It’s a brilliant idea, linking the eating of pie to donations to a food bank.

Rockland’s annual Pies on Parade is an event that Linda and I try to never miss. It’s scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 31, from 1 to 4 p.m.

Just imagine: 25 businesses offering samples of 40 different pies. Well, you don’t have to imagine this, because that’s what Pies on Parade offers. In my mind, I justify all that indulgent eating by walking from business to business. Schooner Bay Taxi does offer free transportation at designated stops, but if you are able to walk, all the places are within easy walking distance.

The Food network designated Rockland “Pie Town USA” and this event sells out quickly, so I encourage you to reserve your tickets now. You can do that by calling 207-596-6611, or ordering those tickets by emailing info@historicinnsofrockland.com. More information is also available at the Historic Inns of Rockland website, (www.historicinnsofrockland.com). Tickets cost $30, which provides three meals a day for a family of four for five days.

As Marti Mayne of Maynely Marketing, who promotes the project, says, “Since all proceeds from Pies on Parade are donated to the AIO Food Pantry, you can feel good knowing your day of pie-enjoyment will provide 60 meals to hungry families on Maine’s midcoast.”

A wide range of amazing pies are served here, including Shepherd’s Pie, pizza, seafood pies, sweet pies, and (YES!) whoopie pies. You won’t want to miss the now-famous Key LimeRock Pie at the LimeRock Inn and the traditional berry pies at the Berry Manor Inn. And for those who are focused on healthy eating, you’ll find sugar-free and lavender yogurt pies and pies made with healthy olive oil.

I have a strategy for this event, which includes beginning at the Berry Manor Inn to make sure I do so before getting full. My goal has always been to try the pies at all 25 businesses and last year I got to 14 of them, an all-time record.

Marti encourages you to make a weekend of this. “After all, friends don’t let friends drive under the influence of pie!” she notes. You can book a Pies on Parade package at the Historic Inns website and take advantage of pie-add-ons offering an amazing array of opportunities from two personal pies baked for you, to a $50 midcoast money voucher for dinner on Saturday at a choice of many area restaurants, to two tickets to a Bay Chamber concert and pie tasting at Granite Inn on Saturday afternoon, and lots more.

If you really want to whet your appetite, check out the Pies on Parade video. We’ll see you there!

George Smith of Mount Vernon writes about travel and tourism in Maine. He is a writer, TV talk show host and former executive director of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine. He can be reached at georgesmithmaine@gmail.com. Read more of Smith’s writings at www.georgesmithmaine.com.