Adventures at BaconFest

It’s 3:45 p.m. at Atlanta’s BaconFest, and a torrential downpour is threatening to put a damper on the day’s festivities. Just as I’m ready to call it a day, a girl with a pig snout painted on her nose runs past through the heavy rains, screaming, “Wooo! I love bacon!” and I suddenly have the feeling that I’m going to fit in here.

It’s my first weekend in Atlanta (having just made the move from Chicago, where street fests are a way of life), and one thing is clear: These folks are serious about having a good time. Beer, bacon and bands — a little rain can’t get in the way of this glorious trifecta.

After catching a set by locals Darling Norman, we take a quick stroll through the grounds at Dad’s Garage, walking past a “Heavy Petting Zoo,” a guy in a bacon suit and a huge (and delicious-smelling) pig carcass. Desperate to momentarily escape the thunderstorm, we duck inside the face-painting booth.

“Is this your first BaconFest?” the guy manning the booth asks. It’s as if he can sense we’re uninitiated outsiders. As he assumes his “rock stance” to paint my friend’s face, another pork aficionado steps inside the tent to get “REVERSE ATM” painted across her forehead.

The rains only seem to enhance the wonderful weirdness of the fest, as revelers cling to their Cups O’ Bacon and catch a few bands, all the while daring Mother Nature to do her worst.

Yep, I’m going to like it here.