August 18, 2022
Noticed all the pink pigs that have sprung up lately in and around Kingaroy? Yes, it’s BaconFest time … and here’s your easy guide to what’s happening and when!
The festival, sponsored by SunPork (of course), kicks off with the now-traditional Wine and Swine Evening in the Kingaroy Town Hall Forecourt (sorry, it’s already sold out).
Then on Saturday, the beer and wine garden will open in the Forecourt at 10:00am, with markets nearby.
Festivalgoers have been urged to check out all the pork-inspired food creations on offer, including salted bacon caramel, peanut brittle infused with bacon, bacon donuts, pork rocky road and bacon popcorn.
There’ll be live entertainment from 10:00am, with the Kingaroy State High School Band taking over the main stage.
The music will be followed by heats of the Bacon Eating Competition, overseen by Cr Danita Potter who dreamt up the pig idea a few years back. The final has been scheduled for 4:30pm.
At 10:45am, the children from the La Crème Dance Studio will be performing in Lard Lane (better known as the laneway beside the Town Hall) with repeat performances at 11:45am, 1:45pm, 2:45pm and 3:45pm, as well as several scheduled for Sunday.
The students from the Ally Walker studio will also be in action on Saturday on the main stage at noon.
At 1:30pm, things will get a bit more crispy with the BaconFest Pin-Up Pageant, Beard of BaconFest and Junior Baconeer competitions on the main stage.
One of Saturday’s highlights is sure to be the cooking demonstrations.
Sydney-based chef Miguel Maestre will be on stage at 11:30am and 3:15pm, popular Queenslander Matt Golinski will be demonstrating his skills at 12:30pm and 2:30pm, and to top it off, the winners of My Kitchen Rules (Series 4), Dan and Steph Mulheron, will hit the stage at 2:00pm.
There’ll be live music throughout the day, including Lloyd Back, Martini Mayhem and Paul Ricketts Express. From 4:45pm, local bands will continue the evening entertainment: Soul Good will be followed by Rufus Jack, Ryza and Mr Q until late.
The South Burnett Youth Council has also organised a PigJam “Battle Of The Bands” which will run from 3:00pm to 7:30pm in nearby O’Neill Square.
Ten bands have registered to compete. PigJam will also feature a free barbecue, slushies and popcorn.
The winner will receive $800 and the opportunity to play live on air at CROW-FM. The runner-up will receive $200 cash and a $200 gift voucher from Musicians Oasis.
BaconFest’s Sunday schedule kicks off at 7:00am with the Long Table Breakfast (sorry, also booked out!).
From 10:00am, there’ll be more live music – including the Barambah Big Band at 12:30pm – markets, dance performances and cooking demonstrations.
Matt Golinski will hit the cooking stage again at 10:00am and 12:30pm, followed by Miguel Maestre at 11:00am and 2:00pm and Dan and Steph at noon and 1:30pm.
The winners of the SunPork Smoke-Off Competition will be announced in the Smoke-Off Area at 4:00pm.
Entry into the Festival area is $6 for a one-day general admission ticket.
This covers access to the BaconFest Food Market, the Beer & Wine Garden, SunPork’s Swig and Swine Deck, the SunPork Smoke-Off Barbecue Competition area, the Little Piggies Area for Under 12s and the South Burnett Flavours local produce market.
The traditional Kevin Bacon Film Festival will also be running across the weekend at the Kingaroy Cinema.
- More information and schedules are available on the BaconFest website
(Photo: Nancy Jayde Photography)
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Festival Map
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Window Competition
Festivalgoers have also been encouraged to walk around the Kingaroy CBD and check out all the BaconFest-themed shop window displays, part of a competition organised by the Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The competition was judged at the weekend KCCI president Damien Martoo, secretary Paula Greenwood, executive committee member Jacqui Trace, Chrys McDuffie, Senior Sergeant Dave Tierney and Cr Scott Henschen.
They awarded first place the South Burnett Child Safety Service Centre (180-182 Haly St).
In second place was Linard Floral and Bridal Centre (138a Haly St) with a special award to Kingaroy Home Aids & First Aid Training (Shop 3, 13 Alford Street) for “Bringing back the Bacon”.
Other displays are at the Kingaroy Visitor Information Centre (128 Haly St), JA Carroll Solicitors (132-134 Haly St), Davison Homes (140 Haly St), Burnett Today (154 Haly St), Raine & Horne Kingaroy (160 Haly St), Kingaroy Office Central (163 Haly St), Deb Frecklington MP (2/36 Alford St), Hunter Gatherer Trader (28 Alford St), SportFirst Kingaroy (23 Alford St), Burton’s Shoex (185 Kingaroy St), Kingaroy Joinery (94-96 Kingaroy St), Troy Schultz Realty (99 Kingaroy St), St Mary’s Catholic College (10 Kent St), St John’s Lutheran School (84-94 Ivy Street), PetStock Kingaroy (2 Walter Rd), Ken Mills Toyota (89-91 River Road), TAFE Qld (Geritz Rd) and Alisellou Designs (37 Alexander St, Wooroolin).
I thought I detected the smell of frying bacon in Kingaroy a couple of days ago. Yummy.
That picture of the men pigging out is gross. Was there are similar competition for women? I doubt it. I don’t think women would be so disgusting, but maybe I’m wrong.