Bacon makes everything better

AND LIVE MUSIC

The Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival (BRBF) is for those wise folks who know that bacon is more than just a breakfast food—it’s a lifestyle. Baconfest is an event created by devout bacon-lovers for bacon-lovers. Every year passionate people from all corners of the wide world flock to Baconfest in Des Moines, IA (the famous hog state) fixin’ to feast on tasty bacon delicacies, to get weird, and to have a grand ol’ time.

15th Annual Baconfest

May 12-13, 2023

festival details

Featuring live music and unique bacon creations

For the love of bacon

Our community

We take our community seriously. As serious as all get out. That’s why the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival has helped raise over $1,000,000 for local nonprofits through volunteering, giveaways, and donations. All this in the name of joy, community, and of course: OHHHH, BACON!

Upcoming events

The Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival and the Iowa Bike Coalition work together every year to bring the community bacon-themed fun rides. There’s no greater feeling than cycling down Iowa’s most scenic trails while feasting on bacon with friends and kindred bacon-loving spirits.

15th Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival

Scurry on over to Des Moines, IA for the World’s Premier Baconfest! Folks will eat, drink, and be merry with fellow bacon-lovers and enthusiasts while enjoying live entertainment and competitions.

May 12-13, 2023

6th Pigtails Ride

The Pigtails bike ride is a women-specific group trek along the stunning Prairie Trail and High Trestle Trail. Cyclists enjoy food and drink at numerous Pigtails party stops along the way.

World Pork Expo Cocktail Party

The World Pork Expo is the largest pork industry-specific trade show in the world. This event brings those working in the vast industry together for an expansive trade show, educational seminars, and networking.

9th Bacoon Ride

This 71-mile ride through the scenic Racoon River Valley Trail takes cyclists on the ultimate bacon adventure. The Bacoon Ride features awesome bacon snack stops and drink specials along the way.

12th Keystone Bacon & Bourbon Festival

The Keystone Bacon & Bourbon Festival is for folks who’d love nothing more than to spend a weekend in Keystone’s River Run Village surrounded by all things bacon, bourbon, and delicious.

June 24-25, 2023

Baconfest: Japan & Vietnam

This cross-cultural bacon festival embraces the bacon and pork-based cuisine of Japan, Vietnam, and the United States. Attendees will enjoy food demonstrations, competitions, live music, all the bacon they can eat, and so much more.

They said what?!

National Geographic’s Traveler Magazine named Des Moines’ Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival the Top Food Festival in Iowa.

"Embrace the high-octane, energetic, gleefully excessive nature of bacon culture."

the daily iowan

"If you weren't at the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival, I think you personally missed out."

anderson cooper 360

"There's still a whole lot right in the world!"

queen latifah show

"The event offers something to make every swine lover to swoon."

wall street journal

"These days bacon is hardly just for breakfast."

steve harvey

Stay crispy!

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