On Air Now

5th annual Baconfest in Monmouth Saturday

Bacon fried rice, bacon-wrapped pork loins, bacon-wrapped mushrooms, bacon-wrapped pickles. These are just a few of the items waiting for you at Saturday’s 5th annual Baconfest.

Amy Patterson with the Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce admits there are fewer vendors this year. That’s because they moved it from Friday to Saturday, in order to accommodate some who travel a distance to attend. Patterson says a lot of vendors were hard-pressed to give up their regular Saturday business.

Still, there’s a strong line up of local favorites taking their own spin on bacon. Some vendors include Knox County Pork Producers, Fareway, Tri-County Cattlemen and Big Buck BBQ to name a few.

There will also be plenty of non-food businesses and organizations on tap; US Cellular, Pendant Creations, VFW, Special Olympics, Carl Sandburg College and more.

G&M Distributors will bring the beverages, along with two local craft brewers De Novo and Knox County Brewing Company.

Food vendors will take cash this as opposed to tickets in past years although tickets can be purchased for the alcoholic beverages.

Michele Rayburn with Smithfield Foods tells would be bacon eaters to not be afraid of a little rain. There’s a huge tent with seating underneath and bacon fest is planned for rain or shine.

Rayburn says her company ensures that bacon fest attendees get to feast on one of their most beloved products, bacon. She says Smithfield provides about a quarter to half-ton of bacon every year. Every vendor is provided a certain quantity of bacon free but they’re able to purchase more if they like.

Baconfest will start today at 4:00 pm on Monmouth’s town square with Soulstorm from the Quad Cities will start playing until 8:30 pm, save for a break for the bacon-eating contest.

Although Baconfest in past years has been held in August but was moved to take place when Monmouth and Knox Colleges are in session.

Check out the Monmouth Chamber website for more details and to plan your eating path for tonight.

Recommended Posts

Loading...

Share Contact

contact-chris-mcintyre-qr-code