Bacon Fest Brought the Community Together Through Food, Family, and Fun

What better way is there to bolster a community spirit than with some classic revelry and everyone’s favorite food?

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This year’s Bacon Fest brought the people of Portage together in Founder’s Square to eat bacon inspired snacks, dance beneath the splash pad, and play games.

Several sponsors set up their tents along the sidewalk. Most of them offered their own spin on the traditional bacon dish: the So Good Island Grill served jerk chicken on a waffle with bacon and syrup. Hots and Dogs offered hot dogs wrapped in a thick blanket of bacon. Several places even offered bacon dipped in chocolate.

“There are so many different things you can try,” Kelsey Jordan said. She came here with her brother to get in on the excitement, and was surprised by the fare. “I didn’t even know some of these things existed. I just ate a cookie that had bacon in it. I still can’t believe how good it was.”

Other supporters of Bacon Fest were there with awareness booths. Sonshine Childcare representative Jackie Guerrero explained that an event like this, “Brings togetherness... a sense of common peace. It’s very family oriented.” Which makes it the perfect place to showcase their childhood learning center. “We’re just trying to get the word out, and kids in. So that we can teach!”

City Point Church was a huge contributor to Bacon Fest. They provided the much needed full volunteer staff necessary to run an event like this. Coordinator Danny Hendon said they wanted to make sure that they kept the fest’s admission free.

“That way we could include as many people from the community of Portage as possible. We have a really great opportunity to create community and have a great day. Portage doesn’t have a lot of these things around here.”

Every city needs a festival that brings its people together. Bacon Fest let the citizens of Portage share a Saturday of face painting, Bacon filled snacks, bounce houses, and upbeat music.

“Valparaiso has Popcorn Fest and we have Bacon Fest,” said Danny Hendon. “Who doesn’t like bacon?”