10th anniversary Maine Whoopie Pie Festival set for Saturday
DOVER-FOXCROFT — The 10th anniversary Maine Whoopie Pie Festival will take place on Saturday, June 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Dover-Foxcroft. Event organizer Patrick Myers said that they have lots of exciting events going on to celebrate, “For the 10th anniversary year the Honkytonkers will be playing on the Consolidate Communication Music Stage and the Axe Women Loggers of Maine will have three performances thanks to Stihl USA.”
Myers also said there will be plenty of whoopie pies on hand as always, “We have over 20 bakers signed up this year and we know that our lead sponsor, Shaw’s Supermarkets, is bringing 5,000 whoopie pies on their own.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
THE GOAL IS TO RUSH THROUGH A WHOOPIE PIE — Youth tried not to savor the flavor in the age 12 and under whoopie pie eating contest during the 2018 Maine Whoopie Festival in downtown Dover-Foxcroft. Tyler Wing of Guilford finished his half of traditional flavored whoopie the fastest to earn the title of youth whoopie pie eating champion. Last year’s Maine Whoopie Pie Festival drew 7,000 to Dover-Foxcroft to celebrate Maine’s Official State Treat, with proceeds benefiting the Center Theatre. This year’s 10th anniversary event will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 22.
Myers said the bakers will be coming from all over Maine and some from Massachusetts to share their creations with thousands of whoopie pie fans. He has no estimate as to the number of different varieties that will be on hand, each baker may bring five or 10 or more different flavors so there will easily be 100s of different flavors and varieties really something for everyone. A new sponsor at the festival, Allen’s Coffee Flavored Brandy, will be looking for the best whoopie pie that uses Allen’s as an ingredient. The festival judges will choose one winner and the general public will choose another.
Friday, June 21 there’s a whoopie pie event at Hadlock Field in Portland where the Boston Red Sox Double A affiliate Portland Sea Dogs will be rebranded as the Maine Whoopie Pies for the 7 p.m. game against the Reading Fightin Phils. “Given the whoopie pie rivalry between Maine and Pennsylvania it’s fun to have a whoopie pie showdown the night before the festival.” Myers said. “We’ll be giving away passes and goodies at the game.”
Along with the whoopie pies, there will be lots of other fun food and drink as well as vendors, artists, crafters, rides and games in the Varney Agency Kid’s Zone, along with the True Value Homeshow Expo all day long.
File photo courtesy of Christine M. Cannon/White Hart Photography
WHOOPIE RUNNERS — A field of 60 entrants heads down River Street in Dover-Foxcroft during the 2016 Piscataquis Regional YMCA Earn Your Whoopie Pie 3K. This year’s race is set for 8:30 a.m., starting at the PRYMCA on Park Street to kick off the 10th anniversary edition of the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival.
The festival celebrates the taste of Maine’s Official State Treat, the Whoopie Pie. Admission to the festival is $5 per person with kids 12 and under free. For more information, visit www.MaineWhoopiePieFestival.com, find the festival on Facebook, email info@mainewhoopiepiefestival.com or call the Center Theatre at 564-8943.
The Maine Whoopie Pie Festival is the largest annual fundraiser for the Center Theatre. The Theatre is a 501(c)3 non-profit performing arts venue with a mission of making arts, culture, education and entertainment accessible to their rural communities.