'We like bacon:'hundreds come out to first Pigs on Penn Bacon Festival in York
Following a man who had just yelled in an almost death metal-like growl during the hog-calling contest at the Pigs on Penn Bacon Festival, Sheila Driscoll, 7, walked up and took the microphone.
"Come here, piggy," she said in a whisper. "Come here, piggy."
York Mayor Kim Bracey, who was watching the competition, immediately walked up and gave her a high-five. And later, Sheila was chosen as one of three winners in the contest, receiving a certificate that was good for 1 pound of bacon.
That all happened during the early part of the first Pigs on Penn Bacon Festival, which was held on Saturday at the Market and Penn Farmers' Market in York. The show included vendors that were selling everything from bacon milkshakes to bacon-themed ties, as well as activities such as the hog calling contest and a promotion to crown the first Bacon King and Queen of York.
People who went to the event said they came because it was something different to do in downtown York on a Saturday. And, yes, for the bacon.
"Lots of bacon," said Toni Danley, 44, of Red Lion, who came to the event with her husband, Craig. "We like bacon."
Finishing up a piece of chocolate-covered bacon, Kent Ritter said he went to the event with his sons Terence, 40, Tramaine, 35, and granddaughter Ahjalai, 11, because they're bacon eaters. But, he said, it was also a way to help support the farmers' market, which the event benefitted.
His cousin, Warren, has a stand and sells items including novelties and T-shirts. And as a child, Ritter, 60, of Dover, would walk to market with his grandfather, who used to butcher hogs and sell smoked meats there in the 1950s.
His grandfather, Wilmon, was also a minister, and had come up to York from Allendale, S.C., in the late 1930s or early '40s to seek opportunities.
"There's a lot of heritage here," he said.
Keith Rutt, 27, went to the festival with his son, Hunter, 4, as well as friends Candace Brubaker, 27, and Mitch Martin, 30.
Standing toward the entrance of the market, they were all trying the bacon milkshakes. All four came down to the festival from Lancaster, as they planned to also check out the 42nd annual Street Rod Nationals East Plus event at the York Expo Center later in the day.
"Bacon and hot rods," Brubaker said. "Living the dream."
To which Rutt replied: "I don't know anything more American than that."
Contact Dylan Segelbaum at 771-2102.
Blessing of the Bacon
To kick off the first Pigs on Penn Bacon Festival at the Market and Penn Farmers' Market in York, the Rev. Joel Folkemer of Union Evangelical Lutheran Church gave the following blessing — with a cross made outof fake bacon:
"Let us pray. Holy and gracious God, we ask your blessing upon this event.
We give you thanks for all the many wonderful things in our lives.
We give you thanks for farmers, for orchids.
We give you thanks for the many blessings of the food that we are able to eat.
We give you thanks for bacon and fake bacon that's even made as crosses.
We give you thanks for all the people who are here.
We give you thanks for the stand owners ... all those who helped put this together.
But we ask your blessing—blessing on the food that we are about to eat and enjoy. Blessing on the bacon. Blessing on the hands that prepared it. And blessing upon our conversations, that together we may grow together to be stronger as a community, for the betterment of your children here in York.
We ask all of this in the name of your most holy name.
Amen.
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