There have been Baconfests…and there has been BACONMANIA VIII!
Not just the greatest bacon spectacle of all-time, but perhaps, the greatest Iowa spectacle of all time.
15,000+ bacon lovers all united at the Iowa Events Center for a celebration of bacon, and the result? AWESOMEness.
The move to the Events Center? Tremendous idea. It was great to have it downtown…the parking options were so much better, and I know I heard at least a dozen people on the way back to the parking garages comment on how much nicer it was to walk through the skywalks then walk through the snow without a coat.
Plus, the Events Center allowed for so many more possibilities. From the downstairs where they had the stage (featuring Mini-Kiss, who were AWESOME)…and the countless options of bacon treats. (My wife is a bit ticked at me that we missed the “Bacon Sushi”…I told her we could come back…it was sold out a few hours later…my apologies Jennifer). Then move up a level to the “Bacon Strip” where there were 8-themed bars…including one that had a wrestling ring in it that anyone could participate in. Check out the Star 102.5 Instagram account (star1025fm) to see Luke Matthews get body-slammed. I think he might need a little practice on that one. 
Across the way…sumo wrestling bar…then there was the karaoke bar…then a lounge bar…then a biker bar…it was AWESOME. Then top level…Club Sizzle. I’m not a fan of dance/nightclubs, but Club Sizzle was off the ‘hizzle. Great DJs, great vibe…it should find a permanent home somewhere downtown.
Was it crowded? Of course, it was 15,000 people…but it never “felt crowded”. There was never a wait for the bathrooms…there were no big bunches of people trying to make their way past each other. I’ve felt more crowded at regular concerts with only 10,000 people. It was so spread out that everyone had space to themselves. (My wife doesn’t care much for crowds, and she didn’t even mention how crowded it is once!)
The pairing of Bacon with Wrestling is fantastic. There had to be at least 200+ patrons dressed as their favorite 80s/90s wrestler. It was so much fun…there were at least 7 Macho Man Randy Savages…10 Hulk Hogans (both red & yellow Hogan…and NWO Hogan)….1 Brutus the Barber Beefcake…and even 1 Big Boss Man. Everyone was in the spirit…even women were walking around with giant title belts slung over their shoulder.
It was a theme that everyone could get involved with and have fun with. It was just so much fun.
BaconMania 8 was done the right way…it was fun…it was over-the-top…it made all other Baconfests around the nation/world take note. Don’t mess with Des Moines…we know how to do this.
364 days for my body to recover…and gear back up.
AWESOME is as AWESOME does!
