"Pig Out" At The Bacon Fest

by Robin O’Neal Smith Associate Editor

Are you a bacon lover?

If so, you will be in “hog heaven” at this festival. It’s the perfect place to “go hog wild” and let your inner bacon-lover run free!

EASTON - Prepare yourself to try nearly everything imaginable made with bacon. The fun doesn’t stop with bacon treats; they have unique contests that will have you squealing like a pig as you explore the festival.

I’m a bacon lover, and I’ve attended the PA Bacon Fest for the past two years—in 2022 with my husband and last year with my mom and a friend. I plan to return to “pig out” on bacon treats again this year. Did I mention I love bacon?

What Is The PA Bacon Fest?

Celebrating its 13th year in 2024, the two-day Bacon Fest is one of the most popular events in the Mid-Atlantic region. Their website says it is “Two days of grease, love, and happiness.” The festival boasts delicious food (most include bacon as an ingredient), family-friendly activities, live music, cooking demos, and fun contests. You can also stock up on “swine swag” for sale. Last year, I sported an “Bacon Makes Everything Better” shirt, a “Bacon Fest” backpack, and a “Pork” hat.

Bacon Festival Treats

The PA Bacon Fest is a paradise for bacon lovers, with over 150 food vendors offering a wide array of bacon delights. From classic BLTs to innovative creations like maple-glazed bacon donuts and bacon ice cream, the festival is a celebration of all things bacon.

You can’t imagine all the bacon-flavored treats available. Some of my favorites were:

●Bacon Sticky Buns

●Elvis Ice Cream - Banana ice cream with a peanut butter ripple and bacon coated in

peanut butter.

●Chocolate Covered Bacon

●Candied Bacon

●Bacon Sticky Buns

●Chocolate Chip Cookies with Bacon

As you can see, I ate a lot of bacon! Other unique bacon treats included:

●Bacon Infused Sweet Potato Parfait

●Bacon Cheddar Waffles

●Fried Pork Belly

●Bacon Crab Cakes

●Bacon Funnel Cakes

●Bacon Shrimp Kabobs

●Bacon Cookies

●Bacon S’mores

●Bacon Corn Dogs

●Bacon Curry

It is no wonder Parade.com named them one of the country’s ‘5 Can’t-Miss Bacon Festivals’ One highlight of the PA Bacon Fest is definitely the bacon-eating contests! Competitors race to eat a pound of bacon. The person who eats the entire pound first is the winner. This event was a crowd-pleaser both years and hilarious to watch.

Everyone was cheering for their favorite contestant!

Other Contests

From Pig Racing to Hog

Calling to the BACONATOR Cooking Contest, plenty of contests keep you

entertained and provide a break from eating bacon. Be sure to wear your best bacon wear to participate in the Bacon Costume Contest.

Family Fun

The PA Bacon Fest features live bands throughout the day on four stages (Hog Wild Stage, Farm to Fest Stage, Piglets Stage, and Swine Stage). Over 35 musical performances are scheduled over the two-day festival. You can enjoy great tunes while “pigging out” on delicious bacon treats.

Local vendors selling all sorts of bacon treats and pig-related items such as t-shirts, hats, stuffed animals, and more will be on hand! You can even test your axe-throwing skills.

Activities for all ages include a rock climbing wall, bungee jump, and pig and wiener dog races. Balloon creations and face painting are available.

Here is your chance to work off some of the “bacon.”in the Racin’ Bacon 5K. Three people dressed like pigs leading this fun 5K race.

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Caramelized Bacon Twists

1 lb. sliced bacon

1/2 cup packed brown sugar 2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 cup packed brown sugar 2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Instructions: Preheat oven to 3500. Line a 15-inch x 10-inch x 1-inch baking pan. Use foil to line pan for easier clean up and be sure the pan has sides to avoid grease all over your oven. Cut each bacon strip in half. Combine brown sugar and cinnamon. Dip bacon strips in the sugar mixture. Twist bacon and place on foil-lined 15-inch x 10-inch x 1-inch baking pan. Bake at 3500 for 15-20 minutes or until crisp. You can serve immediately or wait until cool. If you make in advance you can freeze for up to a month in an airtight freezer container. If frozen, reheat frozen bacon twists in a microwave. Makes 3 dozen twists. Submitted by Robin O’Neal Smith

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Bacon Roasted Pumpkin

1 small pumpkin (or red kuri squash)

12-14 slices of smoked bacon

One garlic head, broken down into cloves

2 Tbsp. Olive oil

2 Tbsp. Olive oil

Sprigs of fresh thyme

Salt and fresh cracked pepper

To prepare the roasted pumpkin with bacon and maple: Preheat your oven to 360°F. Cut pumpkin in 1/2 and scrape the seed and guts. Cut the halves into quarters, then each quarter into 3-4 wedges. In a small bowl, add olive oil, maple syrup, thyme, salt and pepper. Add pumpkin wedges and toss to coat well. Wrap each pumpkin wedge with a bacon slice then brush with the olive oil and maple mixture. Arrange on a baking sheet along with garlic cloves. Roast until all the pumpkin wedges are cooked through and golden brown, about 30 minutes. Turn the wedges halfway through cooking if you want, to brown bacon evenly. Sprinkle with salt and serve directly from the pan. Note: Monitor the cooking, turning down the heat if necessary as bacon shouldn’t overcook.

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Bacon Popcorn Balls

1/2 Cup surgar

2 Tbsp. clear syrup

1/2 cup water

2 Tbsp. butter

2 tsp. vinegar

Pinch sale

2 bags micro-wave popcorn (or pop regular in bacon grease on stove)

1/2 cup bacon bits

Instructions:

Boil 1st 6 ingredients to soft ball stage over medium heat (2340). Tip: Spoon a few drops over ice to assure soft ball stage. Pour over popped corn while stirring to mix. Stir in bacon bits or fried crumbled bacon. Shape into balls with buttered hands.

Submitted by Kathy Barnett