2022 Maine Whoopie Pie Festival breaks records

DOVER-FOXCROFT – Saturday, June 25, was a hot day in Dover-Foxcroft, but it was also the center of the Whoopie Pie Universe as nearly 8,000 people descended on the downtown to celebrate Maine’s Official State Treat.

“It was a record-breaking turnout,” said Patrick Myers, one of the festival organizers. “We were afraid the heat would stifle attendance, but people started pouring in at 10 a.m. and didn’t let up till the afternoon.” 

The festival, in its 13th year, brings dozens of bakers together with thousands of fans of the whoopie pie. Attendees also browsed 100 artists, crafters and vendors, heard live music by the Doughty Hill Band, enjoyed games and activities for the kids, participated in whoopie pie eating contests and voted for their favorite bakers. 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,” Myers said.

Winners of the People’s Choice Awards, which are voted on by festival attendees, were: People’s Choice Award, Sweet Sunrise from Saco; and Allen’s People’s Choice Award, for best use of Allen’s Coffee Brandy, Vail’s Custom Cakes in Dover-Foxcroft.

In the judged categories, first place in the Best Traditional Whoopie Pie went to Sweetie Pies in Dexter, second place to The Pastry Corner in Houlton, and third place to Vail’s Custom Cakes in Dover-Foxcroft.

In the Best Flavored Whoopie Pie contest, Sweet Sunrise in Saco won for their pumpkin whoopie pie, Girl Scout Troop 1503 came in second with their strawberry cream, and Bangin’ Whoopie in Bangor took third-place honors for their banana cream whoopie pie. Sweet Sunrise in Saco also took home first place in the Best New Baker contest, 3 Spoons of Sugar in Carmel won second place, and third went to Vail’s Custom Cakes in Dover-Foxcroft.

The award for Most Creative Whoopie Pie Name was won by Elaine’s Basket Café & Bakery in Milo for “Moxie Moron,” second place was Bishop’s Wicked Tasty Fudge for “Fat Ass Whoopie,” and My Three Leaves in Parkman took third for “Blueberries on Vacation.”

The Healthy Whoopie Prize first place also went to My Three Leaves in Parkman for the gluten-free whoopie pie, with the vegan Boston cream from Bangin’ Whoopie in Bangor taking second, and the Girl Scout Troop 1503’s gluten-free whoopie pie winning third.

The best Allen’s Coffee Brandy whoopie pie was won by Vail’s Custom Cakes in Dover-Foxcroft, with second place going to Elaine’s Basket Café & Bakery in Milo for their Allen’s Dream, and third place going to Sweetie Pie’s in Dexter for their dark mocha molasses.

Finally, the Yankee Whoopie Prize, awarded by Jim Bailey, the Yankee Chef, was also won by Sweetie Pies in Dexter for their dark mocha molasses.

Competition at the festival eating contests was stiff, with the following winners: Youth Category, Grant Lunder, from Bangor; Teen Category, Tyler Wing, from Sangerville; and Adult Category: Brian Lowder, from North Carolina. 

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, U.S. Cellular, Varney Agency, Allen’s Coffee Brandy, and Bissell Brothers Brewing.

The 2023 Maine Whoopie Pie Festival will be held on Saturday, June 24. 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.