Test your pie-eating skills at Chattanooga Market's Blueberry Festival

Four area judges will swap gavels for blueberry pies on Sunday, June 26, when they compete in "You Be the Judge," a messy, sticky pie-eating contest that's all in good (and good-tasting) fun at Chattanooga Market in First Tennessee Pavilion.

Melissa Siragusa says the judges will each be given one pie to eat as fast as possible - but without using their hands.

"We'll play 'Blueberry Hill,' and by the time the song's over, whoever has gotten the farthest along wins," the market spokeswoman explains. "We've never had anyone finish a pie."

Competing in the 2 p.m. contest will be Chancellor Pam Fleenor, General Sessions Court Judge Christie Sell, Juvenile Court Judge Rob Philyaw and Collegedale City Court Judge Kevin Wilson.

Two blueberry pie-eating contests are open to the public at noon and at 1 p.m. Siragusa says contestants may sign up for either round at the front desk of the market. But hurry, because only five contestants can plant their faces in pies for each round. The final no-hands-allowed pie-eating contest will start at 3 p.m. for market vendors only.

And what do contest winners receive? A pie, of course. All the freshly baked pies made for contest rounds and as prizes are being baked by Culinard Cooking Institute.

Siragusa says in addition to produce vendors bringing in fresh-picked blueberries, all market vendors will try to work the berry theme into their products Sunday.

"All the vendors jump on the blueberry theme," she says. "People who make cakes will have blueberry muffins or cupcakes. Blueberries will be incorporated into art for sale."

Other examples will be blueberry salsas, lotions, candles, jellies and blueberry bushes to plant at home,

Between pie-eating rounds, market visitors will be entertained by fingerstyle guitarist Lon Eldridge at 12:30 p.m. and Amber Fults at 2 p.m.

Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.