More gates, less lines at festival

Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom FIRST TASTE OF THE WHOOPIE PIE FESTIVAL — Maine Whoopie Festival organizer Patrick Myers greets the crowd coming through the gates to open the 2014 event. A record number of 7,500-plus people attended last year’s festival in downtown Dover-Foxcroft.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Sweetest Day in Maine is coming right up and the Center Theatre, who produces the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival, is planning a day full of fun and excitement for festival-goers. One of the biggest changes this year is the addition of a second entrance gate near the Center Theatre to accommodate the ever-increasing attendance at the festival.

“I’ll be honest, we were a bit overwhelmed last year,” said Patrick Myers, the festival coordinator, “We know there were at least 7,500 people in town, but we can’t tell you exactly how many because we just don’t know. What we do know is that the line to get into the Whoopie Pie Zone was way too long. Our gate system just couldn’t accommodate all those people coming to get whoopie pies. So this year we’re expanding dramatically thanks to the support from Dave’s World and U.S. Cellular. They have stepped forward to sponsor a second gate closer to the theatre which should solve the problem.“

There will still be a gate between Pat’s Pizza and Pastimes Pub sponsored by Bangor Savings Bank. “Bangor Savings Bank has been an amazing partner since the beginning of the festival,” said Myers. “Without their generous support and dozens of volunteers the festival would never have grown this large.”

Things that won’t change this year, according to Myers, are the thousands of whoopie pies, hundreds of vendors downtown, and fun activities for the whole family. “The Varney Agency Kids Zone will be in full swing again this year,” Myers said. “With rides and games for kids of all ages. Thanks to the Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce the downtown will be packed with artists, crafters, food and fun and there are lots of other activities going on around town as well.”

The Maine Whoopie Pie Festival will be on Saturday, June 27 in downtown Dover-Foxcroft from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with artists, crafters, games and rides in the Varney Agency Kid’s Zone, family fun, and of course – tens of thousands of whoopie pies. The Maine Whoopie Pie Festival is a production of the Center Theatre who would like to thank lead sponsors Bangor Savings Bank, Dave’s World and US Cellular, Oakhurst, Z107.3, Varney Agency, and The Eastern Gazette. More Information on the festival can be found at www.MaineWhoopiePieFestival.com.

Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom

SPEED EATERS — Fourteen entrants in the kids’ 12 and under whoopie pie eating contest tried to be the first to finish three of the tasty treats during a competition as part of last year’s Maine Whoopie Pie Festival in downtown Dover-Foxcroft. The seventh annual festival will take place during the day on Saturday, June 27 with attendees being able sample from a selection of nearly every type of whoopie pie imaginable.

Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom

COME AND GET YOUR WHOOPIE PIES — The line at the gates at the opening of the 2014 Maine Whoopie Pie Festival stretched from the Whoopie Pie Zone in the municipal parking lot down to the fire station.