There aren’t many people who can turn down a slice of bacon. It just seems to be one of those foods that’s on everyone’s list of favourite treats, the smell of which alone can drive a person to crave it and consequently decide they need to eat it. If you’re a fan of the salty, savoury, crunchy pork product, there are quite a number of ways to enjoy it that go beyond frying some up at home. Why not really celebrate bacon with a festival, event or venue that focuses on it?
Bacon lovers rejoice because we’ve rounded some must-see bacon hot spots from around North America.
When Pigs Fry tour, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Whether you’re visiting Toronto or you live there, and you’re a fan of bacon, you might want to consider the When Pigs Fry tour offered through Urban Adventures. The three hour tour visits three pork-loving Toronto restaurants where you’ll get to sample some goodies, including the famous peameal bacon sandwich found at the St. Lawrence Market. You’ll also get to stop by a local butcher who specializes in organic products for information on ethical farming and how to produce quality pork products.
Zingerman’s Camp Bacon, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
Bacon connoisseurs of all kinds can head to Ann Arbor for a series of bacon-related events from June 3 to 7 at Zingerman’s Camp Bacon. Events include a film festival, the 6th annual Bacon Ball, a workshop on learning to bake with bacon, a bacon street fair and a whole hog roast dinner at Zingerman’s Cornman Farms featuring music, games and delicious food. There will also be various speakers offering tips, anecdotes and facts about bacon.
Bacon happy hour, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Visitors to and locals of Charleston who enjoy bacon will want to pay a visit to The Macintosh, a popular restaurant that happens to be home of the Bacon happy hour. The menu changes daily, but you can bet that it will include some kind of porky creations courtesy of executive chef Jeremiah Bacon (yes, that’s his actual name). Happy hour takes place daily from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and all plates cost $5.
Baconfest, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Bacon lovers will want to get themselves to Chicago April 16 and 17 for Baconfest, a tasting event featuring some of the most creative and delicious bacon dishes from some of Chicago’s best chefs. In addition to bacon dishes, there will be bacon-based and bacon-inspired beers and cocktails to wash everything down with. Samples can be had from more than 50 chef stations, so you won’t go hungry. There will also be vendors selling and sampling bacon and bacon-related products.
The Great Saskatchewan Bacon Festival, Kipling, Saskatchewan, Canada
Kipling, Saskatchewan is home to the Great Saskatchewan Bacon Festival, which takes place June 27 from noon to 4 p.m. If you’re a fan of bacon, this is the place to be and it goes without saying that you should bring your appetite. You can expect multiple food stations (there were 19 last year) and dishes that put the spotlight on bacon. Some of last year’s goodies included bacon jam, maple bacon chili, bacon wrapped bacon and bacon cheese mini quiche.
Baconalooza, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Celebrate all things bacon in Victoria at Baconalooza on May 23 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. There will be live entertainment all day, contests and bacon-related activities to accompany all the eating. Bacon-focused samples will be available courtesy of various restaurants, chefs, smokeries and vendors where you can use “bacon bucks” to purchase the goodies that catch your eye.
Great Big Bacon Picnic, Brooklyn, New York, United States
Brooklyn becomes a must-visit bacon hot spot May 16 and 17 when the Great Big Bacon Picnic rolls into Williamsburg. The two day event is an indoor/outdoor gourmet bacon festival that sees more than 100 chefs, brew masters, restaurants, food trucks and mixologists showing off everything they can do with bacon. You can expect bacon of all kinds being shown off in bite-sized samples, along with craft beer and cocktails.
Beer, Bacon and Music, Frederick, Maryland, United States
What more do you really need than beer, bacon and music? Head to Frederick, Maryland for a fun festival that combines all three on May 16. There will be six bands playing, more than 100 beers to choose from and sample, a bacon bar, food trucks and artisan bacon vendors selling their best bacon dishes. The bacon-centric event takes place from noon to 5 p.m. at the Frederick Fairgrounds.
What did we miss? What are your favourite bacon events and destinations?
Featured image: Didriks
