Baconmania Strikes Chicago: The Eighth-Annual Baconfest Is Coming!

Are you ready for the most magical time of the year? And no, we're not talking about Christmas. Time to get in your stretchy pants, Chicago, because Baconfest is almost upon us!

Now in its 8th year, Baconfest Chicago returns to the UIC Forum from April 30th to May 1st. Three sessions are packed with chefs delivering their most creative, intriguing, and indulgent bacon creations. Ticket holders will have the opportunity to visit chef stations and try as many dishes as they please until they physically can't eat another bite. Drink tickets are included and each session has its own cocktail focus: tiki, old fashioned, or bloody Mary.

Baconmania has swept the city leading up to the main event. You can find bacon specials throughout Chicago during the month of April. If you just can't wait to get your pork on, why not attend some of these sweet bacon-themed events?

Acme Hotel is once again the official hotel of Baconfest and is offering plenty of bacon fun. Every Thursday in April is Kevin Bacon Movie Night. Grab a bacon cocktail from the Berkshire Room and peruse the Bacon Insta Gallery. You can get all your bacon merch from their pop-up bacon store and the hotel is even offering a bacon-themed stay.

Chop Shop will have you looking like a bacon expert with their Bakin' with Bacon classes on April 19th. You can also try their bacon and bourbon pairings on the 19th and 26th.

Many restaurants are honoring Baconfest with month-long bacon specials. Try the Franken-duckie, a bacon-wrapped duck fat hot dog, at The Duck Inn. Feast on pork belly tacos at Mity Nice. Find the sweet side of bacon with a maple bacon long john from Glazed & Infused or a bacon buttermilk bar from Stan's Donuts.

Our recommendation? Go to WHISK for their Ron Swanson Takeover. Enjoy the renowned bacon-lover's namesake burger, an 8-oz patty wrapped in a pound of bacon, which is then topped with bacon mayo. Portraits of the man himself watch approvingly from every wall.

Tickets are still available for Baconfest. Check their website for the full lineup of chefs and to purchase tickets.

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