Keystone’s Annual Bacon and Bourbon Festival

Thousands of pounds of America’s favorite meat convene on the River Run Village for two days of pure hog heaven.

Bacon – Pronunciation [bey-kuhn] – the back and sides of the hog, salted, and dried or smoked, usually sliced thin and fried for food.  Back for its eighth year, the Keystone Bacon and Bourbon Festival has established itself as a “don’t miss” event of the Colorado summer.  Whether you’re a bacon enthusiast or the loved one of a bacon connoisseur, this event is for you.  With thousands of pounds of bacon and bacon-inspired cuisine at your fingertips, you won’t want to miss this weekend-long celebration of bacon. Along with bacon cuisine you’ll enjoy free live music from Christof Brownell, Tiffany Christopher, and two rockin’ female cover bands, Lez Zeppelin and festival favorite, returning for their 8th year Hell’s Belles. 

The Bacon Bloody Mary’s are always a hit and you need to try the cucumber vodka lemonade with your bacon cuisine! Back this year is the festival’s Jim Beam Bourbon Tour.  With the purchase of the “Hungry Hog” package, you get to experience a variety of bourbon’s and whiskeys that are sure to delight the palate. To quote the BRBT organizers, “Much like the Crusaders revolutionized the lives of Europeans by introducing a large variety of spices from the East, the Bacon and Bourbon Festival travels to places like Colorado to transform the lives of bacon lovers by introducing a variety of bacons and bacon-inspired dishes from around the world.  Of course, we like to do all this while tossing back a few cold beers and bourbon.” OH Bacon…Be there!

Jim Beam Bourbon Tour

With the purchase of the “Hungry Hog” package, you get to experience a variety of whiskeys that are sure to delight the palate. Taste whiskey’s distilled here in Colorado and beyond!

Bacon Education Center at Quaking Aspen Amphitheatre

Many will agree that bacon is the “Gateway Meat”, but what else is there to learn?  According to the Blue Ribbon Bacon Tour organizers, lots. The Bacon Education Center is the only educational experience of its kind, providing instruction in bacon fellowship, bacon preparation, bacon processing, bacon and whiskey infusion and whiskey mixology. The top enthusiasts in the industry share their knowledge, passion and tips on taking everything you know about bacon and whiskey. Earn your certified, Bacon Diploma and become a highly esteemed scholar and member of the Blue Ribbon Bacon Tour community!  FREE to all participants.  “Enroll” at the Quaking Aspen Amphitheatre prior to each session.

Keystone Bacon and Bourbon Festival Beneficiary:

We give back! The 8th annual Bacon and Bourbon Festival is a proud supporter of Friends of the Dillon Ranger District a non-profit organization that partners with the Dillon Ranger District by leveraging the power of volunteers to ensure that the National Forest lands, enjoyed by millions of people of each year, are not negatively impacted by their popularity.