VIDALIA — The 22nd annual Jim Bowie Festival at the River View RV Park in Vidalia left new and familiar faces with a smile and a full belly.

The festival was full of its usual lineup of concerts, food, booths and the Jim Bowie sandbar duel, but this year, there was an added bonus for anyone with a sweet tooth.

The first annual Riverfront Pie Bake-Off started Saturday morning at the festival.

Vidalia Chamber of Commerce member Guylyn Boles was in charge of the event and said this year organizers just wanted to bring more old fashioned events to the festival.

“We wanted to have it like a state fair,” she said. “All the winners are getting ribbons for their prizes.”

Two men joined a group of nine women to show off their pie-baking skills.

“We have fruit, dessert, nut and sweet potato pie categories,” Boles said. “We invited three people from Opelousas to come down and judge the pies.”

Era Roberts was a contestant at the event and said her grandchildren encouraged her to enter.

“They always tell me how great my pies are, and that I should enter,” she said. “Even if I don’t win, I have blue-ribbon pies to them.”

Roberts entered a lemon icebox pie, a pineapple pie and a sweet potato pie all from scratch.

Another contestant, 14-year-old Callie Ballard, entered a Black River pecan pie and a buttermilk pie into the event.

“I have always loved to bake,” she said. “I have been nervous all day thinking about whether I will win or not.”

Those not enjoying the pie bakeoff had plenty of other activities to keep them busy at the festival.

Larry Slocki and his family attended the festival for the first time this year, and Slocki said they came for the sandbar duel re-enactment.

“My son and I have always been interested in military and war history,” he said.

Beth Sanders said she attended the event and loved the way it was put together.

“I am from Pineville and this is my first time here,” she said. “The festival is very well run. I am very impressed with Vidalia.”

Debbie Nall said she attended the festival and really enjoyed her time there.

“I wish it wasn’t so hot,” she said. “But even so, the booths and the entertainment have been really good.”