A street party, concert, fireworks, and Rutland’s “Newly”wed Game will highlight the region’s first annual Whoopie Pie Festival and parade of essential-worker heroes Aug. 27.
The festivities will bring the community together for celebration, connection, and reflection after two long years of the pandemic. New visitors are invited to join us in Rutland’s historic downtown.
Center Street will shut down for the day and transform into a grass-covered green street. Afternoon activities such as yoga, a ga ga pit, a caricature artist, a magician, balloon art, and more will take place beginning at noon.
Numerous whoopie pie venders will offer samples of their products, and tickets to taste whoopie pies and vote for your favorites will be available. In addition to whoopie pies, vendors will offer other sweet treats for sale, local restaurants will be open, and food trucks will add to the celebration.
Heroes will line up at 4 p.m. at Grace Congregational Church. At 4:30 p.m. marchers step off, led down Center Street by Heritage Family’s Captain Credit Union. After the parade, community heroes, who continue to help us navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, will be honored, whoopie pies awards will be announced, and we will unveil the largest whoopie pie in Rutland.
Enerjazz Band will entertain festival goers from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the green street. Prepare to laugh at 7:30 p.m. at Rutland’s “Newly”wed Game at the Paramount Theatre, a fundraiser for the Community Cupboard and BROC Food Shelf. More information and participating couples will be announced soon. The festivities will wrap up with fireworks at 9:15 p.m.
The Parade of Heroes & Whoopie Pie Festival is presented by Heritage Family Credit Union (HFCU) in collaboration with the Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region (CEDRR) and the Paramount Theatre. The day is also supported by Cape Air, Casella Construction, Casella Waste Systems, Come Alive Outside, Community Health Centers of the Rutland Region, Downtown Rutland Partnership, Foley Family of Companies, Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty, GE Aviation, Green Mountain Power, Killington Resort, Laz Parking, Mary Moran, Omya, People’s United Bank, Rotary Club of Rutland, Rutland City, Rutland Mental Health, Rutland Regional Medical Center (RRMC), The Bank of Bennington, VELCO, Vermont Country Store and Westminster Cracker.
“Everyone is ready for some fun, and we are all so appreciative of the hard work medical and other essential workers have done,” CEDDR Executive Director Lyle Jepson said. “We will celebrate and honor the medical workers, emergency responders, and everyone who helped protect and serve our communities during this unprecedented time.”
The Paramount Theatre’s executive director, Eric Mallette, said the August event will include special guests and surprises. “It will be a fun and exciting event for the whole family,” Mallette said. “It will be like a combination of Friday Night Live and a victory party!”
Matt Levandowski, president and CEO of HFCU, looks forward to honoring workers who helped make Rutland County one of the safest places in the country during the pandemic. “From front-line medical workers and police, fire and rescue crews, teachers and tellers, to grocery store, utility and trucking workers, we owe a huge debt of gratitude, and we want to say, ‘thanks’ in a way the whole community can enjoy,” Levandowski said.
RRMC President and CEO, Claudio Fort said he is grateful for the region’s continued collaboration in recovering and moving past the COVID-19 crisis and looks forward to the upcoming celebration in August. “We are proud of our employees and the community at large,” Fort said. “The Rutland Region is incredibly resilient, and Rutland Regional is proud to support these important events to reconnect with and celebrate our community.”
Essential workers can sign up to take part in the parade by clicking the Parade of Heroes Registration Form below.
Those who wish to be whoopie pie vendors can sign up at https://www.rutlandwhoopiepiefest.com/bakers/.
To see the full schedule of events visit https://www.rutlandwhoopiepiefest.com/.
