6,000 attend 2024 Maine Whoopie Pie Festival
DOVER-FOXCROFT — The day started with showers, but by mid-morning it was perfect whoopie pie weather for the 6,000 people who came to Dover-Foxcroft to get their fill of Maine’s Official State Treat during the 15th Maine Whoopie Pie Festival on Saturday, June 22.
“After the heat wave earlier in the week everybody loved the weather, 70 degrees and partly cloudy skies were wonderful for the whoopie pies and the for the attendees,” said Patrick Myers, one of the Festival organizers, “The early rain did keep some people away, but they missed a perfect festival day. We also didn’t sell as much merchandise as usual, so if anyone is looking for some discounted Festival gear they should visit www.MaineWhoopiePieFestival.com.”
The Festival, in its 15th year, brings bakers together with thousands of fans of the whoopie pie. Attendees also browsed 100 artists, crafters, and vendors, heard live music, and saw a chainsaw carving at the True Value Entertainment Center and enjoyed games and activities for the kids at the Varney Agency Kids Zone. For the first time, Limitless Wrestling was on hand to present live professional wrestling which was very well received. Festival attendees also participated in whoopie pie eating contests and voted for their favorite bakers.
SO FAST THEY CAN”T EVEN TASTE IT — Nine entrants in the youth eating contest race to finish their four whoopie pies the fastest during the annual Maine Whoopie Pie Festival in downtown Dover-Foxcroft on Saturday, June 22. A crowd of 6,000 attended the event to celebrate Maine’s Official State Treat, with proceeds benefiting the Center Theatre and the Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce.
Myers said that the festival contests are a source of pride and bragging rights for the bakers, “We had several new bakers this year that did very well in the contests. We can’t thank our judging staff enough; it sounds like a dream job, but it is actually a fair amount of work.”
Winners of the People’s Choice Award, which is voted on by festival attendees was Valley View Orchard Pies and the People’s Choice Award for best Allen’s Coffee Brandy whoopie pie went to Governor’s Restaurant in Old Town.
In the judged categories, first place in the best traditional whoopie pie went to To the Queen’s Taste, 2nd place to Katherine’s Bakery and Café, and 3rd Place to Nutty Nettie’s Café.
TOP EATING HONORS — Alan Dill of Lincoln earned top honors in the adult division of the whoopie pie eating contest at the Dover True Value Entertainment Center at the June 22 Maine Whoopie Pie Festival in Dover-Foxcroft. Dill was the first of 10 entrants to consume six whoopie pies, doing so in a time of 63 seconds.
In the best flavored whoopie pie contest Governor’s Restaurant took first place with their pumpkin chocolate chip whoopie pie. Penobscot Job Corps Advanced Baking Program won 2nd place for their “Grandma’s Favorite Cheese Cake” whoopie pie and 3rd place went to Edwards Brothers Supermarket for their orange creamsicle.
Allens’ Coffee Brandy sponsored the Allen’s Coffee Brandy Whoopie Pie Contest and 1st place went to Valley View Orchard Pies for their mocha whoopie pie, 2nd place to Elaine’s Bakery for “Pick me up Joe”, and 3rd place was won by Governor’s Restaurant for their eclipse fudge with Allen’s Coffee Brandy Whoopie Pie.
The award for best new baker at the festival went to Queen B’s Bakery for strawberries and cream, 2nd place was The SarahJane Baking Co. for pumpkin with maple cream cheese filling, and 3rd place was won by Penobscot Job Corps Advanced Baking Program for Earl Gray whoopie pie “Brunch with the Queen.”
FOUR FOR TEENS — The aim of the teen whoopie pie eating contest at Saturday’s Maine Whoopie Pie Festival was to consume four of the tasty treats in the shortest amount of time possible. Among eight entrants, Jake Sweeney of Eliot, left, finished the quickest as he ate all four in 67 seconds.
Winning the contest for most creative whoopie pie name was To the Queen’s Taste for “Whoopie!! Chocolate Ganache with Panache”, 2nd place Portable Pie Place “Oyster Shaped Citrus and Blueberry”, and Bangin Whoopie won 3rd or “Mysterious Maple”.
The Festival’s Healthy Whoopie Prize was won by The Gluten Free Kitchen for their strawberry shortcake whoopie pie, while 2nd place went to Queen B’s Bakery for their blueberry lemon. Third place was won by Valley View Orchard Pies in Oxford for their pumpkin dark chocolate. The Yankee Whoopie Prize for best use of Maine-based ingredients was awarded to Queen B’s Bakery for their pumpkin with Maine maple cream cheese filling.
Winners of the Festival’s Whoopie Pie Eating Contests were as follows: Tedly Osne from Brewer for the youth contest (12 and under) for eating four whoopie pies in about four minutes. The teen contest was won by Jack Sweeney from Eliot as he ate four whoopie pies in 67 seconds. The adult contest was won by Alan Dill from Lincoln, as he ate six whoopie pies in 63 seconds.
ADULT EATING CONTEST — Entrants in the adult whoopie pie eating contest tested their stomachs by seeing who could finish a half dozen of the chocolate and cream treats the fastest on June 22 outside Dover True Value in downtown Dover-Foxcroft. Alan Dill of Lincoln won with his time of 63 seconds.
The Maine Whoopie Pie Festival is the largest fundraiser for the Center Theatre for the Performing Arts and the Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce. Both organizations would like to thank the festival’s lead sponsor Shaw’s Supermarkets as well as the other sponsors The Eastern Gazette, Maine Credit Unions, Varney Agency, Allen’s Coffee Brandy, Dave’s World, Edwards Supermarkets and Renewal by Anderson.
The 2025 Maine Whoopie Pie Festival will be held on Saturday, June 14. The Center Theatre for the Performing Arts is a 501(c)3 organization with a mission to make arts, education, and entertainment accessible to our rural communities to engage and inspire.
FIRST TO RAISE THEIR HAND — Tedly Osne of Brewer raises a right arm to become the first of nine entrants in the youth whoopie pie eating contest to finish four whoopie pies on Saturday in Dover-Foxcroft.
CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE — Downtown Dover-Foxcroft became the center of the whoopie pie universe for the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival on June 22. Despite a rainy start to the day, 6,000 people attended to celebrate Maine’s Official State Treat. Proceeds from the festival benefit the Center Theatre for the Performing Arts.
BURNS BEARS — A chainsaw carving demonstration by Burns Bears of Augusta was part of the Dover True Value Entertainment Center at the fourth annual Dover True Value Homeshow during the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival.