Crowd of 6,000 attends annual Maine Whoopie Pie Festival

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Scattered showers couldn’t scatter a throng 6,000 strong that visited Dover-Foxcroft on Saturday, June 22 for the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival. The downtown was packed and the whoopie pies were flying from baker’s booths from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Observer photos/Stuart Hedstrom
    JUST EAT IT — Children race to eat four miniature whoopie pies the fastest in the younger age category of the whoopie pie eating contest June 22 during the annual Maine Whoopie Pie Festival in Dover-Foxcroft. Those spending a little more time to savor their treats voted on the best whoopie pies in several different categories.

    “The day started beautifully and we only had an hour or so of showers before it dried off again,” festival organizer Patrick Myers stated. “But even during the rain the line of folks to get into the festival never let up and everyone was having a good time.”
 
Photo courtesy of Melissa Mallett
AMAZING WHOOPIE PIE RACE — Pictured is the first-place team the Ultimate Whip Whoops in the Amazing Whoopie Pie Race, held in conjunction with the annual Maine Whoopie Pie Festival in Dover-Foxcroft on June 22. Melissa Mallett said the team first had to raise money for the Center Theatre — raising $100 — and next, in the actual race, they had to search for a hidden whoopie pie in each of five local businesses and the team had the lowest combined time. The businesses were Will’s Shop ‘n Save, Mallett Real Estate, The Store and More, The Train Station and the Center Theatre. On the team, they had Andrew Johnston and Mallett, back row, and in front, from left, James Jankunas, Benjamin Johnston and Ethan Vose. Printed on the team T-shirts was the slogan, on a search and enjoy mission for whoopie pies. Their friends, the Whoopadie Doo Dahs won a prize for raising the most money.

     Besides whoopie pies, festival-goers enjoyed visiting over 100 vendors and craftspeople downtown organized by the Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce and the kids enjoyed bounce houses, carriage rides, magic shows and balloon animals and lots of fun activities. The highlight for some the bakers is the whoopie judging and Myers said the competition this year was stiff.  
    “We had three judged categories and the coveted People’s Choice award and each was close this year,” he said. “Winning for Best Traditional Whoopie Pie was Cupcakes, Etc from Guilford, Best Flavored Whoopie Pie was Governor’s Strawberry Shortcake and the $100 Healthy Whoopie Prize sponsored by the Dover-Foxcroft Healthy Maine Streets Committee was won by Grant’s Bakery in Lewiston for their traditional Gluten Free Whoopie Pie. The winner of the People’s Choice award this year went to Al’s Pizza in Skowhegan.”

Photo courtesy of Lorenzo Vicente
THE HUNGRY MASSES — Thousands gather for the start of the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival in Dover-Foxcroft on the morning of June 22. A crowd of 6,000 attended the annual event, and plans are being made for next year’s festival on June 28, 2014.   

    There were other prizes awarded during the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival as well. The Piscataquis Regional YMCA held their Earn Your Whoopie Pie 3K and Kids 1K to kick off the morning. Winning the adult race in the woman’s division was Carrie Pike with a time of 11 minutes, 51 seconds and for the men it was Dylan Merchant with a time of 9 minutes, 40 seconds. For the kid’s 1K the winner was Melanie Soucy with a time of 4 minutes, 10 seconds.

    The Maine Whoopie Pie Festival also held the second annual Amazing Whoopie Pie Race which challenged teams to go on a whoopie pie scavenger hunt around downtown Dover-Foxcroft to raise money for the Center Theatre, who produces the festival. The team who finished the race in the shortest time was the Ultimate Whip Whoops captained by Benjamin Johnston. Team Whopadie Do Dah, captained by Sarah, Selina and Connor Plante, took the prize for raising the most money for the Center Theatre by bringing in $355.
 
Photo courtesy of Sarah Plante
TEAM WHOOPADIE DOO DAH — Raising the most money in the Amazing Whoopie Pie Race for the Center Theatre with $335, and winning a private movie party, was Team Whoopadie Doo Dah. Pictured is front, from left, Selina Plante, Madison Andrade and Diana Voter. Back, Karen Andrade, Brandon Plante, Connor Plante, Sarah Plante and Wendy Voter.

  Myers said that the festival was a great success and talk has already turned to June 28, 2014. “2014 is going to be the festival’s fifth anniversary and we’re already talking about how we can make it something the state of Maine will never forget. We also can’t forget that the festival wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of both our sponsors and our volunteers. We have nearly 75 volunteers who put in hundreds and hundreds of hours to make the festival a reality and we can’t thank them enough. Our sponsors also give generously to support the festival and the work of the Center Theatre. Our lead sponsors are Bangor Savings Bank, Garelick Farms and Zone Radio. Local sponsors include AMB Signs and Foxcroft Printers,  Arnold Development Group, Berg Sportswear, Dover True Value, Dover-Foxcroft Chiropractic Center, Foxcroft Agway, Hibbard Nursing Home, Howard Insurance Agency, Law Office of Kimberly Cavanagh, Mallett Real Estate, The Nor’Easter Restaurant, Rideout Seasonal Services, Rowell’s Garage, Spencer’s Bakery, Steinke and Caruso Dental Care, The Varney Agency and Will’s Shop ‘n Save.”
 
Observer photos/Stuart Hedstrom
    FESTIVAL ENTERTAINMENT — The Monson General Store Jammer, above right, perform on the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival Stage, while on East Main Street the Step In Time Cloggers entertained the audience. 

   More information on the festival can be found at www.MaineWhoopiePieFestival .com.