Keystone Festivals gives you the ultimate “Bacon and Bourbon Festival Survival Guide”
June in Keystone is all about bacon, bourbon, beer and more bacon! Keystone’s Bacon and Bourbon Festival has been a summer staple for 8 years and in this epic survival guide, we’ve gathered all the best local’s tips so you can go whole hog at this year’s event!
The Bacon Breakdown
At a festival that’s all about bacon, the prospect of finding and trying every bacon element can seem overwhelming. Let us be your guide at this bacon filled event! To start, we recommend purchasing a package for your most well rounded bacon experience. We’ve got three to choose from and all include unlimited bacon strip samplings, cold beer (or lemonade for the kids) and bacon food tasting tickets. Choose from these options and you’re sure to never leave with an empty stomach along with some bacon swag. Want a little extra bacon with your bacon? Local’s Tip: Attend a seminar at the Bacon Education Center in Quaking Aspen Amphitheater and not only will you learn about the scrumptious swine for free, you might even get a little taste!
Bourbon and Beyond
Don’t be fooled, this event is not just a bacon festival with a little splash of bourbon. We’ve incorporated bourbon into every aspect so you can get your full dose! If the thought of whiskey makes your mouth water, then you definitely won’t want to miss out on the Jim Beam Bourbon Tour. Just purchase a Hungry Hog Package and you’ll get to experience an unlimited variety of whiskeys from Colorado and beyond. Do you prefer your bourbon shaken in a cocktail? Visit one of our festival bars, where you can purchase a Jim Beam Bourbon cocktail. We’ve also got a Local’s Tip that will complete your day of bourbon appreciation. Attend the free seminar, “Bourbon and Beyond”, at Quaking Aspen Amphitheatre on Saturday at 3:30pm to sample some specialty bourbons and learn about their history.
All Piglets Welcome
Don’t book the babysitter just yet! This festival is kid friendly and includes many options for the littlest bacon lovers. If you want your kids to experience all the fun, purchase a Piglet Package and they too can enjoy unlimited bacon strip samples along with a lemonade, bacon food tasting tickets, and a Commemorative 2018 Piglet Backpack. Don’t forget about the Kidtopia Kidzone which includes free crafts and face painting! If your child is the ultimate bacon fan, then this is the Local’s Tip for you! On Saturday at 2:30pm, join us at the Bacon Education Center where all bacon loving kids have the chance to be crowned “Bacon Royalty”. Then on Sunday, we’ll present the Bacon Prince and Princess on the River Run Stage so they can begin spreading their piglet passion and receive their official sash!
Double Dose of Rock
Nothing rounds out a day of bacon and bourbon like rockin’ all female cover bands. Lez Zeppelin and Hell’s Belles are two hard core groups of women covering some truly classic music. Lez Zeppelin, the Led Zeppelin cover band, will be playing both days with a headlining spot on Saturday. And Hell’s Belles are back for their 8th year with two days of rockin’ AC/DC covers, playing the headlining spot on Sunday. Local’s Tip: Hell’s Belles is known for putting on a great performance and they don’t shy away from audience interaction. Grab your Bacon Bloody Mary, head up to the front of the stage and you might find yourself jammin’ out with them to your favorite AC/DC song!
Calling All Bacon Masters
Think you’re the ultimate bacon lover? Prove it! Berkwood Farms is hosting a Bacon Eating Contest on Saturday, June 23 on the River Run Stage at 4:15pm. Sign up here; spots will fill fast! Need another way to show off your bacon expertise? Participate in the free Bacon Education Center seminar on Sunday, June 24 with Marshall Porter, Certified Bacon Instructor, who will help you become a specialist in all aspects of bacon. You’ll even earn a “Master Swinelier Certificate” that you can show off to your friends back home. Here’s a fun Local’s Tip for our bacon experts out there! Help decide which food vendor wins Keystone Best Bacon! Post your favorite bacon dish on Instagram with #keystonebestbacon and see who takes home the prize!
So grab your bacon shorts, bacon shirts, bacon hats and anything else you need to show off your bacon pride! As long as you’ve got the bacon spirit and these essential tips, you’ll have a Bacon and Bourbon Festival experience just like the veterans! Ooooooooohhh Bacon!