students
and local startups.
The Arkansas Food Hall of Fame highlights events, restaurants, and food traditions that make Arkansas’s culinary
scene special. Being included among these celebrated honorees cements the Arkansas Pie Festival’s role as a
signature cultural and economic driver for Cherokee Village and Northeast Arkansas.
“We’re grateful to every volunteer, sponsor, and pie lover across Arkansas who has made the festival what it is”,
added Rhodes. “This recognition belongs to the entire community. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back to
Cherokee Village on April 26, 2025.”
Victory is Sweet!
Arkansas Pie Festival Inducted into Arkansas Food Hall of Fame
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Check out Arkansas Living
Pie Festival Article
Pie is one of the most beloved Southern foods, connected to some of our most nostalgic memories of home, family, holidays, and those special moments around the kitchen table.
Our state has a rich pie-making tradition, and Arkansans love pie! That’s why we are so excited to host the first statewide festival to honor this much-loved food.
The Arkansas Pie Festival is set to return to Cherokee Village on April 25, 2026, as a partner of the World Food Championship, the biggest food sport event in the world. As an official qualifying event for WFC, the Arkansas Pie Festival will award one Golden Ticket to its champion, making them eligible to compete in the Dessert category at the international cooking tournament this fall.
The World Food Championships (WFC) welcomes over 350 teams from across the globe to find the best culinary talent each year. They compete in twelve categories, from barbecue to dessert, as they try to navigate their way to the tournament’s final table and a grand prize of $100,000.
"It's no secret...people love pie!" explained festival co-founder and Cherokee Village Community Developer Jonathan Rhodes. "We are excited to partner with the World Food Championship to promote Arkansas, bring people together in Cherokee Village and ultimately grow the Arkansas Pie Festival. You don't want to miss your chance to win a "Golden Ticket" to compete in the Dessert Competition at the World Food Championship in Dallas this fall!"
The Arkansas Pie Festival will savor this much-loved food by hosting a competition between commercial pie makers, home chefs, and students. Judges and attendees will be able to sample pies of all varieties before crowning a people’s choice and champion baker. Pies will also be displayed and auctioned for charity.
In addition to pie tasting, festival-goers will enjoy a Pie Day 5k, live entertainment, food trucks, pie eating and throwing contests, shopping at the Arkansas Pie Pop-up Shop, and much more. A full schedule of events will be released in March.
Festival proceeds support STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) programming and education through the community’s Spring River Innovation Hub.
