Kevin Renly of Summerland Key, Fla., rises in triumph upon winning the World Famous Key Lime Pie Eating Championship on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at the Southernmost Beach Resort in Key West, Fla. Renly topped 24 fellow competitors by devouring a 9-inch whipped-cream-topped Key lime pie in a sizzling 59.60 seconds without using his hands. The quirky competition is the centerpiece of the annual Key Lime Festival, which runs through Sunday, July 5. (Carol Tedesco/Key Lime Festival)
Kevin Renly of Summerland Key claimed victory on July 4 at the World Famous Key Lime Pie-Eating Championship, devouring a whipped cream-topped, 9-inch Key lime pie in 59.6 seconds.
The annual Fourth of July competition, a highlight of Key West’s Key Lime Festival and the island’s tropical take on New York’s iconic Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, drew a crowd of hundreds to witness 25 contestants plunge into pies, racing to finish without using their hands. Goggles and dive masks were permitted.
“Third time’s the charm,” said Renly, who also competed in 2024 and 2025, finishing just short each time and jokingly referring to himself as the “first loser.” Co-proprietor of Southernmost Bees with his wife, Julie, Renly said he didn’t want to go home after this year’s competition and tell her he’d lost again, particularly on their 37th anniversary.
Twenty years ago, Florida lawmakers designated Key lime pie the official state pie. The dessert is traditionally made with Key lime juice, sweetened condensed milk and egg yolks in a graham cracker crust topped with whipped cream or meringue.
“There’s simply no July Fourth tradition quite like watching 25 people dive face-first into an equal number of glorious Key lime pies,” said festival director Nadene Grossman Orr. “It’s spectacularly messy, uniquely Key West and always leaves everyone smiling.”
Martin Huddleston of Chico, Calif., comes up for air on Saturday, July 4, 2026, during the World Famous Key Lime Pie Eating Championship at the Southernmost Beach Resort in Key West, Fla. While competitors may not use their hands, dive masks and swim goggles are permitted. The quirky competition, which offers a tropical spin on New York City’s traditional July 4 hot dog-eating contest, is the centerpiece of the annual Key Lime Festival, which runs through Sunday, July 5. (Carol Tedesco/Key Lime Festival)Competitors race to finish whipped-cream-topped Key lime pies during the annual World Famous Key Lime Pie Eating Championship on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at the Southernmost Beach Resort in Key West, Fla. Twenty-five contestants dove face-first into the Florida Keys’ signature dessert without using their hands in Key West’s tropical spin on New York City’s traditional Fourth of July hot dog-eating contest. The quirky competition is the centerpiece of the annual Key Lime Festival, which runs through Sunday, July 5. (Carol Tedesco/Key Lime Festival)
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