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Blue Ribbon Bacon Tour returns to Keystone for fifth year June 27-28

Courtesy of Keystone Neighbourhood Co.
Courtesy of Keystone Neighbourhood Co. |

If you go

What: Keystone’s fifth-annual Blue Ribbon Bacon Tour, sponsored by the Keystone Neighbourhood Co.

When: 1-6 p.m. Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, June 28

Where: River Run Village, Keystone Resort

Cost: Tickets are $20 in advance, $22 at the door for the Piglet Package; $30 in advance, $35 at the door for the Samplin’ Swine; $50 in advance, $55 at the door for the Hungry Hog; and a-la-carte tasting tickets are $4 each, which can be exchanged for one item at any of the participating food vendor tents.

More information: Visit http://www.keystonefestivals.com and click on the “Blue Ribbon Bacon Tour” logo to purchase tickets and learn more

By the numbers

• 3,000 pounds of bacon

• 50 pounds of chocolate for bacon s’mores

• 25 gallons of bacon ice cream

• 6 free live music acts

• 6 free Bacon Education Center seminars

• 1 bacon mascot named “Blue”

Keystone’s Blue Ribbon Bacon Tour, sponsored by the Keystone Neighbourhood Co., will celebrate its fifth anniversary Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, June 28, with more than 3,000 pounds of bacon crafted into mouth-watering items such as the Bonnie Q BLT, bacon mac-n-cheese, the “Elvis” chocolate, bacon and peanut butter sheet cake and just plain old sizzling bacon strips.

“Every year, the Blue Ribbon Bacon Tour at Keystone’s River Run Village has grown in size and popularity,” said Maja Russer, Keystone Neighbourhood Co. director of marketing and events. “Our festival has become a must-attend event in Colorado and has tripled in attendance, attracting bacon lovers from around the world.”

Three different ticket packages are available for bacon aficionados. The top tier is the Hungry Hog ($50 in advance, $55 at the gate), which includes eight tasting tickets redeemable for eight dishes from your choice of food vendors, two draft beers or nonalcoholic beverages, participation in the festival’s Whiskey Tour, a commemorative red party cup and unlimited bacon-strip samplings.



The Samplin’ Swine Package ($30 in advance, $35 at the gate), for ages 12 and older, includes four tasting tickets, two draft beers or nonalcoholic beverages, a commemorative red party cup and unlimited bacon-strip samplings. For children 12 and younger, there’s the Piglet Package ($20 in advance, $22 at the gate), which includes three tasting tickets, a lemonade and unlimited bacon strip -amplings.

A-la-carte tasting tickets are $4 each and can be exchanged for one item at any of the participating food vendor tents, including New Moon Café, Rocky Mountain Chocolate, 9280, Zuma Roadhouse, Higgles Ice Cream, Funky Fries, Arapahoe Café, Mother Lovin’ Bread and many more. Attendees must be 21 or older with valid ID to purchase alcohol or receive alcoholic drink tokens with any of the above packages.



What’s classic, what’s new

Try Colorado’s Largest Bacon Bloody Mary Bar, with plenty of fixings, including bacon, of course. There will be beer, as well an expanded selection of whiskeys from Bird Dog Whiskey, Rebel Yell and Solerato to pair with the bacon dishes. New this year, the best bacon dish will be awarded in both the “sweet” and the “savory” categories, and the popular bacon-eating contest, sponsored by Farmland, returns to the main stage on Saturday.

Enroll in the free Bacon Education Center and learn everything about bacon from bacon preparation and processing to the history of the beloved meat. Other free seminars include bacon mixology and whiskey sessions, as well as cooking demonstrations with Lucky’s Market. For the ultimate bragging rights, earn your certified Bacon Diploma at Bacon U.

Hell’s Belles return for their fifth appearance at the festival, becoming a staple in the free music line-up. The all-female AC/DC cover band, plus additional acts including Gipsy Moon, Rob Drabkin, Josh Blackburn and Arthur Lee Land, will have attendees shaking their bacon, so to speak.

The Bacon Selfie Contest sponsored by Farmland also returns this year. Tag your selfies with the festival’s official hashtag, #keystonebacon, and the best selfie photo posted on social media will bring home the bacon — a year’s worth of free Farmland bacon.

The Keystone Neighbourhood Co. donates a portion of the proceeds from the Blue Ribbon Bacon Tour to a local nonprofit every year. This year’s festival benefits Friends of the Dillon Ranger District, a local nonprofit that protects our national forest lands.

For more information about Keystone’s Blue Ribbon Bacon Tour, including lodging deals, visit http://www.keystonefestivals.com, follow Keystone Festivals on social media or call (970) 496-4386. This is a no-pet event.


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