YUNET JOMOLCA Some patriotic pet show contestents work the crowd at the All American Picnic Saturday. More photos are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.

Nothing is more American than apple pie on the Fourth of July and a 2009 winner of the Apple Pie Baking Contest was named at Cape Harbour’s Great American Picnic.

Each year the yachting community hosts an afternoon picnic before the city’s fireworks show to commemorate Independence Day. Hundreds of families attended the picnic with live entertainment and demonstrations from local businesses.

Pignoli, a community friendly grocery store, solicited members of the community for its third annual Apple Pie Baking Contest. Seven pies were entered for the competition on Saturday and four judges tasted each piece before the community was able to eat the rest.

“We are letting everyone eat the rest because we can’t have Fourth of July without apple pie,” said Barbara Allshouse, owner of Pignoli.

Allshouse spent the afternoon scooping out pies with various ingredients such as apple caramel, apple crumb, apple and pear and apple rhubarb.

YUNET JOMOLCA Lauren Canady gets a kiss from patriotic pet show winner Stitch at the All American Picnic.

“Say goodbye to the caramel folks,” she said as she dished out the last piece. “It looks like we are coming down to the end.”

Judging for the apple pies were based on appearance, texture, flavor and overall taste. Millie Greco, a resident of the yachting community, tasted the pie with apple and pear.

“I usually just make it with apples so I’ll have to try this one,” she said. “It’s as good as mine.”

Later in the afternoon, after all of the pie pans were empty, Cape Harbour resident Fran Breslin was named winner of the contest for her caramel apple pie and handed gift certificates to the store.

Other local vendors sold fresh tomatoes, peaches, flowers and clams from Pine Island.

The Adopt-A-Troop Foundation set up a table at the Great American Picnic and asked for donations to put together care packages for soldiers with dozens of items such as DVDs, magazines, snacks and cosmetics.

“We are asking for any contribution to build up the money for shipping and packing,” said Kaye Caple, fund-raiser for the foundation.

Caple also sold military T-shirts, flags, patches and singing bears to raise money for the troops. Each care package costs approximately $60 to pack and send, she said, and over the last year-and-a-half the foundation has shipped 802 boxes.

“They have been very supportive, a lot of people have given donations without buying anything,” she said.

Students from Street Defense, Cape Coral’s martial arts school, held demonstrations of their skills for the community on Saturday afternoon. The picnic also included a pet contest and a live performance by City Manager Terry Stewart.

Temporary patriotic tattoos were available for children and tie-dye stations were open for children to create T-shirts with the colors of red, white and blue.