By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
Bacon-flavored anything is the new food of fashion and the bet is that the community will go whole hog for the first-ever Bucyrus Baconfest.
“Everybody loves bacon. It’s in our blood,” said Claudia Spiegel of North Central Ohio Media Group (NCOMG). “Not only do you get to sample bacon, but you get to see retail places from all over, from Crawford County and surrounding counties. You get to sample bacon and be in the drawing for the (XG 500) 2015 Harley-Davidson.
“The first 200 people get a special gift from us. It’s worth it. Stop out.”
Bucyrus Baconfest will be hosted by WBCO, WQEL and Crawford County Now, all properties of the North Central Ohio Media Group. It will be held from 6 to 9 p.m., Nov. 12, at the Pickwick Place on North Sandusky Avenue. The event 
may not be an original idea, but the local rendition is the creation of Spiegel and NCOMG’s General Manger, Kim Goyer.
“Our sister station in Milwaukee does a Baconfest and Kim and I decided to do the first one here in Bucyrus,” Spiegel said.
Although certainly a first-come, first-served type of event, Bucyrus Baconfest will be limited to 1,500 ticket holders. Those tickets are on sale at the station at 403 East Rensselaer St. in Bucyrus and at the WQEL booth at the Bratwurst Festival.
Tickets are $10 each if purchased prior to the event, and if any remain the night of Baconfest, they will be sold for $15. Children age 6 and younger will be admitted free.
But be forewarned: the night itself is all about bacon.
“We will have food vendors with samples of bacon-flavored food, ice cream, chocolate,” Spiegel said, seemingly in a near trance over the thought of all that bacon.
Vendors will have bacon-themed T-shirts and much more for those who come. Up to 50 vendors will be on the inside of The Pickwick Place Event Center and The Loft with room for more on the outside.
Lest one feel guilty for partaking in the sinfully delicious fare, rest assured it is for a good cause.
“A portion of the proceeds will go to help fund the Christmas and holiday lights in downtown Bucyrus,” Spiegel said.
The centerpiece of Baconfest is of course a hog, make that a Harley Hawg. J.R. Jenney and Colby Bright of Ohio Specialty Services Motor Ranch are providing an XG 500 2015 Harley-Davidson motorcycle to be given away in a drawing at 9 o’clock.
Everyone who purchases a ticket to Baconfest will be entered, but in order to win must be present at the time of the drawing. The motorcycle to be given away can be seen at the WQEL booth at the Bratwurst Festival or at Old 30 Barbeque every Tuesday on Bike Night.
There will be other giveaways as well, in addition to the motorcycle and gifts for the first 200 through the doors.
“We’ll be doing giveaways every 20 minutes from the radio station or the other sponsors,” Spiegel said.
Currently the presenting sponsors at Baconfest are Hord Family Farms, Baker’s Pizza, Old 30 Barbeque, and Community Strong Real Estate with more anticipated.
The ticket sponsor is A-1 Printing.
The entertainment sponsor for the evening is Mansfield Distributing and the entertainment will be country music performer Brent Lowry.
Lowry is scheduled to perform from 6 to 7:30 at Baconfest. Lowry hails from Pemberville, Ohio, and is the opening act for many of the top country performers. He is scheduled to open Thursday for Rodney Atkins in Columbus. Lowry performs renditions of both current and country legends music as well as original music.
The fun doesn’t end with the conclusion of activities at 9 p.m. at The Pickwick Place. A Baconfest After Party will be held featuring Brent Lowry and The Drifters that is open to the public. Depending on the weather, the After Party will be at either Old 30 Barbeque or Baker’s Pizza.
XG 500 Harley Davidson giveaway is being conducted by Ohio Specialty Services Motor Ranch – giveaway is not conducted by NCOMG.