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Andrew Moore

Crystal Hare, of Westminster, holds her 1st Place Easy Cream Dutch Apple Dessert at the South Carolina Apple Festival Baking Contest. A panel of four judges sampled more than 30 different desserts before naming first, second and third place desserts in adult and youth categories.

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Click on photo to enlarge

Andrew Moore

Westminster Mayor Derek Hodgin, places the first place ribbon for Emma Nicholson's old-fashioned apple pie, which won the youth category at Thursday's baking contest. Hodgin was a judge at the contest.

WESTMINSTER — Sweet, fruity delights were served up by the dozens at the South Carolina Apple Festival Baking Contest on Thursday at Westminster Baptist Church.

Pies, cobblers, calzones, pizzas (yes, apple pizzas) and a menagerie of other apple-based delicacies lined the tables inside the church, while a panel of four judges sampled them to determine the winners.

Sandra Powell with the Westminster Chamber of Commerce said the event encapsulates much of what makes the festival as a whole great.

“The baking contest not only fits in with the taste of this week, but it really captures the hometown flavor of the Apple Festival itself,” Powell said. “This is a small town. It’s a community-oriented town.”

The contest featured 26 entries in the adult category, with seven entries in the youth category for participants younger than 18. In the youth category, first-, second- and third-place winners won checks of $25, $15 and $10, respectively, while adult winners won $50, $25 and $10.

Mayor Derek Hodgin was one of the judges and his taste buds were enticed.

“It’s hard to believe any of these aren’t going to win,” Hodgin said. “Everything’s so good.”

Powell said there was significantly more participation this year than in the past, a sign that the contest, like the entire festival, is growing in popularity.

The criteria for judging the apple goodies were clear.

“You’re looking for a fresh apple taste,” Powell said. “You don’t want to taste sour cream or cinnamon when you first bite into it. It’s all about the apples.”

In the youth category, Emma Nicholson won first place for her old-fashioned apple pie. Amber Duncan won for her apple pizza, featuring slices of fresh apple topping, and Ryann Fincannon received third place for crumb apple pie.

In the adult category, Peggy Simpson’s mile high apple pie brought home third place. Laura Entrekin’s fried apple crumble pizza garnered second, and 1991 West-Oak graduate and Westminster-native Crystal Hare won first place with her easy cream dutch apple dessert.

“I’ve always liked to bake,” Hare said.

When not working or spending time with her two sons, Colton, 12, and Chance, 7, she’s baking or riding horses, she said.

“This is actually the first time I’ve ever made this recipe,” she said.

The festivities continued at 6 p.m. on historic Main Street in Westminster for Music on Main, which featured homemade Jambalaya plates, which were being sold by the Westminster Area Historical Preservation Society.

Mike Eades and the Battle Creek Boys provided bluegrass musical entertainment. The festival continues today with its most packed day of the week. Events will begin at 11 a.m., with a crafts show, children’s rides, food vendors and music acts lining Main Street. The Rotary Club Luncheon will be held at 1 p.m. at Westminster Baptist Church, and the Apple Festival Parade will kick off at 4:30 p.m.

Tonight will feature the 17th annual Apple Festival World Championship Rodeo at 8 p.m. at the Bibb Street Arena in Westminster. Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for children.

But Thursday, it was all about the desserts, as Hodgin would gladly admit.

“This is serious city business,” he said, holding back a chuckle as he took a bite of fresh apple pie.