ROCKLAND – Wouldn’t a warm piece of pie in Rockland, Maine taste great on a chilly Sunday afternoon?  How about 50 pieces? The 14th Annual Pies on Parade Pie Tour is right around the corner on Sunday, January 28, from 1 to 4 p.m.  It’s an off-weekend for football, but not for America’s favorite dessert.  More than 50 different pies will be served from businesses throughout Rockland and Camden, Maine to celebrate both National Pie Day (held each year on January 23) and feeding Maine’s hungry families.  One hundred percent of the proceeds from the annual Pie Tour are donated to the Area Interfaith Outreach (AIO) Food Pantry and Fuel Assistance Program, to help hungry Midcoast families.  

There are still tickets available for the 14th Annual Pies on Parade Tour, but they are selling fast.  To reserve tickets, call 207-596-6611 or reserve online at www.PiesOnParade.com.  Tickets are $30 each for adults and $15 for children 10 and under. 

Several new businesses will get in on the fun this year, with delicious pie-additions.  Bixby & Co will serve up gluten-free chocolate treats including their Chocolate Orange Torta Della Nonna and a Tofu Chocolate Truffle Torte, both made with their signature chocolate.  Somebody Loves Me Bridal is another new addition to the Pie Tour scene, and will offer their own version of a Chocolate Wedding Bliss Torte.  Another new addition is the Penobscot Language School, serving up an Erbazzone Italian Savory Pie.  

Additionally, new this year, Flowers with Hoboken will team up with Camden’s Hawthorn Inn to offer Zucchini, Quinoa & Goat Cheese Tart plus a Drunken Pumpkin Bourbon Tart. 

Archers on the Pier will surprise tour-goers with a savory pie, and Summer Maine will work with Mussel Ridge Market to offer a Moroccan Chicken Pie and a Cheesecake Tart with Fresh Berries.   

Of course, many of the long-time participating businesses will once again participate including the three Historic Inns of Rockland (Berry Manor Inn, Granite Inn, LimeRock Inn), In Good Company, Fog Bar & Grille, Waterworks Restaurant, FIORE Artisan Olive Oils & Vinegars, Project Puffin, Rockland Café (with their signature whoopie pies) and many more.  

Pies on Parade is so much fun, the founders have created a whole weekend of festivities focused on pie.  New this year, Camden will present their Pie-ton Place Scavenger Hunt, with festivities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the filming in of Peyton Place in Camden, the scavenger hunt/trivia contest will culminate with a grand prize gift basket valued over $1,200.

Tickets are $15 per person with children under 10 free. Of course, pies will be served at several locations throughout the scavenger hunt. Those interested in participating can pick up tickets at the Camden Office of the Penbay Chamber of Commerce in Camden’s Public Landing between 10am and 2pm. The Lincolnville Business Group will be providing tasting of savory breakfast pies to start the day off right.

Starting at noon, the participants will need to visit each stop on the event map to get the Peyton Place trivia question, and taste additional pies along the way.  Why not get refresher and watch the Peyton Place movie, which will be playing in the Camden Library?  You’ll get plenty of clues for the trivia contest there.  Participants must drop off entries at Blackberry Inn between 12noon and 4pm. All entries with all trivia questions answered correctly will be entered into a random drawing for the grand gift basket prize. 

Additionally, as in past years a Silent Auction will be held at the Trackside Station Restaurant on Saturday, January 27, 2018 from 5-7 p.m.  Look for overnight getaways, gift certificates, products, live music and entertainment, plus much more.  There will even be special pie-themed cocktails featured. All proceeds will benefit the AIO Food Pantry & Fuel Assistance Program.   

And once again this year, All Aboard Trolley will generously provide transportation between pie-stops for those who’d rather ride than walk. 

Most importantly, all proceeds from the entire Pies on Parade weekend benefit the Area Interfaith Outreach (AIO) Food Pantry & Fuel Assistance Program. All participating pie venues donate the ingredients and their time to create at least 50+ pies to serve at each venue.  This is approximately a $600 donation of time and goods for each participating business. Over the past thirteen years, more  than $160,000 has been donated to AIO’s Food Pantry from this event to help provide food for Midcoast families. Pies on Parade is the food pantry’s largest fundraiser of the year, providing enough funds to feed 100 hungry families for a full year.  

For more information on the Pies on Parade event, lodging packages and for online ticket sales, visit www.PiesOnParade.com.  To learn more about the event or request tickets by phone, please call 207-596-6611.