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Bacon, beer & bands
Guy Fieri appearing at Baconfest
BACONFEST PROMO3 6-17-16 copy
One of the many bacon bars being set up for the Baconfest. - photo by HIME ROMERO/The Bulletin

Dell’Osso Farms is going whole hog for the debut of Baconfest this Father’s Day Weekend.
The June 18-19 event is billed as two days of bacon, beer and bands.
The event that will feature Manteca’s Sunnyvalley Smoked Meats includes:
uBacon cook-off competitions both days with amateur and professionals with celebrity chef Guy Fieri of “Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives” fame as the honorary emcee
uBeers from 20 top microbreweries.
uTwenty different bacon dishes at the Bacon Bar and Bacon Alley.
uCooking demonstrations featuring Sysco chefs from all other the country.
u“The Ultimate Culinary Kitchen” featuring a 92-foot long truck that has a self-contained kitchen and more.
uOver 100 arts, crafts and commercial vendors.
uPig races and pig costume contest.
uTwo free children’s play areas.
uVarious bacon merchandise.
uWine pavilion.
uBest Bloody Mary contest
uMid Valley car  show
uDell’Osso Express Train, Kids’ Ferris Wheel, Kids’ roller coaster, spinning pumpkins, bounce pillows, Dell’Osso Pedals Car Speedway
uTwo stages with continuous live bands entertaining as 20 bands will perform over the two days.
Susan Dell’Osso noted Bacon Alley will feature bacon used in numerous food items with offerings larger than sample size but not too large as to fill you up allowing attendees to try a number of different bacon culinary offerings.

Bacon eating contests
The Baconfest will also include two bacon eating contests. Amateurs are on Saturday at 1:15 p.m. and professionals on Sunday at 1:15 p.m.
Ten professionals — including the world’s top female eater — are competing for $4,000 in cash prizes to see who can consume up to 12 pounds of Sunnyvalley Meats bacon in six minutes.
The amateur contest has 40 participants. There will be four heats with the top eaters of two pounds of bacon in 90 seconds advancing immediate to the finals where they have to repeat the feat.
And just like the professionals, they are disqualified if they throw up.
Leading the field appearing on Father’s Day in Lathrop is Miki Sudo of Las Vegas. She’s the world’s No. 1 ranked competitive female eater and the No. 3 overall based on Major League Eating rankings
She has a long list of top three finishes in competitive  eating  events involving everything from wolfing down 18 12-ounce burritos in 10 minutes (second place) and 61 tamales in 12 minutes (first place) to 13.75 pounds of pumpkin pie in 8 minutes (second place).
Siudo is also the 2014 champ (34 hot dogs) and current champ (38 hot dogs) in 10 minutes for the women’s version of the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest in New York City.
Top prize at the Baconfest for the pros is $2,000 for first, $1,000 for second, $500 for third, $350 for fourth, and $150 for fifth.
Other pro-competitive eaters and their overall world rankings committed to the Baconfest are Michelle Lesco ( #7) of Tucson; Erik Denmark (#9 ) of Seattle;  Juan Rodriguez (#13) of Crestwood, IL; Steve Hendry (#15) Dixon west of Sacramento;  Lesley Ryder (#34) of Los Angeles; Andrew Gutierrez, San Francisco; Douglas Ecks, Las Vegas; and Jon Davis, Antioch.
 Tickets are $25 for those 15 years and older, $12.50 for children 6 to 14, and children under 6 free. The ticket includes one day general admission, all stage events, and band performances. Parking is free.
The event is Saturday June 18, with the gates open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, June 19, with the gates open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Attractions close later both days.
Dell’Osso Farms also stages an annual Mud Run, the Pumpkin Maze and Holidays on the Farm.
It is located at the Manthey Road in Lathrop between the San Joaquin River and Interstate 205 interchange along Interstate 5.
Unlike some events, beer and wine drinking will not be restricted to a single area.
“We know a lot of people will be bringing their kids since its Father’s Day Weekend,” Dell’Osso said.
More information can be found at baconfest.com