REYKJAVIK BACON FESTIVAL
2011 Flash Bacon Festival
Historical Photos
In August of 2018, after taking a year off, the Reykjavik Bacon Festival will return to celebrate its 6th year, the Reykjavik Bacon Festival will again attract an army of pork fans to historic Skólavörðustígur Street joining in international bacon fellowship. This unique celebration takes the bacon experience to unchartered territory by blending bacon into the fiber of Icelandic culture. Traditional and current music fills the street, the bacon sizzles, and Icelanders young and old feast on a wild assortment of bacon-inspired recipes and treats that could only be imagined in a magical place like Iceland.
For those dedicated bacon tourists, this "bacon happening" should be added to your bucket list. If you are from out of town and just happen to stumble upon the bacon madness, dive in head first! You're in for the time of your life.
A portion of the proceeds from the Reykjavik Bacon Festival go to support local charities. From the local hospital to children's organizations, bacon fellowship raises all ships.
HISTORY
In April of 2011, Dr. Guðmundsson was approached by the Iowa Bacon Board to help coordinate a bacon outreach mission in his native Iceland. Understanding the importance of bridging the bacon divide among the two countries, he referred the Americans to his brother Bogi, a successful attorney in Reykjavik. When Bogi heard the words “bacon outreach” he knew he had an opportunity to become part of something special, so he sat on the idea. In fact, he put off doing anything for a really really long time. Finally, last minute...the morning the Americans arrived, Bogi passed the buck to his closest friends and asked them to play host to the Americans. And, God bless their bacon-loving souls...they came through - BIG TIME!
On August 5, 2011, the newly assembled Iceland Bacon Board in cooperation with the Iowa Bacon Board, Ófeigur Jewelers, and Ostabúðin Delicatessen constructed the world’s first “flash bacon festival” on Skólavörðustígur Street in downtown Reykjavik. With music blaring and bacon sizzling, over 400 passersby swooned and danced over the free samples of delicious swine.
The success of the "flash bacon festival" in 2011 inspired both delegates of the Iowa Bacon Board and Iceland Bacon Board to convene on August 23, 2012 at the former French consulate for the inaugural International Bacon Summit. The purpose of the meeting was to establish a unified vision concerning bacon-related issues. These included but were not limited to: bacon trade barriers, bacon lover rights, bacon nutrition, bacon-inspired arts, bacon queen pageants and innovations in bacon-related cuisine. The summit received great media attention and raised awareness of the international struggle facing many bacon-lovers. In celebration of the joint effort, the Reykjavik Bacon Festival was held the following day to great fanfare.
Today, Reykjavik Bacon Festival is in its 5th year, and continues to grow and promote the values of international bacon fellowship.