Courtesy of Ian Kose.
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One of Los Angeles’ most beloved food traditions is returning this March. KCRW’s PieFest & Contest will take place on March 14 (Pi Day) at the Autry Museum of the American West, marking its 12th year as a free, all-ages celebration of baking, creativity, and community.
Hosted by Evan Kleiman of Good Food, the event brings together home bakers, professional chefs, families, and food enthusiasts from across the city. This year’s pie competition will be judged by an impressive panel that includes Will Ferrell, Roy Choi, and more than 20 respected chefs and writers from Los Angeles’ culinary community.
A Longstanding Los Angeles Tradition
PieFest began in 2009 at the Topanga Mall with just over 100 pies entered. Since then, it has grown into one of the city’s most anticipated food festivals, with more than 3,500 pies competing over the years. Approximately 500 pies are expected to be entered in the 2026 contest alone.
The Pie Contest
Bakers may enter one of four categories:
Apple Fruit (excluding apple) Cooked Custard Junior Baker (ages 12 and under)
Each participant submits one pie for blind judging by the official panel, as well as a second pie for public display.
Courtesy of Ian Kose. Introducing the Pie Pageant
New this year, the Pie Pageant invites contestants to creatively present their pies for festival attendees, share the story behind their bake, and engage with the public. Guests will vote for their favorites, with winners announced live on stage during the event.
Pie Contest Programming
In addition to the competition, PieFest will feature:
A curated pie marketplace Chef-led baking demonstrations Cookbook signings presented by Now Serving, with participating authors including Bill Addison, Nicole Rucker, Nik Sharma, Sang Yoon, Valerie Gordon, and others An “Ask a Pie Expert” booth hosted by Evan Kleiman
Attendees can also enjoy a beer garden, family-friendly programming, DJ sets from KCRW DJs Tyler Boudreaux and Raul Campos, and complimentary access to the Autry Museum galleries throughout the day.
How To Participate
Local bakers and vendors are currently invited to participate. Admission to the pie contest is free. And the contest deadline is March 7, 2026 at 11:55 PM. Full event details, contest registration, and vendor applications are available at kcrw.org/pie.
📍 Location: Autry Museum of the American West
🥧 When: March 14, 2026