CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – During the summer months, the First Horizon Pavilion fills with locals enjoying everything the Chattanooga Market has to offer.
This weekend, however, things got a little messier than usual.
It was a celebration of all things red, white, and blueberries as the Chattanooga Market held its annual pie-eating contest.
To kick off the festivities, an announcer shouted over the speakers, “Two minutes and 30 seconds to go to the end of this song… three, two, one!”
Faces disappeared into mounds of whipped cream and fruit filling, as laughter echoed through the pavilion.
Contestant Cam Gallagher took part in the competition for the first time.
“First one for me,” he said with a smile. “Pretty entertaining. A little nauseating, but all in all, I think I had fun.”
From beards to noses, every part of the face seemed to get involved in the chaos. Some contestants played to win, while others focused on strategy.
“Our strategy was to move it all to one side, so it looked like I ate more than I did,” Gallagher admitted. “But clearly, I had some fiercer competition who actually ate the pie.”
That competition came in the form of Dillon Pittman, who walked away as the winner.
“I think these were more of a cobbler than a pie,” Pittman said. “There wasn’t much crust, but it was still really good.”
Event organizers say the pie-eating contest has become a holiday weekend tradition at the market.
“We love celebrating the Fourth of July,” said John Hooper, Chattanooga Market’s Operations Manager. “And nothing’s more American than a blueberry pie. So we have a little fun, get nice and messy, and make it a good time.”
