Calling All Bacon Lovers!
Festival Hours:
Friday, September 18, 2026 from 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Saturday, September 19, 2026 from 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Downtown Car Cruze, Bloody Mary Sample Crawl, and Sip, Stroll & Shop:
Sunday, September 20, 2026 from 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Festival Features
Bacon Bash Brochure
Check out the Official Bacon Bash Brochure, brought to you in partnership with O'Rourke Media Group! Keep scrolling to find the Official Festival Grounds Schedule of Events on our website below.
Downtown Car Cruze
Join us for a spectacular show! The Downtown Car Cruze is a can't-miss part of the Bacon Bash weekend. Main Street will be lined with a fantastic display of classic cars, hot rods, and custom vehicles for you to admire. Stroll down Main Street, get an up-close look at some incredible rides, and talk with the owners. It’s a feast for the eyes and the perfect way to end the festival fun. Bring your favorite ride, friends, and family to enjoy a great afternoon full of cars, music, food, beverage, and fun shops all in historic downtown River Falls!
No Registration - Free!
Bacon Central
This year's Bacon Central will look a little different as we honor the memory of Jake Wagner, whose passion, creativity, and dedication helped make this festival favorite what it is today. Jake's impact on Bacon Bash and our community will not be forgotten.
Our team is working on plans for this year's Bacon Central experience and exploring meaningful ways to recognize Jake's legacy. We look forward to sharing more details soon. Thank you for your patience as we thoughtfully plan this special part of the festival.
Family Fun & Activities
Bacon Bash isn't just for foodies—it's for the whole family! We offer a variety of entertaining, pig-themed activities and contests for all ages. From lively eating competitions and kid's tent to our unique pig-themed events, there's always something to see or do. Bring the kids and get ready for a day of laughter, fun, and memorable moments.
Thank you to the 2026 Kid's Activities Sponsor, River Falls FFA & FFA Alumni!
Food Vendors
Prepare your taste buds for a bacon-fueled adventure! Our festival is home to a wide array of food vendors and trucks, each serving up creative, mouth-watering dishes that feature bacon in every way you can imagine. Food vendors will be open at the festival grounds during open festival hours Friday and Saturday.
Say hello to our Official 2026 Food Vendors:
Benny's Bigfoot BBQ
Holy Donuts
K & K Poppin' Stop
Lemonade Island
Lucky 8's Grill
Mariachi Loco
Papa Murphy's Pizza
Savory Eats
Two Fat Guys Smoking Food Truck
Bacon Bash Vendor Fair
Beyond the delicious food, Bacon Bash is the perfect place to shop! The Vendor Fair features a wide variety of local artists, crafters, service providers, and merchants. Browse unique products, from handmade gifts and apparel to specialty sauces and home décor. It's the perfect opportunity to find something special, support local businesses, and take home a souvenir to remember your bacon-filled weekend.
Event Date/Time:
Saturday, September 19, 2026, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Sip, Stroll & Shop
Bloody Mary Sample & Sidewalk Sales Event
Sample amazing Bloody Marys at the participating bars, Shop at retail stores and Stroll along to see the cool car cruze!
Support local, have fun, & vote on your favorite Bloody for a chance to win a set of tickets to River Falls Bluegrass Festival tickets in April of 2027.
2026 Participating Bloody Mary Sample Locations:
Emma's Bar
Johnnie's Bar
Junior's Restaurant & Tap House
Mel's Midtowner Sports Bar & Patio
Nutty Squirrel Sports Saloon
Streeter's Bar & Grill
Swinging Bridge Brewing Company
Tarnation Tavern
The Garage Bikes + Brews
2026 Participating Sidewalk Sale Locations:
Coming soon.
Golden Pig: Medallion Hunt
The hunt begins on Friday, September 18, 2026, and a new clue will be released throughout Friday and Saturday until the Golden Pig Medallion is found.
About the Clues: There will be a total of six clues leading you to the medallion. The first clue will be posted on Friday, September 18th at 4 pm. A new clue will be posted every few hours on Friday and Saturday until the medallion is found. Clues will only be posted on our Chamber window so come enjoy Bacon Bash and do some exploration around River Falls for the Medallion!
Medallion Hunt Winner: The first person to find the Golden Pig will win a prize! To claim your prize, follow the directions and contact information listed on the medallion. The winner must be 18 years of age or older to claim the prize. Younger hunters are welcome to help in the search with adult supervision. The winner will be recognized on the Bacon Bash social media and marketing materials. Details on how to claim your prize will be provided on the medallion itself.
Important Rules & Notes
- Please read all rules and guidelines before you begin the hunt.
- The medallion is hidden on public property within the city of River Falls. It is hidden in an area accessible to the public and is NOT on any private property or inside a residence.
- NO digging or disassembling is required to find the medallion. This includes light fixtures, park equipment, or waste disposal bins.
- The interior of buildings and schools are considered private property and should not be searched.
- Participants should research public land prior to hunting to ensure they are respecting private properties and residences.
- Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau employees and their immediate families are not eligible to participate. The prize sponsor's owners and employees are also not eligible.
- Bacon Bash assumes no responsibility for accidents or injuries sustained by participants. We urge all hunters to use reasonable safety precautions, demonstrate good sportsmanship, and follow all rules.
- Bacon Bash reserves the right to discontinue the hunt at any time.
Beer Garden
Head over to the Beer Garden during open festival grounds hours to quench your thirst. Last call will be 30 minutes before the festival grounds close, nightly. Nonalcoholic and alcoholic options available.
Local Favorites from The Garage Bikes + Brews, Swinging Bridge Brewing Company, and Rush River Brewing Co. will be on tap!
Thank you to the 2026 Beer Garden Sponsor, Ptacek's Family Market, River Falls!
2026 Main Stage Headliners - coming soon
Main Stage Friday Line Up:
Main Stage Saturday Line Up:
Official Schedule of Events
Friday, September 18, 2026
Festival Hours - Beer Garden, Food Vendors, &Â More! | 5:00-10:00pm | Heritage Park |
Bacon Central Plans will be available soon | 5:00-8:00pm | Heritage Park |
Kid's Activities - Face Painting, Bling Bar, Bubble Braids & More! | 5:00-8:00pm | City Hall Plaza |
| More to be announced soon. | ||
Saturday, September 19, 2026
| Festival Hours - Beer Garden, Food Vendors & More! | 11:00am - 10:00 pm | Heritage Park |
Bacon Central Plans will be available soon | 11:00am-7:00pm | Heritage Park |
Kid's Activities - Knockerball Presented by Knockerball St. Paul | 11:00am-4:00pm | City Hall Plaza |
Kid's Activities - Face Painting, Bling Bar, Bubble Braids & More! | 11:00am-4:00pm | City Hall Plaza |
Kid's Activities - Play-Based Fun! Presented by Speech Remedies | 11:00am-4:00pm | City Hall Plaza |
Kid's Activities - Corn Box, Coloring, Photo Opportunities, & More! Presented by River Falls FFA & FFA Alumni | 11:00am-6:00pm | Kid's Activities Tent |
| Bacon Bash Vendor Fair | 11:00am-2:00pm | Maple Street Bridge Deck |
| Bacon Bash Welcome & Pig Pardon | 11:00am | Frying Pan Stage |
| When Pigs Fly: The Game from the Sky! Presented by Steiner Plumbing & Electric | 11:30am | Maple Street Plaza |
Trivia & FFA Game Show Presented by River Falls FFA & FFA Alumni | 12:00pm | Frying Pan Stage |
Pig Calling Contest Presented by River Falls FFA & FFA Alumni | 12:30pm | Frying Pan Stage |
Piggies on the Kinni - Launch in your Pig for a Chance to Win! Presented by River Falls FFA & FFA Alumni | 1:00pm | Maple Street Bridge Deck |
Bacon Comedy Show Presented by River Falls FFA & FFA Alumni | 1:30pm | Frying Pan Stage |
| TBA | Main Stage | |
| Bacon Eating Contest - Youth Division | 2:30pm | Frying Pan Stage |
Piggies on the Kinni - Launch in your Pig for a Chance to Win! Presented by River Falls FFA & FFA Alumni | 3:00pm | Maple Street Bridge Deck |
Bacon Eating Contest - Adult Division | 3:30pm | Frying Pan Stage |
| The Thirty-Three Little Pigs - A Theatre Performance Presented by WonderWorks Theatre | 4:00pm | Frying Pan Stage |
When Pigs Fly: The Game from the Sky! Presented by Steiner Plumbing & Electric | 5:00pm | Maple Street Plaza |
| Sizzling Bacon Showdown Vote for your favorite bacon inspired dish, and we will announce the people's choice winner! | 5:30pm | Frying Pan Stage |
| TBA | Main Stage | |
Piggies on the Kinni - Launch in your Pig for a Chance to Win! Presented by River Falls FFA & FFA Alumni | 6:00pm | Maple Street Bridge Deck |
Sunday, September 20, 2026
| Bloody Mary Sample Crawl | 11:00am-3:00pm | Main Street |
| Sip, Stroll & Shop | 11:00am-3:00pm | Main Street |
| Downtown Car Cruze | 11:00am-3:00pm | Main Street |
Thank You Sponsors!
Applications & Sign Ups
Booth Fair
Saturday, September 19 | 11:00 am – 2:00 pm | Maple Street
Looking to connect with the community and showcase your products or services? We're hosting a vibrant vendor fair at River Falls Days and invite you to participate! It's the perfect opportunity to engage with local customers in River Falls.
Submission Deadline:
August 21, 2026
Now Accepting Applications!
Registration is required to participate.
Volunteer
Join our amazing team of volunteers and get a front-row seat to all the fun, excitement, and celebration happening in our community!
As a volunteer, you'll have the chance to meet new people, build meaningful connections, and play a key role in bringing our events to life. We’re so grateful for your time and energy—and we can’t wait to welcome you to the team!