Baconfest Adds Sizzle To Chicago's Festival Season

CHICAGO (CBS) -- It's about to get real busy at month's end when the NFL's draft town is here, the culinary exemplar James Beard Awards are in town and the country's preeminent event for bacon.

CBS 2's Brad Edwards reports on the phenomenon that is Chicago's Baconfest.

Inside a non-descript East Garfield Park warehouse is Goose Island's Fort Knox, where they make a "beermosa" with its famed Sophie.

Goose Island is a bacon fest stalwart.

"It's incredible the kind of explosion you have on both sides," said Goose Island's Quinn Fuechsl.

8,000 thousand pounds of Wisconsin's Neuske's bacon will be doled out in creative manner.

"25 miles of bacon, nearly a bacon marathon," said Seth Zurer of Baconfest Chicago.

For the fest's founder, it's long way from the fest's start a few years ago, which had 10 chefs and 75 guests. This year's fest will have 4,500 people and 165 restaurants.

Zurer says he never thought bacon would become a living.

"It came as a surprise to me," Zurer said.

Fuechsl says, "Baconfest in and of itself is a holiday for me."

The festival takes place April 30 and May 1. Tickets are still available at Baconfestchicago.com.