KEY WEST, Fla. – Coney Island’s moment in the spotlight is taking a backseat this July 4th, as a new champion is being celebrated, and it’s nowhere near a hot dog. This victory is much sweeter, with a hint of tartness, and it’s all about FUN!

In Key West, Florida, the allure of the lime, particularly the key lime, captivated everyone. The southernmost city in the continental U.S. was buzzing with hundreds of onlookers eager to see who would earn the esteemed title of Key Lime Pie Eating Champion. As expected, the participants put on an exhilarating show, ignoring all caution!

With hands bound behind them and some participants sporting safety goggles, 25 contestants vied for the top spot by indulging in the island’s famed treat—the key lime pie.

Liz Love, the festival’s co-director said, “There’s no place I’d rather be on the 4th of July than in Key West eating a nine-inch key lime pie. It beats a New York hotdog every single time.”

Now in its 13th year, this tart and tasty tradition has been the centerpiece of Key West’s annual Key Lime Festival, which runs five days and features everything from sip and strolls to the famous key lime pie drop from the top of the Key West Lighthouse. 

The Key Lime Pie Eating Contest attracts contestants from far and wide, including Chicago, Kentucky, Texas and Lake of the Ozarks. But it was a Florida man, with a unique technique, who emerged as the top dog! 

Tom Luciano, pie eating contest winner, “My strategy today was listening to my wife who told me to use my chin. open my mouth and just swallow . . . and less chewing.”

That advice paid off. He won the contest in just two minutes 46 seconds. But he’s not the fastest. That title is still being held by Trey Bergman. In 2018, the attorney from Houston, Texas, devoured his dessert in 40 seconds.  

So, what’s is the winner going to eat next? 

Luciano said, “I am going to have dessert tonight. I feel like I haven’t had enough key lime pie yet.”