International Bacon Day Festival

By Jason Gargano
CityBeat

Bacon tastes good. Certainly much better than pork chops or ham or anything else made from a pig. Just ask the contestants at the World Bacon Eating Championship, which is part of the International Bacon Day Festival 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday at the Blue Ash Recreation Center (4433 Cooper Road).

Several of America’s most impressive competitive eaters will be on hand for the 3 p.m. “pork-slappin’ chowdown,” including Columbus native Mark “The Human Vacuum” Lyle, whose résumé features a national Taco Eating Championship and two National Chicken Wing Eating titles, and Cleveland native “Tiny” Tim Rauschede, whose credits include an Ohio State Pierogi Eating Championship.

The dog-friendly Purina-sponsored “Beggin’ Bark & Bacon Bash” portion of the day features cooking demos by Top Chef finalist/bacon enthusiast Kevin Gillespie; a bacon maze for dogs; an attempt to set the mark for “Loudest Bark” in the Guinness Book of World Records; something called “Incredible Dog Team Performances”; and a bacon pet costume contest (we’re in the dark on this one).

The event, which includes complimentary bacon, is free and open to the public. Best of all is the rumor that CityBeat’s official mascot, a Hairless Chinese Crested named Harry Gargano, might make a special appearance.

Go here for event and venue details.