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In case you didn’t get your fill of salty, crispy fried pork at the Bacon Bowl last weekend, you will again have a chance to chow down on a true state treasure—Petit Jean bacon—at the 2nd Annual Bacon Fest held at the State Fairgrounds in Little Rock this Saturday, September 19.
The festival begins with a bacon-themed 5K race starting at 10 am (those not participating in the race gain admission at 11 am). That’s right—while gorging on bacon-centric treats galore, you can opt to do some immediate cardio intervention and run off the calories. Just don’t forget to stay hydrated. Registration for the race (or call it a morning constitutional to aid digestion) is a $35 fee that includes admission, a comedy pig nose, t-shirt, race bib, and bacon snacks throughout the race and pancakes after. The race/walk is wheelchair and child friendly, though dogs are not permitted. Tickets to Bacon Fest without participation in the 5K are $5 in advance and $10 on the day of the festival, with no charge for children under age 8. Proceeds will benefit the Arkansas State Fair Scholarship Program. This year, the Bacon Fest expects to raise around $20,000 for the cause.
The success of Bacon Fest, which boasted over 1500 visitors last year, depends on mouth-watering bacon concoctions. Get ready for fried Oreos and brownies topped with bacon, bacon ice cream, and jalapeño-bacon lemonade, among classics such as the BLT and bacon wrapped jalapeños. While you eat, visit over forty vendor booths, let your children bounce around in the free kid zone with five large inflatable structures, be painted with glittery body art, and enjoy live music provided by Searcy group Four West at 11:30 am and 1:30 pm. Between the music performances, witness the results of an amateur cooking contest and watch agog as contestants in a bacon eating competition attempt to scarf down a pound of bacon.
Those who would like to participate in the bacon-eating contest need to submit a humorous 100-word statement of dedication to bacon on the Bacon Fest Facebook page; five people will be selected Friday, September 18. Personally, I feel that my bacon eating powers are strong and I might stand a good chance at eating one pound of bacon. To prepare for the event in case I am called to action, I’ll begin by making my favorite bacon appetizer: Texas Tornadoes, or jalapenos stuffed with a mixture of cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and salsa, wrapped in bacon and baked.
In addition to Bacon Fest, the 13th Annual Little Rocktoberfest is happening at the fair grounds afterward for those age 21 and older. A $30 ($40 day of) ticket to Little Rocktoberfest includes admission to the Bacon Fest.
Whether you want to eat bacon, prove your superhuman powers by running the 5K and resisting sampling bacon, or admire the creativity of bacon aficionados, you’ll have a great time at Bacon Fest and take the smell of bacon grease home with you.
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