Heritage Days adding baking contest with cash prizes

Hope Heritage Days is adding a baking contest and organizers hope that you will bring your best cakes, pies and other concoctions to compete.

The event will be on Saturday, Sept. 29th during the 51st annual festival. You will need to drop off your baked goods between 8 and 8:30 a.m. at WiLLow LeaVes of Hope on the north side of the Hope Town Square.

There will be judging in three categories: cakes, pies and miscellaneous and a best of show will also be awarded. The winners will be announced from the bandstand between 11 and 11:30 a.m. that morning. The top-three winners in each category will receive cash prizes of $10 for third place, $25 for second place and $50 for first place. The top winners in each category will receive a commemorative apron. A Best of Show award winner will receive $100.

After the judging, the baked goods will be sold and proceeds will benefit Heritage of Hope Foundation, the not for profit group that organizes Heritage Days.

Michele Clark, organizer of the contest and deputy Hope clerk-treasurer, said that the hope is to get a good turnout for the contest. A similar event held during the Old-Fashioned Independence Day festivities suffered from having too-few entrants, she said.

The contest is new this year and is sponsored by Tonala Mexican Restaurant.

Hope Heritage Days is Sept. 28, 29th and 30th on and around the Hope Town Square.