聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Kipling, Saskatchewan is home to the Great Saskatchewan Bacon Festival, and is set to host its sixth annual event on June 16 at the Kipling Recreation Centre from noon to 4 p.m.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚n previous years we had a membership with Canadian Food Championships, which meant the winning vendors had the opportunity to move on to a national food competition,鈥 Judy Larson explained. 鈥淯nfortunately CFC is no longer available. The funds which were previously designated for CFC membership will be used as prize money to be awarded to each of the four winners along with their trophy.鈥
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In the past the bacon festival has seen almost anything you can make with bacon: bacon jam, candy bacon, bacon sushi, bacon crepes, bacon soup, maple bacon cookie dough truffles, bacon wrapped shrimp, bacon bruschetta, bacon cr猫me brule, bacon stuffed mushroom caps, jalapeno wrapped bacon, sausage wrapped in bacon with raspberry sauce, peanut butter bacon cup cakes, bacon ice cream, bacon caramel rolls, asparagus wrapped in bacon, and much more.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e have two new confirmed vendors this year 鈥 Otis with Tilli-Beans Bakery & Coffee Shop in Wolseley and Heather Williamson with The Chaparral in Arcola,鈥 Larson added. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a number of returning chefs and home cooks. It鈥檚 best to watch our Facebook where vendors and sponsors are updated regularly.鈥
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淎s for new items this year 鈥 I know we will be having bacon cabbage rolls from one of our returning home cooks, but generally most of the chefs like to keep us in suspense until the day of the event. We have never been disappointed and everyone brings their best game!鈥
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The event sees four awards all sponsored by Sask Pork: (two are for chefs and two are for home cooks): Chef Savoury, Home Cook Savoury, Chef Sweet, and Home Cook Sweet.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Larson went on to say, 鈥淭he last few years voting has been done solely by the ticket holders. There will be a bit of tweaking and critiquing to the voting method this year. We truly appreciate all the vendors that come to Bacon Festival and have been seeking their input to the voting method.鈥
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Bacon Festival is fun for the whole family too as there is face painting and a youth activity table as well as Kerr鈥檚 Bouncers, which are booked with a 22鈥 inflatable Pirate Ship Slide.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Entertainment throughout the event will be Curtis and Bonnie Szakac and family: 鈥淭hey are a diverse and incredibly talented family that have travelled the country being well received wherever they perform,鈥 Larson stated.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭revor Gowen, who is entertainment by himself, is returning to be our emcee.鈥
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Tickets for adults are $30, for those seven-years-old to 17-years-old they are $25, and for those six-years-old and under its free to attend.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Tickets are available at Kipling Businesses: Plainsview Credit Union, TD Canada Trust, Timeless Trends, Kipling Library, and the Paperclip Cottage. Mastercard and Visa purchases are available by phone or in person at the Paperclip Cottage: 306-736-2182. The Paperclip Cottage is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Please do not call during the noon hour.) Or contact [email protected] to arrange an electronic transfer, message them on Facebook: The Great Saskatchewan Bacon Festival to arrange purchase, or call Judy Larson: 306-736-3154.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 All funds raised from the event goes towards supporting the community of Kipling.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he Kipling Youth Centre (KYC) has benefitted greatly in previous years and will always remain on our radar,鈥 Larson explained. 鈥淧rofits from 2017 were shared with the KYC and Kipling Swimming Pool. Going forward the GSBF board will distribute funds to community organizations for youth related infrastructure and betterment in Kipling.鈥
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e really encourage people to avoid disappointment and purchase advance tickets. We cannot guarantee there will be any at the door. Tickets to the Bacon Festival make a great gift for Father鈥檚 Day!鈥
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he Bacon Festival has become a much anticipated and well attended family friendly event. We have had lots of individuals travel a significant distance, even outside of province to attend. It makes for a great road trip.鈥