2017 ENTERTAINMENT
Known for its unorthodox entertainment, the 10th Annual Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival “The Good, the Bad and the Bacon” will offer the most exciting line-up to date on February 18, 2017.
Bacon Education (1st Floor)
Visit the Berkwood Farms and Hy-Vee Lecture Halls to meet and learn from some of the most brilliant and influential minds in the world of bacon.
Businessolver Mainstage (2nd Floor)
American Country (3:30 pm)
Known as the Hairball of popular country music, American Country will set fire to the mainstage with a mind-blowing homage to some of the biggest country arena acts in the world. Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Toby Keith, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Florida Georgia Line, The Band Perry, Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert are but a few of the acts fans will see brought to life.
Black Label & Hy-Vee Bacon Eating Competition (3:00 pm)
The infamous Bacon Eating Contest will take place onstage. Will Jade Robinson defend his 2015 title? Watch as these bacon athletes chew and swallow their way to win a giant trophy and 100 lbs of Hormel Black Label Bacon.
Jake Gill (1:30 pm)
Named as on of 2017’s Hottest Acts by American Artists Entertainment Group, Jake Gill will be performing his originals “Kansas Queen”, “Cricket Serenade”, “Guts, Guns and Jesus” and “Light It Up”.
MR BABER’S NEIGHBORS (10:00 am)
Mr. Baber’s Neighbors: The Solar String Band has been bringing the sounds of both traditional American folk music along with their own brand of original music to the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival since 2012. Their bluegrass tunes have become a favorite of many bacon eaters.
Country Hillbilly and Western Band (11:30 am)
C.H.A.W., is comprised of Boner, Skeeter Cetera, Girth Brooks, Cleeds McGee, and Lily Nelson. These city slickers play country, hillbilly, and western song tunes. Not like those other groups that can't carry a tune in a bucket, this gang of granny-slappin-good slingers will have the crowd busier than a one-legged man at a butt kickin contest.
The Bacon Strip (3rd Floor)
Coors Rodeo (2nd Floor)
Transform yourself into a “for real” cowboy by doin’ some ropin’, mechanical bull ridin’, and quick drawin’. Or, just grab a cold beer, a handful of bacon and head to the bleachers to take a load off. There, you can interact with some rodeo clowns as you watch the bacon rodeo madness ensue.
On the third floor, participants can explore six interactive themed bars which include:
Businessolver Silent Square Dance
Imagine Westworld reincarnated into a dance club - but real quiet. Grab a set of headphones and tune into one of 3 channels to dance off the bacon. One channel will feature line dancing lessons with Jamie Sinclair and Cassie Ulfe from 9:30 to 11:30 am. If you’re more into showing off your individual moves, tune into the other two live DJs featuring today’s most popular dance songs or some oldies but goodies
Principal Charity Classic's 19th Watering Hole & Cantina
Learn about the upcoming Principal Charity Classic, test your long putt, and practice your drive in the golf simulator.
BACooN Ride Biker's Bodega
Need a retreat from country music? This small stage will feature a lineup of Iowa Greatest Americana artists such as Brother Trucker, Dave Zollo and Dustin Smith. Give them all a listen, then learn a little about the upcoming BACooN Ride 4.
Southern Comfort Saloon
Have the bartender pour you up a whiskey and take in the tunes of up-and-coming country artists from around Iowa. Casey Muessigmann, Danny Grouse, Brad Morgan and Cody Hicks will all drop by to perform a set. Check them out before they show up on stage at the CMAs.
Captain Morgan O.K. Corral & Hitching Post
Don’t worry. The McLaurys and Clantons wont’ be facing off with Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday. However, we advise you to keep a lookout for the Pork Bandits. If you happen to see them while sipping on a specialty drink and listening to the tunes of Damon Dotson or Bruce Day…please alert Sheriff Juan. He’s the only one with a Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival fake gun permit.
Dr. McGillicuddy's Medicine Shop
Something ailing you? You can trust the snake oil salesman at the Medicine Shop.
He’s got a cure for everything.
CLUB SIZZLE (4th Floor)
Club Sizzle opens to participants at noon (Early Admission can get in at 11am). We’ll kick things off with a Two Steppin Dance Contest, where the winning dance partners will split a $250 prize. Then everyone will be invited onto the dance floor to take part in the World’s Largest Bacon Line dance to Boot Scootin’ Boogie! At 1pm you’ll take a unique journey from Country Dance Hits into a full out, nonstop, crazy Cowboy Eurodisco! The room will feature DJ’s Tobias Cross, Brad Goldman and Rack City. Special appearances by Bonz Atron, Kendama World Champion, and the world famous Bacon-a-GoGos.