All things bacon to be celebrated at community event

JOHNSTOWN, PA. – This is one event where you’re encouraged to make a pig of yourself.

Richland Township Fire Department will hold its Baconfest & Bluegrass from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 21 at Solomon Run Fire Company, 176 Mount Airy Drive.

The event will feature live musical entertainment, craft and food vendors, children’s activities, a basket raffle, a gob sale and a bacon-eating contest.

Andi Cveykus, fundraising coordinator for Richland Township Fire Department and event organizer, said this year they’ve incorporated bluegrass music and moved to a new location to better accommodate crowds.

“I was approached by a friend who mentioned to me about doing bluegrass music and thought about Baconfest, and it just sounded fantastic,” she said. “In the past, Solomon Run held a huge bluegrass festival, so when I mentioned it to the fire department they thought it sounded great. Bluegrass is feel-good friendly music, so it just clicked with this event.”

The Wolf Tones will entertain from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday.

“They are a progressive bluegrass band and tons of fun, and they interact with the crowd,” Cveykus said.

Entertainment Sept. 21 will feature Striped Maple Hollow from 11 a.m. to noon and 2 to 3 p.m.; Sweaty Already from noon to 1 p.m. and 3 to 4 p.m.; Midnight Drive from 1 to 2 p.m. and 4 to 5 p.m.; Tussey Mountain Moonshiners from 6 to 7 p.m. and 8 to 9 p.m.; and Moose Lodge Revival from 7 to 8 p.m. and 9 to 10 p.m.

“They will be doing one-hour sets and rotate through,” Cveykus said.

“You’re going to get a nice mixture of bluegrass music throughout the day.”

On hand will be 15 food vendors cooking up bacon-related cuisines.

“Vendors have to have at least one or two bacon-related items on their menu,” Cveykus said. “They get really creative, and there’s so many choices.

“We have bacon cannolis, bacon jerky, bacon jam grilled cheese, candied bacon and a bacon milkshake.”

Hogue’s Fun Factory will host children’s activities both days.

A craft and vendor fair will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 21, offering predominantly handcrafted items.

Excise Distillery and Tall Pines Distillery will be offering samples.

Locked in Westmont will be on site with its escape room.

A highlight of the event will be the bacon-eating contest at 5 p.m. Sept. 21.

“The crowd just loves it, and they get into it,” Cveykus said.

Organizers cook up 20 pounds of bacon, which is provided by Market Basket, and contestants have three minutes to chow down on as much as they can.

“The winner gets a 10-pound box of Kunzler bacon and a ‘Big Pig’ trophy,” Cveykus said.

Participants must be 18 years and older, and are required to sign a waiver.

“This a great end of summer event and people enjoy it,” Cveykus said.

“They like getting together, and now with the bluegrass we’ve added another element with some great music.”

There is no admission fee.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/RichlandFire.