The Beggin' Bacon Bash on International Bacon Day

This is my dog, Zim. He would do just about anything for
bacon, including pose for fhis ridiculous photo.

International Bacon Day falls on September 4 this year  It's a whimsically ridiculous holiday, but it's gained momentum over the years because - let's face it - virtually everyone loves bacon.  As a dog owner, I can attest to the fact that dogs love bacon just as much as people do.

Purina, the makers of Beggin’® brand dog snacks, knows it too. To help dogs and their owners celebrate International Bacon Day together, they've invited renowned chef Kevin Gillespie to host a bacon-themed party in Cincinnati, which will also include an attempt at the Guinness World Record for "loudest group bark." Sounds pretty awesome, yes?   Check out this press release I got today.  What a hoot:

ST. LOUIS (Aug. 23, 2010) – The day dogs have been waiting for has finally arrived – a day to celebrate their passion for bacon! On Saturday, Sept. 4, in observance of International Bacon Day, Beggin’® is inviting all the four-legged, pork-loving maniacs to attend the Beggin’® Bacon Bash and declare their obsession for bacon.

This dog-friendly family event will take place from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Blue Ash Recreation Center, 4433 Cooper Rd., in Cincinnati, which is one of the largest pork-producing cities in the United States. The Beggin’ Bacon Bash will feature special cooking demonstrationsby Kevin Gillespie, a finalist on Bravo’s “Top Chef” reality show known for incorporating pork into almost every signature dish.

“I’m a huge fan of the pig, and I’m crazy about bacon in particular, so I couldn’t be more excited to be hosting this event with Beggin’®,” said Gillespie, who is currently the co-owner and executive chef at The Woodfire Grill in his native Atlanta. “I’ll be sharing some of my favorite pork dishes with other bacon-lovers and hope to inspire them to embrace pork within their own cooking. Let’s get the party started!”

Beggin’® Bacon Bash will feature live music and activities for both two-legged and four-legged bacon lovers. For the humans, All Pro Eating will sanction a bacon-eating contest as well as other hands on activities such as a Beggin'® Canadian Cuts toss. For the furry friends, there will be a canine costume contest for the most bacon-inspired costume and a bacon maze and bacon race. In addition, the Purina® Incredible Dog Team will perform canine agility and dock diving presentations. Local dog owners are also invited to bring their dogs to participate in an attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the “loudest group bark” to officially declare their love for bacon.

“Because dogs – and their owners – share a hilarious obsession for bacon, Beggin’ wanted to create an exciting, dog-friendly event for the entire family that’s all about bacon,” said Stephen Trammell, assistant brand manager, Nestlé Purina Dog Snacks brand pet food. “There’s no better way to celebrate International Bacon Day.”

For additional information about the events and attractions at the Beggin’ Bacon Bash, visit www.beggintime.com.

That sounds like a great time, and even if you can't get to Cincinnati for the fun you can still have a good time with Beggin' dog snacks.  The friendly folks at Purina are sending me three coupons for Beggin' snacks, and I'm going to give them away to YOU.  Just send an email to me - daves.cupboard [at] gmail [dot] com with the subject line "Beggin" and your name in the body of the email, and you'll be entered to win.  I'll hold the drawing on Saturday, September 4 - International Bacon Day - at RANDOM.ORG and three lucky entrants will each win a coupon.

Note:  The press release and coupons are provided by Purina.  I am receiving no compensation for this post or the coupon giveaway - all expenses involved are coming out of my pocket.