Whoopie Pie Festival
The sweetest day in Maine! Maine Whoopie Pie Festival June 28
DOVER-FOXCROFT — The fifth anniversary celebration of Maine’s Official State Treat, the whoopie pie, takes place on Saturday, June 28. The Maine Whoopie Pie Festival has become a state-wide celebration of the iconic Maine treat — the whoopie pie. This year, the festival will feature dozens of bakers and literally tens of thousands of whoopie pies along with other vendors and crafters, artists, activities, lots of fun for kids and families and live music all day long.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
TABLE MANNERS NOT REQUIRED — Young competitors in the children’s whoopie pie eating contest see who can scarf down four of the miniature chocolate and cream desserts during last year’s Maine Whoopie Pie Festival in Dover-Foxcroft. The fifth anniversary of the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival will take place on Saturday, June 28 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., with a number of events including contests involving eating the tasty treats for kids, teenagers and adults. Plenty of whoopie pies, in as many flavors as attendees can imagine, will be available for those seeking to savor the flavor of their whoopie pies.
This year, to celebrate the fifth anniversary, there are more fun and games for the kids as well as contests for the adults and arts and crafts and fun for everyone. “As the festival has grown, we’ve tried to provide more activities for kids and families.” Patrick Myers, festival organizer, said. “This year, we have so much going on that we’ve partnered with the Varney Agency to create ‘The Varney Agency Kid’s Zone.’”
The Zone features all sorts of activities from bungee jumping and bounce houses, to a dunk tank, games and activities, balloon animals, magic shows, pony and carriage rides and an all-ages obstacle course. The Slightly Off-Center Players from the Center Theatre will be inviting you to dress up in their costumes and get some fun pictures taken and Mayo Ambulance Service will be holding a coloring contest and teddy bear clinic.
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THE HUNGRY MASSES — Last year’s Maine Whoopie Pie Festival in downtown Dover-Foxcroft drew a crowd of 6,000 to celebrate Maine’s Official State Treat.
The day starts with the Piscataquis Regional YMCA’s Earn Your Whoopie Pie Kid’s 1K Fun Run at 8:30 a.m. and Adult 3K Run/Walk at 9 a.m. When the festival kicks off at 10 a.m., not only do the whoopie pies start flowing, but all the other crafters, vendors and artists open up as well. “We’ve been very happy to partner with the Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce to handle the downtown area,” Myers stated. “They close off the streets and provide space for local businesses and vendors from every corner of the state to set up booths. It’s a fun atmosphere with lots of great deals.”
In fact, there are great events and activities going on all over Dover-Foxcroft on Whoopie Pie Day. The Dover-Foxcroft Congregational Church is having a rummage sale, the farmers’ market is set up nearby, at Kiwanis Park a free children’s fishing event Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs is being held and the Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society is kicking off the 2014 season with the grand opening of the Observer Building on festival day.
In another whoopie-pie related activity, Will’s Shop ‘n Save will be raffling off a 50-pound whoopie pie this year on festival day. Just go to the store to enter for your chance to win. But clearly, the focus of the day is the Whoopie Pie Festival and as Myers said there’s plenty to keep folks busy.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
FESTIVAL ENTERTAINMENT — The Monson General Store Jammers were among the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival performers in 2013.
This year the festival will have live music within the festival area all day long provided by Whoopy Kat, whoopie pie eating contests for kids and adults, free milk provided by Garelick Farms, performances by comedy juggler Bryce Lang, a live broadcast by Kid and Sabrina from Z107.3 and lots more.
The Whoopie Pie Festival is truly a state-wide event with lots of support at every level. “We have bakers coming from nearly every county in Maine and from as far away as Wells,” Myers said. “People can sample whoopie pies from local stand-outs like Governor’s Restaurant and the Whoopie Pie Café as well as smaller businesses they might not have heard of and even a few home-bakers.”
The bakers get judged for best traditional and best non-traditional whoopie pie and everyone who attends the festival gets to vote for “The People’s Choice” for best baker.
The Maine Whoopie Pie Festival takes place on Saturday, June 28 in downtown Dover-Foxcroft from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information on the Whoopie Pie Festival, which takes place rain or shine, visit www.MaineWhoopiePieFestival.com or find the festival’s page on Facebook.
Whoopy Kat will headline 2014 Maine Whoopie Pie Festival
DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Center Theatre announced that the Southern Maine rock phenomenon known as Whoopy Kat will be headlining events at the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival. Whoopy Kat is based out of Ellsworth and is one of the best known rock bands in Southern Maine.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
MAKING ROOM FOR WHOOPIE PIES — Once again the Piscataquis Regional YMCA will offer a pair of “Earn Your Whoopie Pie” races prior to the 2014 Maine Whoopie Pie Festival on June 28 in Dover-Foxcroft. A 3K run/walk starts at 9 a.m. on East Main Street in downtown Dover-Foxcroft, which follows a children’s 1K fun run for ages 3-12 at 8:30 a.m.
“We’re thrilled to have Whoopy Kat at the Festival,” said Patrick Myers, festival organizer. “They play a wide variety of great music from the Beatles, to Foreigner, to The Rolling Stones and everywhere in between. And then of course, their name makes them a perfect fit for the sweetest day in Maine.”
Myers said he did not know about Whoopy Kat before planning for this year’s festival began, but they were recommended by a number of other musicians and when he contacted them they were excited to be part of the fun.
Besides Whoopy Kat on the music stage, there are many other events and activities going on in Dover-Foxcroft on Saturday, June 28 and in the surrounding area. Performing in the Varney Agency Kid’s Zone at the Whoopie Pie Festival will be Conjuring Carroll as well as comedy juggler Bryson Lang.
Lots of fun rides and games will be available for kids and families as well as vendors and crafters set up downtown. Will’s Shop ‘n Save, the official grocer for the festival will also have promotions on the day of the festival.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
SUGAR RUSH — Young runners dash down East Main Street in Dover-Foxcroft, before turning back toward the finish line, during last year’s children’s Earn Your Whoopie 1K. The Piscataquis Regional YMCA will be hosting the fun run, on Saturday, June 28 at 8:30 a.m.
The Dover-Cove Farmers Market will be set up at the corner of Pine and South Street and the Dover-Foxcroft Congregational Church will be holding the annual Rummage Sale at the church from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Over the weekend of the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival, Pine Tree Hospice will be holding its annual golf tournament. The tournament will be at the Dexter Municipal Course on June 28 and at Foxcroft Golf Club on June 29.
Myers said he’s happy to have so many other attractions at the festival, but the focus will always be on whoopie pies. “We know what brings people to Dover-Foxcroft on June 28 – it’s the whoopie pies! We’ll have more whoopie than ever at the festival with favorite bakers like Governor’s Restaurant and Al’s Pizza back again and new bakers coming to show off their creations.”
Contributed photo
CONJURING UP SOME FUN — A balloon show will be part of this year’s Maine Whoopie Pie Festival activities during the fifth annual event on June 28 in Dover-Foxcroft.
For more information on the Whoopie Pie Festival, visit www.MaineWhoopiePieFestival.com. The Maine Whoopie Pie Festival is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 28 and is produced by the Center Theatre for the Performing Arts.
The proceeds from the festival go to support the Center Theatre’s mission to cultural education, entertainment, and enrichment for the people who live, work in and visit Piscataquis County.
Whoopie pie book sale at Thompson Free Library
DOVER-FOXCROFT — A whoopie pie 10-cent book sale runs Thursday, June 26 from 4-7 p.m., Friday, June 27 from noon-5 p.m. and Saturday, June 28 from 9 a.m.-noon. The sale is in the meeting room of the Thompson Free Library, 186 East Maine Street.
Items at the sale include donated pre-read and library-weeded books, paperbacks and hard covers, preschool through teen books, videos and DVDs, puzzles and cook books. Donations of clean books accepted for the sale. Profits go to children’s library programs. Call the library at 564-3350 for more information.