Maine Whoopie Pie Festival tops 6,000 hungry attendees
DOVER-FOXCROFT — Showers were in the forecast for the afternoon, but that didn’t stop 6,000 people from coming to Dover-Foxcroft to get their whoopie pies during the annual Maine Whoopie Pie Festival on Saturday, June 24.
“We knew the morning would be busy and it didn’t disappoint,” said Patrick Myers, one of the festival organizers, “The rain did keep some people and some bakers away, but by the time the clouds opened up most of the bakers had sold out.”
The festival, in its 14th 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 carking at the True Value Entertainment Center and enjoyed games and activities for the kids at the Varney Agency Kids Zone. They also participated in whoopie pie eating contests and voted for their favorite bakers.
SPEED EATERS — Entrants in the youth eating contest race to finish their whoopie pies the fastest during Saturday’s annual Maine Whoopie Pie Festival in downtown Dover-Foxcroft. A crowd of 6,000 attended the event to celebrate Maine’s Official State Treat, with proceeds benefiting the Center Theatre.
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 Maggie’s Munchies from Greenville, New Hampshire.
SWEET SIXTEEN — Nick Richards of Winslow earned top honors in the adult division of the whoopie pie eating contest at the True Value Entertainment Center at the June 24 Maine Whoopie Pie Festival in Dover-Foxcroft. Richards completed 16 whoopie pies, or nearly three full 6-pack trays.
In the judged categories, first place in the best traditional whoopie pie went to Vail’s Custom Cakes in Dover-Foxcroft, second place to Valley View Orchard Pies in Oxford, and third place to Freshies markets located statewide.
In the best flavored whoopie pie contest Shaw’s Supermarkets took first place with the cream cheese delight whoopie pie. Katherine’s Bakery and Café in Norway won second place for the lemon blueberry, and third place went to Maggie’s Munchies in Greenville, New Hampshire for the pumpkin oatmeal chocolate chip.
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. Entrants in all three divisions could be aided by milk and water as they aimed to earn the top prize of either a gift card to the Center Theatre or to the Festival merchandise tent.
Bissell Brothers Brewing sponsored the “Best Bissell Brother’s Whoopie Pie” and frist place went to Vail’s Custom Cakes for the Mac’n Cheesy Bissell Beer-ria and second place to Elaine’s Bakery in Milo for a Bissell Grog whoopie pie.
The award for best new baker at the festival went to Nuttie Nellies Café in Auburn for the peanut butter whoopie pie. Winning second place was Katherine’s Bakery and Café for the traditional whoopie pie, and third place was won by Christine’s Kitchen in Brewer for an oatmeal crème pie whoopie pie.
ADULT EATING CONTEST — Entrants in the adult whoopie pie eating contest tested their stomachs by seeing how many of the chocolate and cream treats they could consume in five minutes on June 24 outside Dover True Value in downtown Dover-Foxcroft.
Winning the contest for most creative whoopie pie name was Elaine’s Basket Café for “Whet My Bissell.” Second place went to The Gluten Free Kitchen in Dover-Foxcroft for “Mama Needs a Break,” and Vail’s Custom Cakes in won third for “24 Karat Gold.”
The Festival’s Healthy Whoopie Prize was won by Katherine’s Bakery and Café for their gluten free whoopie pie while second place went to Vail’s Custom Cakes for the vegan Oreo whoopie pie. Third place was won by Valley View Orchard Pies in Oxford for the banana nut whoopie pie.
GONE IN AN INSTANT — Grant Lundy of Bangor stands up from the picnic table after being the first to finish their whoopie pie during the youth eating competition at Saturday’s Maine Whoopie Pie Festival. Lundy earned top honors for the second year in a row.
The Yankee Whoopie Prize for best use of Maine-based ingredients was awarded to Vail’s Custom Cakes by Jim Bailey in the Yankee Chef.
Winners of the whoopie pie eating contests: Grant Lundy from Bangor and the teen contest was won by Tyler Wing from Sangerville. The two finished one and four whoopie pies respectively in the quickest amount of time. Both Grant and Tyler won their respective contests for the second year in a row.
BACK-TO-BACK — Tyler Wing of Sangerville rises to show he is done with his four whoopie pies. Wing repeated as the winner of the teen division of the eating competition at the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival.
The adult contest was won by Nick Richards from Winslow. Richards finished 16 whoopie pies as adults aimed to eat the most in five minutes.
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, Bissell Brothers Brewing, Edwards Supermarkets, and Renewal by Anderson.
THOUSANDS OF WHOOPIE PIES — Downtown Dover-Foxcroft became the center of the whoopie pie universe for the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival on Saturday, June 24. Despite it being a rainy afternoon, 6,000 people attended to celebrate Maine’s Official State Treat. Proceeds from the festival benefit the Center Theatre for the Performing Arts.
The 2024 Maine Whoopie Pie Festival will be held on Saturday, June 22. 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.
BURNS BEARS — A chainsaw carving demonstration by Burns Bears of Augusta was part of the True Value Entertainment Center at the third annual Dover True Value Homeshow.
TEDDY BEAR CLINIC — EMT Maged Shahin helps assistant children take care of the patients at the Northern Light Mayo Hospital Emergency Medical Services Teddy Bear Clinic at Saturday’s Maine Whoopie Pie Festival. The ambulance was set up at the first aid tent by the fire station. The clinic helps kids become familiar with healthcare and make them feel more comfortable about their next trip to the doctor’s office.
