Julie Vassilatos and Kate Agarwal tell the story of attending the Bucktown Apple Pie Contest in 2011, which inspired them to launch their own pie baking competition in 2012, on the South Side, where they lived.  Julie and Kate started a beloved tradition of showcasing excellent local bakers of all ages, putting on a feel-good event for anyone who enjoys a good piece of pie, and raising money for the Hyde Park/Kenwood Interfaith Council Hunger Programs.

For a decade, even during the height of the global pandemic, Julie and Kate worked hard to help their South Side community support the cause of hunger and celebrate both pie and their community, joyfully.

In 2022, four new Hyde Park volunteers stepped into fill the shoes of Julie and Kate after their decade of creativity and dedication. In 2023, we added a fifth member of our group. In 2024, we shifted again as Amanda Norton and Michele Seild stepped back, and Molly Herron, Laura Brauneis, and Rebekah Raeburn lead the way. In 2025, Laura Brauneis stepped back and we added Laura Staley and Kwame Shorter. For 2026, the challenge organizers are Molly, Rebekah, and Laura Staley.

To date, the South Side Pie Challenge has raised over $75,000 for South Side hunger programs, with $15,000 raised in 2025 alone.

Once again, we invite all bakers to bring us their very best. Our contest seeks to highlight the phenomenal  skills of amateur local bakers. Each pie is then judged by professional pastry chefs who bring their expertise and competive spirit to determine who among us bakes the most spectacular pies. Local high school students volunteer to set up and serve pie, and 500-700 neighbors join us to catch up with neighbors and,  of course, EAT delicious pie.

As always, donations to the 2026 South Side Pie Challenge will go directly to help an ever increasing number of people in our neighborhood who face daily food insecurity. We need your generous help now more than ever.

Please join us as a contestant or a pie eater on Sunday, November 8, 2026 at Hyde Park Neighborhood Club   5480 S Kenwood Ave Chicago

We look forward to seeing you!