ROCKLAND — Jan. 23 marks National Pie Day and each year just around that time the town of Rockland takes out the rolling pins and starts creating dough for New England's largest pie-a-thon to celebrate the good ol' American dessert. This year, the 12th Annual Pies on Parade event, celebrating pie and raising money for the Area Interfaith Outreach (AIO) Food Pantry and Fuel Assistance Fund, will take place Jan. 31 from 1-4 p.m. at 20 inns, restaurants and businesses in Rockland. Pie Tour veterans will be treated to some new venues, new pies and a new High Tea to precede the Pie Tour, along with the silent auction to get the pie party rolling.

What's new for the 2016 Pies on Parade Pie Tour?
On Saturday, Jan. 30 from 1-3 p.m., as part of the Pies on Parade weekend activities in Rockland, the Island Institute, 386 Main Street, will welcome Downton Abbey fans to drop by for a cup of tea, finger sandwiches and teacakes served on fine china by Island Institute staff dressed in period attire. Guests will also have a chance to win a gift basket filled with teatime goodies and Downton Abbey related items. The event is free for Pies on Parade ticket holders; there is a suggested donation of $5 for other guests and everyone is invited. All proceeds from the tea will go to the Area Interfaith Outreach Food Pantry.

Following this event, the Wine and Pie Tasting at the Wine Seller in Rockland is a very popular event to get ready for the Pie Tour. The Wine and Pie Tasting is free and open to the public from 3:30-5:30 p.m.

A number of new stops have been added to the Pie Tour in addition to the favorites that have been included for 12 years now. Added to this year's Pie Tour are Comida Restaurant, Eclipse Restaurant (making its debut last year but as The Speakeasy), Friends of Maine's Seabird Islands/Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Main Street Markets working in conjunction with Rockland's own Bixby & Co Bixby Bars, and Over the Rainbow Yarns will return to the lineup working with the Hawthorn Inn B&B in Camden to create pies.

This year, tour folks can also look forward for some of the year-after-year favorites on the Pie Tour, like Blueberry, Raspberry and egg pies from Berry Manor Inn, Key LimeRock Pie from LimeRock Inn, Pizza pies from Café Miranda, Whoopie Pies at Rockland Café, Waterworks Restaurant's signature Shepherd's Pie, and the adorable Cream Puffin Sweetie Pies from the Audubon's Project Puffin Center.

New to the variety of pies this year is a Spicy Carrot Pie being served at the Granite Inn, the gluten free Seafood Chowder Pie at Rockland Café, Kimchee and Pork Belly Pizza created by In Good Company, and a demonstration of drinking chocolates created by Bixby Bars and served at Main Street Markets. The Friends of Maine's Seabird Islands have created a special "Scotch Pie" just for the Pie Tour, named after Scotch Island in Penobscot Bay and featuring a sweet butterscotch filling. New varieties of pies are being added to the list daily.

Once again to kick off the Pies on Parade, the Historic Inns of Rockland will host a silent auction of locally donated gift certificates and softgoods from many businesses throughout Maine's Midcoast at Trackside Station (4 Union Street, Rockland) on Saturday, Jan. 30 from 5-7 p.m. A delicious menu of pie-themed cocktails will be served throughout the evening in addition to the full bar and menu, and the restaurant will donate 50 percent of special cocktail sales to the event. Live acoustic music will be provided by Midcoast's very own Jonesville. All are invited to attend.

Pies on Parade tickets are $30 per person and are on sale by calling 207-596-6611. All tickets must be reserved in advance and will be picked up on the day of the event. Tickets are expected to sell out. There is still limited availability for Pies on Parade packages including accommodations, Pies on Parade tickets, specially planned events and a personally baked pie.

For accommodations availability, visit HistoricInnsofRockland.com and click on Availability.

For complete information on Pies on Parade, please visit historicinnsofrockland.com/pies-on-parade/ or call 207-596-6611.