Whoopie Pie Fest get sweeter

Organizers plan exciting changes for June 25 event

DOVER-FOXCROFT — For the seventh year, the Center Theatre and Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce will partner with other local and regional businesses to bring the sweetest Maine festival back to downtown Dover-Foxcroft. In addition to an incredible 10,000 whoopie pies being prepared, this year several aspects of the festival on Saturday, June 25 will be changing, making it all so much sweeter.

In previous years, the festival ran from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., this year it will run until 8 p.m. Piscataquis Chamber Executive Director Denise Buzzelli explains, “(East) Main Street vendors have expressed disappointment in the past with the length of the festival, the day moved much too quickly for most, and they really wanted more time to sell their product. Keeping the festival open until 8 p.m. gives the vendors a great opportunity to potentially see a different crowd, like those folks who work on Saturdays and haven’t been able to come to the festival before. We are hoping it will also motivate vendors and visitors from away to stay overnight and spend extra time in Piscataquis County.”

In addition to the extended schedule, the layout of the festival has changed significantly. Before, the bakers and live music stage were stationed in a parking lot behind Pastimes Pub and Pat’s Pizza, and away from the vendors. This separate area is where the contests, judging and live broadcasts were held. Festival goers had to stand in a long line to enter “The Whoopie Pie Zone” and pay an entrance fee. Some vendors felt they saw less traffic because crowds would turn the corner before visiting the booths placed after the entrance. This year, the festival is laid out like a ‘V’, with vendors on the left arm, whoopie pie bakers and festival merchandise on the right arm and between them is the Varney Agency’s Kids Zone with fabulous kids’ rides and games. Finally, a food court with picnic tables, a street dance area and the music stage with live broadcasts and contests where the two arms meet — directly in the center of downtown.

There will be three entrance gates this year, and admission to the festival has been brought down to an easy $3 per person due to the generosity of festival sponsors with children under 12 getting in free. This means shorter, faster lines and a greater opportunity for all vendors to see the same traffic.

The first gate, sponsored by Bangor Savings Bank, will be at the corner of East Main and Court streets to the east of Rite Aid. The second gate, sponsored by the Bangor Daily News, will be stationed on the west side of the Rite Aid, at the corner of Court and Pleasant streets. The third gate, sponsored by Dave’s World and US Cellular, will be stationed downtown, in front of the True Value building, adjacent to the music stage.

As they come in to town, festival-goers will find signs directing them to the fairgrounds for parking, where shuttle busses will transfer to and from.

Live music will be performed this year by two bands. Sharon Hood and Dixon Road will play all day long with Willicker playing a set in the afternoon. The Z107.3/Townsquare Media Street Dance is a new addition to the festival, as well as a designated food court, as most of the food vendors will be stationed in one place, with plenty of seating in the court and other shady spots.

The Whoopie Pie Festival organizers are grateful for the ongoing community support and the financial support of this year’s sponsors, including Bangor Savings Bank, Dave’s World, Z107.3, Bangor Daily News, the Varney Agency, Will’s Shop ‘n Save, The Freedom House Bed & Breakfast, Foxcroft Printers, Bergs Sportswear, George Howard Insurance, Kim Cavanaugh Law Office, Mallett Real Estate, Pat’s Pizza of Dover-Foxcroft, Rideout Seasonal Services and True Textiles, with Maine Credit Unions as the official sponsor of the Main Street Zone for the second year.

For more information, please visit mainewhoopiepiefestival.com or call 564-7533.