KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A whole new flavor is coming to the 2016 Pear Festival Dessert Contest which will be held on Friday, Sept. 23, at the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church social hall.

New this year, all contestants will be photographed with their dessert entry and will be showcased on a display at the Pear Pavilion for all attendees of the Pear Festival to see.

In addition, this year’s winners will be driven in a decorated convertible car during the parade, and their names and dessert entries will be announced, giving much more notoriety to this event. 

The top five winners will receive gift certificates from local eateries.

This year’s chairperson, Martha Rose, is a former winner from the past four years and wanted to step down and give back to the festival by bringing fresh new ideas to the contest to help it grow.

“With the contest being held on Friday, very few festival attendees were even aware of it,” Rose said. “I felt it was important to feature these wonderful cooks and bakers who work so hard on all these delicious and creative desserts and to encourage more participation.”

Rose added, “Since the desserts are taste tested and judged the day before the festival, the public will now get to see all who participated and their yummy desserts through the photo display.”

Submit your favorite pear dessert to the Kelseyville  Pear Festival’s annual Pear Dessert Contest. Experienced cooks and beginners alike are encouraged to compete. The desserts may contain any variety of pears that are fresh, canned, frozen or dried.

The entries must be accompanied with a legible copy of the recipe that includes the name of the dessert and the entrant with a contact phone number.

The entries must be ready to eat and in a disposable container.

To be considered in the judging, desserts must be delivered to the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church Friendship Hall, 5340 Third St., between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 23. Judging will follow at 2 p.m.

Judges this year are Madeline Lyons, Marcie Cadora and Chris Mansell.

Lake Parts in Lakeport is the contest sponsor and grand prizes are gift certificates to local restaurants.

All recipes become the property of the Kelseyville Business Association and the Pear Festival Committee for future publication and promotion.

For an application go to www.kelseyvillepearfestival.com/events/contests .