Department of Tourism
Pie Fest in Maysville Oct. 5-6

MAYSVILLE, Ky. – Pie eating, tasting and baking contests will be among the most popular events at the Second Annual Transparent Pie and Folklife Days in Mason County Friday and Saturday Oct. 5-6.

Transparent pie, which is made from a combination of butter and sugar, is an appetizing dish native to Mason County, which borders the Ohio River in northeastern Kentucky. The rich confection helped attract 1,500 visitors to the first festival held in October 2006, said Judy Dickson, one of the event’s organizers.

The festival will also include hayrides, horse-and-buggy rides, performances on harmonica, spoons, dulcimer and accordion by local musicians, gospel singing, story-telling and viewing goldenrods (the Kentucky state flower) and fall foliage. All events will take place on the Magee’s Bakery Farm, which is located about 3.5 miles from downtown Maysville. The pie-eating contest starts at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

Admission to all the festival events and contests is free. Non-profit groups such as the Knights of Columbus, whose specialty is country-ham sandwiches, will be selling food throughout the festival. The Ohio Valley Artists Guild will be selling arts and crafts.

Prizes for contest winners will be baked goods, said Dickson, one of the owners of Magee’s Bakery Farm. “We’ll have a kids’ cookie-stacking contest, and the prizes will be the number of cookies the kids can stack,” she said. “All participants in the pie-eating contest will get a dozen transparent pie tarts, and the winner will get two dozen.”

Tours of the 1790s-era farmhouse on the property, one of the oldest structures in Mason County, will be offered. Russell Dickson will portray John Marshall, one of the founders of Mason County, and tell the story of the house and farm. Antique farm machinery will be on display. 

Local authors will be on hand for a book forum and signing, and the Mason County Bookmobile will pay a visit.  Representatives of the National Underground Railroad Museum and Kentucky Gateway Museum will provide insights on the region’s rich history.

Magee’s Bakery, which also has stores in Frankfort and Lexington, has been operating in Maysville since 1941, Dickson said. The Magee family sold the three bakeries, and the Dicksons moved the Maysville store to their farm in 2003.

Only 10 miles down the road, the Lewisburg Lions Club will be having a horse show starting at 3 p.m. Saturday at the club’s parking lot. Meanwhile, May’s Lick Lions Club will be hosting a fish fry starting at 10:30 a.m. in the town square. Dover Fire Department is also having a Fish Fry/Bingo, 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with gift bingo at the Dover Fire Hall. After enjoying the Transparent Pie and Folklife Days, visitors can drive on down and support these causes.

For more information, visit www.mageesbakeryfarm.com or call 606-759-4882.  

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The Kentucky Department of Tourism, an agency of the Kentucky Commerce Cabinet, exists to promote The Commonwealth as a travel destination, generate revenue and create jobs for Kentucky’s economy.