Your guide to PA Bacon Fest in Downtown Easton.
Get ready to go hog wild.
Tens of thousands are expected to flood Downtown Easton this weekend for the 5th annual PA Bacon Fest. The festival runs Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 5 and 6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
Before the event kicks off, check out our guide to the festivities.
How much does the festival cost?
Whatever you're willing to spend. The festival requests a $2 suggest donation for entry, with the proceeds benefiting the Greater Easton Development Partnership. Besides the donation, your appetite will hold the purse strings as you browse more than 130 vendors trying to lure you to their stands.
Bacon Fest wants to soften the blow of $2 suggested donation
A few events require additional tickets:
- To have a say in one of the two Pig Roast Competitions, pay $15 for admission. On Saturday, festival attendees will choose between whole-roasted pigs from Dundore & Heister and Stoke Coal Fire Pizza. On Sunday, Two Rivers Brewing Co. and 3rd & Ferry Fish Market go head to head. Each starts 1 p.m.
- For $20, you can take part in a Bacon and Brew Tasting. You'll get six strips of bacon from Breakaway Farms with an accompanying beer from Weyerbacher. Tasters will also walk away with a souvenir Bacon Fest glass. The tastings begin at 11 a.m. both days.
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Where can I park?
Downtown Easton is sure to be clogged throughout the weekend, so the festival is offering a shuttle to and from designated parking locations. Here's where to catch the shuttle:
- Braden Airpark, Forks Township
- Northampton County Courthouse, Washington Street, Easton
Parking at the shuttle locations costs $10, or $5 for a motorcycle. The shuttles are scheduled to run every 15 to 30 minutes during the height of the festival.
If you're willing to brave Downtown parking, there are two City of Easton garages offering parking for a $10 flat fee.
Bacon Brittle will be served by Zuzu Confections in at PA Bacon Fest. What is there to eat?
Bacon! You can find any style of bacon imaginable at the festival -- sizzling on the grill, dripping with chocolate, topping ice cream, or bobbing in a cocktail.
Try "pig dippers" -- deep-fried, funnel cake-battered bacon -- from Wow Wagon, pig candy from Baby Blues BBQ, or bacon and cheese risotto balls from Sycamore Grille. Wash them down with a maple bacon coffee from Fieldstone Coffee Roasters, or smoked bacon hot cider from Maxim's 22.
There's far too much to list here, but you can take a look at the vendors with sample menu items on PA Bacon Fest's website.
What should I do if I'm full?
Find the full event schedule here. Highlights include:
Chef Demos and Bacon Battles: Chefs show off their skills and square off in sweet and savory competitions. 2014 champ Gina Gullo will return for another shot at the title.
Art Du Cochon competition: Artists will show their swine-inspired artwork all weekend at Connexions Gallery, 213 Northampton St. Judges will name the prize pigs and award cash prizes. An opening reception kicks things off Friday at 7 p.m., with a suggested donation of $10 supporting the artists.
Racin' Bacon 5k: The race starts and ends near the amphitheater off of Larry Holmes Drive. Top runners will win prizes.
You can also catch wiener dog, pig and mascot races, compete in the human or pet costume contests or give your best squeal in the hog-calling competition. Or just enjoy live music from the students of School of Rock Easton and several other bands.
What's new this year?
Raffle tickets: Your $2 suggested donation comes with a perk this year. If you decide to chip in, you'll get a raffle ticket for a chance to win prizes from Downtown Easton businesses. Those parking in the festival's shuttle lots will also get up to five raffle tickets. Prizes will be awarded hourly.
Pigskin Lounge: The festival overlaps with a slew of NFL games, but this year you don't have to choose between rooting for your team and gorging yourself with bacon. The new Pigskin Lounge area lets you watch games on a big screen. Food and drinks will be available, plus bar games and arm wrestling competitions.
Mechanical Pig Ride: You may have tried a mechanical bull. Now see if a boar can buck you.
How big is the festival?
The festival will completely invade Centre Square and the surrounding area. Organizers are expecting as many as 75,000 people to come through the Downtown are over the two days, and is expanding the festival's footprint into the 100 block of Northampton Street this year to accommodate everyone.
Check out a map here.
Andrew Doerfler may be reached at adoerfler@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @adoerfler or on Facebook.