Maine Grain Alliance is proud to present the second Maine Bagel-Off on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This outdoor celebration of bagels, local grains and friendly competition will take place at the Maine Tasting Center campus in Wiscasset.

The event brings together up to 20 invited bagel makers from across the state to compete for Maine's Best Bagel and People's Choice Bagel. This year features an exciting rematch for the coveted "Golden Bagel" trophy. Both of last year's inaugural champions are confirmed to return to defend their titles. In 2025, Orchard Ridge Farm took home the People's Choice Award while Knead & Nosh won the Best Bagel Award.

In its inaugural year, the Maine Bagel-Off took place at the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust Farmers Market at Crystal Springs Farm and was a bigger hit than anyone anticipated. Tickets sold out, lines wrapped around the market and hundreds of bagel lovers showed up to cast their votes. To accommodate this high level of enthusiasm, the Maine Grain Alliance is moving the 2026 event to the spacious Maine Tasting Center campus. The new location offers expanded outdoor space, improved crowd flow and ample parking.

"We were thrilled by how the public embraced the first Bagel-Off! The turnout and energy were so much higher than we anticipated," said Tristan Noyes, executive director of Maine Grain Alliance. "People get so excited about bagels because they're delicious, of course, but they're also a great way to get people asking questions about where their grain comes from and talking with the farmers and bakers who make it possible. That's exactly the kind of connection our mission is built on."

A panel of expert judges, including bakery consultant and self-described "unwitting" national bagel judge Reva Castillenti of Small Good Bakery, and Ethan Marks, the former Apollo Bagels baker turned bagel production consultant and Bread Bakers Guild Programs Committee chair, will crown the "Best Bagel" winner. But ticketholders have power, too, deciding the "People's Choice" title winner. With creativity as a judging criterion, attendees can expect everything from classic favorites to bold, inventive flavor combinations.

General admission tickets are $25, with discounted $15 tickets available for members of the Maine Grain Alliance and the Maine Tasting Center. Children 12 and under attend for free. Learn more and purchase tickets at www.kneadingconference.com/maine-bagel-off/

Maine Grain Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and empowering people who build local grain economies. Through educational programs, heritage seed restoration, technical assistance grants and community events like the annual Kneading Conference and the Maine Bagel-Off, the organization supports regional grain traditions from earth to table.