Buttermilk pies cool on a rack Sept. 22 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Tyler. 

Tylerites and out-of-towners wait all year for the Trinity Lutheran Church’s homemade pies served at the East Texas State Fair.

Fairgoers ordered their fill of chocolate, coconut, buttermilk or pecan pie by the slice or whole at a small green tin booth on the opening day of the 106th annual fair on Sept. 22. A steady stream of pie lovers confessed their devotion to the famous treats found on Food Row.

“This is one of the main reasons I come to the East Texas [State] Fair, is to get a pie,” Tyler resident Yolanda Prince said. “They are fabulous, delicious and scrumptious. I don’t have enough adjectives to describe how good these pies are.”

Prince has been enjoying Trinity Lutheran Church’s pie for over 10 years. The moment she tried the pie, it was over. Instead of cake, she celebrates her birthday with the church’s pie.

The pie keeps her coming back — but the people, too. The customer service can’t be beat, she said.

“You can tell they’re spirit-filled,” Prince said.

After about 15 years as manager, Roy Bell has seen the evolution of Trinity Lutheran Church’s fair booth. When he started, the church served hamburgers, which were hot, greasy and time-consuming. Through the years, they’ve settled on coffee, ice cream soda and, of course, pie.

“Pies are made at the church and then brought out here,” Bell said. “It’s a quick and easy way of serving people.”

Baking pastries began more than 30 years ago when Linda Kittrell’s mother and aunt, Claire and Meta, baked fried pies and sold them at a fairground booth. At that time, about 100 pies would suffice. Now, more than 20 Lutheran church members bake more than 1,000 pies.

Pies are still made using the same family recipes as three decades ago.

Kevin and his wife, Ashley Whitman, have been coming to the fair for the pie since the late 1990s.

“We’re here for the pie,” the group proclaimed. “They’re all homemade, and you can’t beat a homemade pie.”

The joy on people’s faces when they take a bite makes it all worthwhile for Kittrell and the group tasked with baking several hundred pies for the fair.

“You can tell it’s homemade and made with love,” Prince said. “They take care with the presentation. You’re not going to get a bad slice. Every slice is perfect. It’s nirvana, like heaven.”

People are encouraged to try something new to eat at the fair and to stop by for a piece of famous homemade pie. Get out of the office or house and enjoy camaraderie with friends and family.

The fair runs from Sept. 22 to Oct. 1. Food Row is open for lunch on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with free admission, and the fair hours are weekdays from 2 to 10 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Carnival hours are 4 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 to 11 p.m. Friday and noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday.

Visit etstatefair.com for more information.

What: East Texas State Fair

When: Sept. 22-Oct. 1

Hours: 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekends

Food Row: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday with free admission. 

Where: East Texas State Fairgrounds, 2112 W. Front St., Tyler

Fair admission: $10 adults, $6 children 6 to 12 years old, free children under 6; carnival wristband, $35

Schedule and information: https://www.etstatefair.com/