Beat out by a hot tamale: Maine hosts the second-best specialty food festival in America, according to USA Today readers

Дата публикации: 20-03-2026 13:41:46

The food festival takes place on June 13.
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New England Travel The food festival takes place on June 13. The Maine Whoopie Pie Festival takes place June 13 in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine. Kayana Szymczak / The Boston Globe

It’s official: America loves hot tamales and whoopie pies.

USA Today recently released a list of top 10 specialty food festivals in America, part of its 2026 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, and the Delta Hot Tamale Festival in Greenville, Miss. ranked No. 1. The Maine Whoopie Pie Festival in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine ranked No. 2.

The whoopie pie, a creamy filling layered between two soft cookies, became Maine’s official state treat in 2011.

Here’s what USA Today wrote about the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival, taking place this year on June 13:

This June fest is a tribute to Maine’s official state treat, the whoopie pie, featuring dozens of bakers competing with classic chocolate-and-marshmallow combinations plus novel flavors like blueberry pancake, apple spice, strawberry shortcake, and maple-bacon. The single-day sugar rush includes eating contests, arts and crafts, a Kids’ Zone with rides and games, a magic show, and musical acts throughout the day.

“In recent years, the whoopie pie has gained popularity across the country and in shops from London to Hong Kong,” according to the festival’s website. “Since 2009, the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival has been gathering the best bakers from around New England to offer samples and compete for prizes and bragging rights.”

The festival, which is located at the Piscataquis Valley Fairgrounds, costs $6 per person, and kids age 12 and under are free.

For the 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards lists, USA Today travel experts select 20 nominees in topics from food to lodging, destinations to things to do. Then the publication asks readers to cast votes to determine the top 10.

Check out the USA Today list of top 10 specialty food festivals in America.

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