Over 7,000 attend 2017 Maine Whoopie Pie Festival

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Center Theatre announced that over 7,000 people attended the 2017 Maine Whoopie Pie Festival on Saturday, June 24. The ninth annual festival brought bakers from around the state together with artists, crafters and vendors to celebrate the Whoopie Pie, Maine’s Official State Treat.

Patrick Myers, coordinator of the festival, was happy with the day. “The weather started off a little rough,” he said. “The rain slowed us down getting ready and kept some people away. But once the rain stopped the weather was great and we couldn’t be happier to show off our community to so many people.”

At the festival, the bakers submitted whoopie pies to the official festival judges. The winners this year were: Best Flavored Whoopie Pie first place: Governor’s Restaurant in Old Town for Peanut Butter Whoopie Pie, second place: Shaw’s Supermarkets for the Red Velvet Whoopie Pie and third place: Freshies for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip with Peanut Butter Filling.

Best Traditional Whoopie Pie: first place: Governor’s Restaurant in Old Town, second place: Sweetie Pies and third place: Peace of Mind Baking Company.

Best New Baker at the festival was Peace of Mind Baking Company with the Cosmic Cookie Dough Whoopie Pie.

The Most Creative Whoopie Pie Name was Lemon Sun Blast by All Purpose Bakery.

The Yankee Whoopie Prize, given to the best tasting Whoopie Pie that focused on Yankee ingredients (molasses, blueberries, apples, maple and Moxie) was won by Sweetie Pies for the Blueberry Molasses Whoopie Pie.

First place in the highly coveted People’s Choice Awards was won by Sweetie Pies, with second place won by RH Foster/Freshies and third place going to Governor’s Restaurant.

The festival also had three Whoopie Pie Eating Contests. The winners of the contests were Jack Kingsbury from Dover-Foxcroft in the 12 and under category, Heather McKeough from Bowdoin in the teen category and Chris Gonzales of Brewer in the adult category.

Myers also wanted to thank the Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce, the Theatre’s major partner in the festival, as well as the festival volunteers and the large group of committed sponsors. Lead sponsors of the Whoopie Pie Festival include Maine Credit Unions, Dave’s World and U.S. Cellular, the Bangor Daily News, Townsquare Media/Z107.3 and Bangor Savings Bank. Myers said there are also many local businesses involved.

“Several other businesses have stepped up in a big way to support the festival,” he said. “Will’s Shop ‘n Save supplied whoopie pies for the festival, Rollins Orchard provided milk for the eating contests and the festival judges and Varney Insurance Agency hosted the Varney Agency Kid’s Zone.”

There is also a long list of businesses who sponsor the Whoopie Pie Festival including All Purpose Bakers, Foxcroft Printers/AMB Signs, Berg Activewear, Dover True Value Hardware, Cavanagh Law Office, Howard Insurance, Pat’s Pizza of Dover-Foxcroft, Mallett Real Estate and True Textiles.

Next year’s festival is scheduled for June 23, 2018. Proceeds from the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival benefit the Center Theatre and its mission to make the arts a part of life in the Maine Highlands as well as many other local businesses and organizations. For more information on the Center Theatre, visit www.centertheatre.org and for information on the whoopie pie festival visit www.MaineWhoopiePieFestival.com.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
LOOK, NO HANDS — Youth whoopie pie eating contest entrants race to finish their treat the fastest during the 2017 Maine Whoopie Pie Festival on Saturday, June 24 in downtown Dover-Foxcroft. Hometown competitor Jack Kingsbury finished his plate the quickest to earn the title of youth whoopie pie eating champion. The ninth annual Maine Whoopie Pie Festival drew 7,000 to Dover-Foxcroft to celebrate Maine’s Official State Treat, with proceeds benefitting the Center Theatre.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
APPETITES AT THE READY — Competitors in the youth whoopie eating contest have their treats placed before them prior to the start late Saturday morning during the 2017 Maine Whoopie Pie Festival in Dover-Foxcroft. For this year’s contest the young eaters were not able to use their hands as they raced to see who could finish their whoopie pie the fastest.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
WE HAVE A WINNER — Jack Kingsbury of Dover-Foxcroft finished his hands-free whoopie pie the fastest during the youth eating competition at Union Square on June 24 during the ninth annual Maine Whoopie Pie Festival in Dover-Foxcroft. Kingsbury ended up as the only hometown whoopie pie eating champion as top teen contest honors went to Heath McKenough of Bowdoin and Chris Gonzalez of Brewer won the adult competition.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
2017 MAINE WHOOPIE PIE FESTIVAL — Bakers, artisans and vendors and 7,000 visitors eager to sample all that the 2017 Maine Whoopie Pie Festival had to offer filled downtown Dover-Foxcroft on Saturday for the ninth annual event. Plans are now underway for the 2018 event set for Saturday, June 23.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
MR. WHOOPIE PIE — Maine Whoopie Pie Festival Organizer Patrick Myers ponders a question from WABI TV5 reporter Emily Tadlock during the event on Saturday.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
LIVING IN THE EIGHTIES — Destroy Them My Robots provided a medley of 1980s hits on the Dave’s World/U.S. Stage at the closed section of East Main Street in Dover-Foxcroft Saturday morning during the ninth annual Maine Whoopie Pie Festival.