Judges had their work cut out for them during the 2013 Arizona Bacon Fest.Β 

Make sure to leave your cholesterol-monitoring kit at home during this year's gut-busting party for pork, the Arizona Bacon Fest.Β 

The May 16 event at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium, 2500 E. Ajo Way, is slated to be a "bacontopia," with dozens of local restaurants dishing up sweet and savory treats. A $45 ticket gets you two dozen beer samples and unlimited tastings from restaurants including AgustΓ­n Kitchen, Lindy's on Fourth, Union Public House, The Oink CafΓ©, Elliot's On Congress, On a Roll sushi, Nox, Mama's Hawaiian Bar-B-Cue and Gary Ray's Texas BBQ. Offal aficionados take note: There will also be pig ears and a whole roasted pig.Β 

In the end, celebrity judges will decide whose dish is the best. The winner gets a free trip to compete in the bacon category at the World Food Championships in Florida.Β 

Bacon Fest has commanded a huge following sinceΒ cousinsΒ Robert Betancourt andΒ Robert Esparza started it in 2013. After planning a small gathering for a couple hundred people, they were shocked to see a thousand lining up to get in. But really, is anyone that surprised? It's a festival dedicated to BACON!!!


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Contact Andi Berlin at aberlin@tucson.com. On Twitter: @AndiBerlin