Foodies, if you go hog wild over bacon, here's the event you won't want to miss.
The second BaCon - the Bacon Festival of Cleveland, Tennessee - returns on Saturday, April 13, with more than 150 pork or bacon-flavored foods to sample. In addition to the expected barbecue, tacos and BLTs, there will be bacon-flavored popcorn, chocolate-covered bacon and bacon-wrapped corn dogs.
Ever tried a chocolate-covered Twinkie with bacon crusting? How about a "tacho"? That's a fried tater tot and bacon topped with nacho cheese sauce.
"About the only food there that's not bacon is lemonade and a handful of desserts," says Marty Pippin, who is BaCon co-organizer with owner Nikki Beaty.
Last year's inaugural BaCon was held on the Cleveland Greenway and drew an estimated 20,000 visitors.
If you go
› What: BaCon — The Bacon Festival of Cleveland› Where: Tri-State Exhibition Center, 200 Natures Trail SW, McDonald, Tennessee› When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, April 13› Admission: $5 ages 4 and up› For more information: www.clevelandbaconfestival.com
"It was hard to convince our food vendors there would be that many people," says Pippin, "but we had a ticket surge that showed a large group was coming. It caused some traffic and parking issues, limited the footprint of the festival and caused long lines."
So to better accommodate the expected crowd and protect the festival from bad weather, organizers have moved Saturday's event to the Tri-State Exhibition Center.
There is a $5 admission fee, which includes parking. Once inside the festival, guests may pick and choose which foods they want to buy.
Pippin says there are more than 50 food vendors registered, and only 10 are vendors of drinks, desserts or carnival concessions. Food vendors must have at least three bacon-related dishes to sell, but some vendors love the divine swine so much that they will bring as many as seven choices, adds Pippin. Programs will be handed out to guests that are printed with a vendors' map/menu.
This family event will include a children's area, kids pig-calling contest at 11 a.m., adult pig calling at 1 p.m. and a bacon-eating contest at 4 p.m. to see who can eat a pound of bacon the fastest. Pippin suggests registering for these contests in advance since spots fill quickly. Winners will receive a "bacon-oriented trophy," he says.
Music by the Joel Beaver Band will start at 10:15 a.m. Other acts performing during the day will be Mother Legacy, Chandler Stephens, Pioneer Chicken Stand and One Shot Down.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.