A South Cape tradition sure to bring some sizzle returns next weekend for its 12th installment, highlighting a top tier breakfast food with a passionate fan base.<\/p>\n
The South Cape Hospitality & Entertainment Association\u2019s BaconFest Pub Crawl hits the South Cape Aug. 22, where attendees can get their fix of bacon-themed appetizers and drinks from 13 participating locations.<\/p>\n
Participants will also get to vote on their favorite drink and appetizer with bragging rights at stake. Limo buses will transport attendees to four strategic locations, making it convenient to hop between nearby participating establishments on foot.<\/p>\n
\u201cBaconFest is definitely one of the events SCHEA looks forward to every year,\u201d said SCHEA owner David Delli Paoli. \u201cThe fact that we\u2019re celebrating our 12th year says a lot about how much people enjoy it. And let\u2019s face it, people love bacon. It\u2019s one of those foods that immediately gets people\u2019s attention, and when you combine bacon with a pub crawl, great local establishments, costumes, friends and a night out, you\u2019ve got a pretty winning combination.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have people who come back year after year, and it\u2019s always fun to see what the participating locations come up with and what our crawlers are wearing. There\u2019s just a great energy surrounding BaconFest.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the heart of SCHEA\u2019s crawl events are the themed appetizer and drink samples each of the establishments concoct. With bacon being the theme, there are many different avenues each location can take to intertwine the staple.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat makes BaconFest so much fun is that you\u2019re not just going from location to location for drinks,\u201d Delli Paoli said. \u201cYou get all kinds of interpretations of bacon, and that\u2019s part of the experience. You never really know what you\u2019re going to find at the next stop. It\u2019s basically four hours of bacon, drinks, friends and fun. What\u2019s not to love?\u201d<\/p>\n
Participating locations include: Rack\u2019em Spirits & Times, Hooked Island Grill, Seed and Bean Market, Ralph\u2019s Place, Nevermind, Rusty\u2019s Raw Bar & Grill, Dixie Roadhouse, Sage on 47th, The Dive, Monkey Bar, Cruiser\u2019s, Dek Bar and Dolphin Key Tiki.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe give them the theme, but then they get an opportunity to have fun with it and put their own personality into what they create,\u201d Delli Paoli added. \u201cBacon is surprisingly versatile, so you can get everything from sweet to savory and sometimes combinations you would never have thought of yourself. There\u2019s also a little bit of friendly competition involved. Nobody wants to be the stop where people say, \u2018That was okay.\u2019 They want people talking about what they served and telling their friends, \u2018You have to try this one.’\u201d<\/p>\n
Tickets for Bacon Fest are $25 in advance on Eventbrite (plus fees; $30 day-of) and include a drink and appetizer sample at each location, wristband to board limo buses, a passport of locations, eligibility to win prizes and access to the official photo booth located at Dolphin Key Resort under the front awning. Designated Driver tickets are $20 and include sample appetizer and non-alcoholic drink at each location.<\/p>\n
Those who turn out can stamp their passport at each location to be entered to win the grand prize. Visit the official photo booth to have your picture taken and be entered to win four tickets to the Spooktacular Pub Crawl on Oct. 24.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe absolutely encourage everyone to break out their best bacon-inspired gear and costumes,\u201d Delli Paoli said. \u201cBacon shirts, bacon hats, pig noses, bacon suits, if you can dream it up, wear it. You certainly don\u2019t have to dress up to participate, but it\u2019s a lot more fun when you do. Part of what makes these crawls special is that people really embrace the theme. When you\u2019ve got hundreds of people moving around town dressed in ridiculous bacon outfits, it\u2019s pretty hard not to have a good time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Guests can check in from 6-7:30 p.m. at Big John\u2019s Plaza and Dolphin Key Resort. Late check-in runs until 10 p.m. under the front entry awning of the Dolphin Key Resort (1502 Miramar St.). The event is 21-plus and photo I.D. must be presented at check-in.<\/p>\n
Delli Paoli said if someone has never experienced a SCHEA pub crawl and has wanted to, this is a great event to explore, and also gives attendees an opportunity to find new spots to venture in the South Cape.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSCHEA pub crawls are really about bringing people together,\u201d he said. \u201cYou get to visit local businesses, try things you might not normally order, meet new people, laugh at some outrageous costumes and experience Cape Coral in a completely different way.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019ve never attended one of our crawls before, BaconFest is a perfect one to start with. It\u2019s easygoing, it\u2019s fun and you can make the night whatever you want it to be. You can hit all 13 stops or just enjoy the evening at your own pace.\u201d<\/p>\n
BaconFest is also a fundraiser for the Santa Life Foundation, so the fun had that night ultimately helps create Christmas magic and support families in the community.<\/p>\n
For additional information and tickets, please visit\u00a0SouthCapeEntertainment.com<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Eventbrite.\u00a0<\/p>\n