Based on recent Oakley City Council meetings, it’s safe to say there are a few people who wouldn’t mind seeing the council members with pie on their faces. Those critics missed their opportunity to see just that at last week’s Harvest Festival.

Mayor Carol Rios challenged Pat Anderson, Kevin Romick and Jim Frazier to a pumpkin pie-eating contest during the city’s autumn decennial celebrations held at Civic Center Plaza. Frazier employed a special pie-eating strategy, tilting his head back to finish off the last bits of crust, to win the championship.

The pie-eating contests were just one facet of the inaugural harvest celebration, which also featured a costume contest and parade, a petting zoo, a rendition of “Thriller” performed by students from O’Hara Park Middle School, a hay maze and a scarecrow contest.

Destiny Smith, who competed in one of the pie-eating contests in the youth category, said the event is worth holding every year. “This is so much fun. It would be great if we could have this every weekend.”

The Harvest Festival was planned as part of the city’s decennial celebrations that initially included a celebration each month. Due to budget cuts, most events were cancelled.

Councilwoman Anderson said the decennial committee kept the Harvest Festival on the calendar in hopes that it would become an Oakley tradition. Based on the turnout at Saturday’s event, she said she’s hopeful that the Harvest Festival will return next year.

Senior Recreation Leader Cindy Coelho, who organized the event, said she’s already brainstorming ideas for next year: “Our first Harvest Festival was a huge success. I’m really happy with the turnout we had. Everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves, so we’re really proud that our inaugural event went so well.

“The pie-eating contest was a huge hit, and we had more than 70 participants in our costume parade. Next year, I’d like to add more activities for teens and adults so that there’s something for everyone. Maybe we’ll add a pumpkin-carving contest next year.”

One aspect of the festivities that will need a revamp is the scarecrow contest, which only drew four entries. Barbara DuMont, manager of Molly Maids, won top prize for her scarecrow duo Scar’n Away the Dirt, which was designed to promote the Ms. Molly Foundation, an organization that supports victims of domestic violence.

“I’m not giving up on the scarecrow contest,” said Coelho. “We had only a few entries this year, but next year, I’d like to see more local businesses and community organizations participate. We’ll do more outreach next year to get more participants.”

The costume parade will definitely be back should the event return next year. Kids masquerading as everything from bumblebees to pop stars to superheroes took a lap around Civic Center Park, practicing their Halloween personas as they waved to the crowd of parents armed with cameras. At the end of the parade lap, prizes were awarded for the best costumes.

Kayla Lond, a Delta Vista seventh-grader, took top prize with her nerd costume in the ages 11 and up category. “I just felt like being a nerd,” Kayla said about her checkered shirt, suspenders and glasses ensemble.

Jaden McCain, 6, struck a warrior pose in his mighty wrestler costume easily winning over the judges in the 6-10 category, and Joshua Oyervides, 4, plundered the competition in the 0-5 bracket with his Captain Jack Sparrow costume.

“It was a great afternoon,” Coelho said. “With all the little booths, the festival had a nice quaint, small-town feel. We’d like to keep this a small, family-oriented event that people will be able to enjoy for many years to come.”

Oakley’s next decennial celebration will be the Tree Lighting Ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 5.

Click here for photo and video highlights from the Festival.