Maine Whoopie Pie Festival returns Saturday

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Center Theatre has announced the schedule for the 2018 Maine Whoopie Pie Festival being held on Saturday, June 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Dover-Foxcroft. The 10th annual festival opens at 10 a.m. with 25 bakers from across the state, including lead sponsor Shaw’s Supermarkets, bringing over 40,000 whoopie pies to share with hungry whoopie pie fans. The full schedule and more information about the festival can be found at www.MaineWhoopiePieFestival.com.

The cost to enter the festival is $5 per person, kids 12 and under free. Because in-town parking is limited, attendees should follow the signs to the Piscataquis Valley Fairgrounds where they can park and get on the free shuttle to the festival downtown.

Getting the festival off to a running start, the Piscataquis Regional YMCA is holding its annual “Earn Your Whoopie Pie” 3K fun run and walk and children’s 1K fun run. The kid’s run starts at 8 a.m. and the adults start at 8:30 a.m. The race starts in the parking lot downtown behind Pat’s Pizza and advance registration is recommended but entrants can register the morning of the race. For more information visit www.prymca.org or call the PRYMCA at 564-7111.

This year, attendees will enjoy live music all day long by Destroy Them My Robots, an 80’s cover band from Bar Harbor. There will also be magic shows at the Varney Agency Kid’s Zone along with bounce houses, rides and other games and entertainment for youngsters.

Everyone will enjoy the baker booths along with all the artists, crafters, vendors and other food vendors. Festival goers can participate in one of three whoopie pie eating contests held for children, teens and adults. The eating contests happen in the food court downtown at 11:45 a.m., 12:15 p.m. and 1:45 p.m. respectively.

Patrick Myers, the organizer and founder of the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival says that this will be the most bakers and the most whoopies ever in Dover-Foxcroft. “We have a record number of bakers attending this year,” Myers said, “and it sounds like we’ll have a record number of whoopie pies. Just by themselves, our lead sponsor Shaw’s Supermarket, is bringing 5,000 whoopie pies. There are 24 other bakers who are bringing thousands of their own whoopie pies … who knows, maybe we’ll top 50,000!”

Myers also said there are many other activities going on around town on Whoopie Pie Day. “There’s a huge rummage sale at the Congregational Church, tours of the renovated Central Hall building along with a raffle of framed copies of the new Dover-Foxcroft police department badge, the Dover-Foxcroft Farmers Market, and so much more.”

The fun doesn’t stop after the festival, Myers said. On Sunday the 24th the Center Theatre and Slightly Off-Center Players are hosting a whoopie pie-hemed paint-n-sip at Central Hall at 2 p.m.

Myers said the festival wouldn’t be possible without the help of the Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce, “The chamber’s director Denise Buzzelli is a huge asset to the festival and the town, we couldn’t do it without her.”

He also said there are many local businesses that support the festival through sponsorships. “Our sponsors include Shaw’s Supermarkets, Dave’s World and U.S. Cellular, Townsquare Media, Maine’s Credit Unions, the Varney Agency, Bangor Savings Bank, Will’s Shop ‘n Save, Freedom House Bed and Breakfast, and many more.”

The Maine Whoopie Pie Festival is the largest fundraiser for the Center Theatre for the Performing Arts. A bona fide 501(c)3 non-profit with a mission of making the arts a part of life in the Maine Highlands by bringing affordable arts, education and entertainment to the community.