ROCKLAND — Dubbed “Pie Town USA” by the Food Network, Rockland is going pie-wild for the 15th annual Pies on Parade celebration of National Pie Day (National Pie Day is celebrated each year on January 23), according to a news release.

To celebrate the 15^th anniversary of this annual winter event, the towns of Rockland and Camden will go pie-crazy for the whole weekend of January 25 through January 27.

Friday night will feature a Silent Auction and Pie Gala in Rockland from 6 to 9 p.m. This year’s kick-off Gala has been expanded to include a silent auction with overnight getaways, gift certificates, products, artwork, pies and much more. 

The night is also filled with pie samplings and other food, music, brewery tours and a cash bar.

Entry to the kick off Gala is free. All monies raised will benefit the AIO Food Pantry and Fuel Assistance Program and One Less Worry to help our neighbors living in need.

Saturday features a Pie Scavenger Hunt in Camden. Businesses will get in on the pie fun with a pie-themed scavenger hunt contest. Spend Saturday afternoon exploring downtown Camden and visiting participating businesses to collect “letters,” eat pie and learn facts about AIO and food insecurity in Maine’s Midcoast.

After collecting all of your “letters,” unscramble them to complete the pie-related phrase. Submit your completed entry form for a chance to win several prize baskets which includes donations from participating Camden businesses.

Saturday scavenger hunt tickets are $15 per person with children under 10 free or purchase a multi-event ticket for the weekend. Tickets are available at the Hawthorn Inn in Camden or online here.

The 15th Annual Pies on Parade event will be Sunday, Jan. 27, from 1 to 4 p.m.

For this 15^th Annual Pie Tour event, the Historic Inns of Rockland are joined by as many as 25 additional Rockland and Camden businesses and restaurants to welcome hungry pie eaters to Rockland’s downtown. Pie lovers will sample more than 50 different pies at 25 or more businesses, restaurants and inns throughout Rockland.

Plus, while walking between venues helps to burn calories, All Aboard Trolley will provide transportation at designated stops, too.

Every dollar raised from the weekend’s events will be donated to help hungry Midcoast Maine families through the Area Interfaith Outreach (AIO) Food Pantry. More than $185,000 has been raised for the AIO Food Pantry over the 14-year tenure of this event,according to the release. The goal this year is to raise the 15-year total amount to $200,000. 

Tickets sell out quickly, and the best way to get yours is through Pies on Parade lodging packages offered by the three Historic Inns of Rockland (Berry Manor Inn, LimeRock Inn and Granite Inn) and participating Camden inns including the Hawthorn Inn and Towne Motel, according to the release.

Two and three-night packages include guaranteed tickets to all weekend events and special extras like a 2019 15th Annual commemorative pie poster and two personal pies awaiting your arrival.

Day tickets for the Pies on Parade Tour are $30 for adults and $15 for children ten and under, and all funds from tickets sales go directly to the local food pantry. Tickets to the Camden Scavenger Hunt are $15 each.

Weekend combination tickets are also available for $40, offering a $5 savings.

Tickets are available from the three Historic Inns of Rockland (Berry Manor Inn, LimeRock Inn or Granite Inn); by calling 207-596-6611 or by purchasing securely online at PiesOnParade.com.

Tickets sell out each year, according to the release.

“This is not your average pie-in-the-sky event, said Parade organizers, in the news release. “Move aside Mom’s apple pie, Rockland’s inns, businesses and restaurants will serve up everything from Shepherd’s Pie and gourmet pizza pies to sweet and savory galettes, seafood pies, egg pies, whoopie pies and the signature Key LimeRock Pie.”

All proceeds from the entire Pies on Parade weekend benefit the Area Interfaith Outreach (AIO) Food Pantry and Fuel Assistance Program, and One Less Worry – providing toilet paper and personal care products to families in need.

Over the past fourteen years, more than $185,000 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, according to the release.

Pies on Parade is presented by the Historic Inns of Rockland, with help from broadcast sponsor Blueberry Broadcasting and other generous sponsors including Maritime Energy, offering up to a $2500 match of money raised in special oil cans found throughout the community and on the tour.

In addition, these sponsors have come on board to support the pie celebration providing funding for the event: 44 Business Capital, A Division of Berkshire Bank, All Aboard Trolley, Camden Area Business Group .

For more information on the 15^th Annual Pies on Parade, including links to online ticket sales, visit www.PiesOnParade.com or call 207-596-6611.