A new family-friendly festival focused on one of Maine’s favorite sweet treats is coming to Maine.
Maine Tasting Center will host the first-ever Maine Needham Festival at the end of September.
What is a needham? It’s a confection filled with a mixture of coconut and potato then covered in chocolate. The treat has a history dating back 150 years in Maine.
This year, Gov. Janet Mills signed a bill into law creating an annual day to commemorate needhams and the small business that continues to make them. With the law, the last Saturday of September is now known as Maine Needham Day.
The Maine Needham Festival was created to celebrate not only the candy but also Maine potatoes and the state.
“There are many candy makers here in Maine that carry on the Needham tradition and we’re thrilled to have so many of them participating in the festival – as vendors, sponsors, and even as judges for our homemade Needham contest!” says the festival coordinator and Maine Needham Company owner Malaika Picard.
Malaika and Gerard Picard own the Maine Needham Company in Saco. The pair brought together a committee to plan the festival which will include vendors from all over the state, including Robin’s Confections, Bixby Chocolate, Hilltop Boilers Maple Syrup, Wilbur’s of Maine and the Scone Goddess.
Maine Tasting Center will hold needham-making demonstrations led by Culinary Director Liz Gross.
The inaugural festival will take place on Sept. 30 in Wiscasset. It is free to attend but requires tickets to control traffic and ensure parking.
You can reserve tickets by visiting meneedhamfest.com.