When Dena Krebs, marketing coordinator with Stoltzfus Meats, was looking for a way to celebrate the business's 70th anniversary, she visited a festival in a neighboring town devoted to a special Pennsylvania treat made with chocolate and cream. "It got me thinking about the community aspect of it, and I thought, 'Why don't we do something like that here, but base it on bacon?'" she stated.

The result of that research is the first Baconfest, which will be held in Intercourse Community Park, 3730 Old Philadelphia Pike, Gordonville, on Saturday, Aug. 10, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. A variety of activities are planned, including demonstrations, a bounce house, yard games, and food trucks offering bacon-themed food items for purchase.

The event will kick off with the Bakin' with Bacon entry drop-off from 9 to 10:30 a.m. "Jere Gish from WGAL will be one of the judges," said Krebs of the competition, which is open to any baker and any baked good as long as bacon is an ingredient. The contest winner will be announced at 2:45 p.m.

At 10:15 a.m., an Intercourse Library representative will read "Don't Forget the Bacon" to children and adults. "It's a giant picture book," noted Krebs.

Live entertainment at the event will include the DKers juggling at 10:45 a.m. and the one-man-band talents of Nick DiSanto at 11:30 a.m. WJTL will begin a remote broadcast at 1 p.m. Big Boy Brass will perform at 4:30 p.m.

Demonstrations will begin at 1 p.m. Myron Stoltzfus, an owner of Stoltzfus Meats, and his son, Zach, will bring a portable smoker to the venue. "(They) will explain the process of smoking bacon, taking it out, and carving it," said Krebs, who added that samples will be available.

Tony Page, who works in product development for Stoltzfus, will demonstrate cooking Bacon-Wrapped Kielbasa Bombs from 2 to 2:30 p.m. "He'll be giving away samples to those who come to watch," shared Krebs.

A griller eating competition will be held at 3 p.m. Krebs explained that a griller is a sausage, but shaped like a hot dog. "That will be a lot of fun," said Krebs, who noted the contest was inspired by the company's participating in scrapple-eating competitions held at the Ephrata Fair. "We are looking for contestants," she noted, adding that a free T-shirt will be given to each entrant.

Food trucks located at the event will sell items ranging from pizza, chicken sandwiches, and burgers to ice cream. Each food truck will support a nonprofit organization with an initial deposit and a portion of sales. Nonprofits that will be represented include the Clinic for Special Children, Intercourse Fire Company, The Factory Ministries, the 4-H Swine Club, the Intercourse Lions Club, the Intercourse Library, and the Pequea Valley Education Foundation. Information about the nonprofits will be available for attendees.

E&A Candies and Immergut Hand-Rolled Soft Pretzels will be on-site as well.

"The plan is to make (Baconfest) an annual event," shared Krebs, adding, "It's a group event. We want to put the focus on the community. There are so many of us working on this."

More information about the first annual Baconfest may be found at http://www.stoltzfusmeats.com.