Sat. June 5 & Sun. June 6

Homer Simpson is in hog heaven this weekend. He's not working - the show's done for the season - and his very favorite food has its own holiday. We did not know this until local foodie publicist J.P. Faiella shot us a note. But there is a National Doughnut Day Festival at Smolak Farms starting Friday June 4 - Sun. June 6 and if Homer doesn't show up for this, well, then we just don't know our cartoon characters! (The actual Day is the first day, June 4.) Donoughts - spelled donuts nowadays, everywhere - are a New England obsession, what with the Dunkin Donuts chain based in Quincy and the donut considered a key part of your food pyramid. (Just kiddin' on that one.) We'll say donuts are a guilty pleasure that we ever-so ocassionally indulge in. Once, at the Globe doing a piece on the new Charlestown I hit a small donut shop that did produce the most delectable of donuts and made me say thanks for the small entrepreneur in this age of mass-produced everything. Of course, there's that knowledge, or we think it's knowledge, that once eaten a donut sits in your digestive tract half a year before finding its way out. Maybe that's not true. Remember this is the Internet, home of hyperbole and wive's tales that gain credence, so don't trust us on that one. Trust ... oh Wikipedia!

In celebration of National Doughnut Day, Smolak Farms located in picturesque North Andover, will be holding their first-ever, weekend-long Doughnut Day Festival. In honor of the holiday’s founders, Smolak Farms will be donating a portion of the festivals proceeds to The Salvation Army.

National Doughnut Day was officially established in 1938 by the Chicago Salvation Army to raise much-needed funds post depression, and to honor the work of World War I Salvation Army volunteers. Huh?
Seems that during World War I, The Salvation Army set up small provision stations for U.S. serviceman that included writing supplies, sewing materials, hot coffee and yes, doughnuts to bring comfort to the soldiers. The doughnuts were a huge hit with the serviceman and became an important part of providing comfort and morale for soldiers. This no doubt made them feel a little a better about that mustard gas awaiting them or the bloody trench warfare or ... wait ... this is not an Eric Bogle song ... sorry ....

What happens this weekend? On Saturday, June 5th and Sunday, June 6th  from 11:00AM to 3:00PM children can enjoy an assortment of activities including a bounce house ($3.00), batting cages ($3.00), a playground (free), a petting zoo (free), face painting ($2.00) and hayrides ($4.00). To round out the celebration kids of all ages can participate in various doughnut-centered activities including - here we go - a donut ring toss and eating doughnuts on a string. They're having a Doughnut Eating Contest at 1:30 PM on Saturday June 5th and Sunday June 6th. Contestants will have 3 minutes to try and eat the most cider doughnuts. Remember now: Competitive eating is a real sport now, not a gross pig out that promotes diabetes and countless other health problems. The winner will receive a free dozen of doughnuts and bragging rights for 2010. This is certainly a good pickup line at a bar. He: "Do you know I won the 2010 Doughnut Eating Contest?" She: "I'd like to take you home right now!" You can enter the doughnut eating contest at the Farm Stand before 1:00PM the day of!

315 South Bradford Street, North Andover, 978-682-6332 www.smolakfarms.com