It’s in many cases several times more than just the bacon, although that’s always the centerpiece of the food, when Bacon Bash hits the area for the fifth time.
— Celebrate everything bacon at River Falls fifth annual Bacon Bash. This two-day festival, centering around this Saturday, Sept. 16, allows you to sample bacon-inspired dishes. The bountiful bash features numerous pig-themed activities for the entire family, live music from several bands, and merchant vendors.
This is an example of the food, which in the spirit of the event is both tasty and quirky, that you can expect at Bacon Bash — with a Badger State twist. “I will have a stand downtown for Bacon Bash all weekend,” said Tony Leone, owner of the West Wind supper club, which is located near the busy north end of the festival area. “I will be serving ‘Wisconsin Cider Beer Cheese and Bacon Soup with Caramel Corn.’ And yes, that is one item.” Although it has about five main ingredients, and it is these combinations that make this extravaganza a true bash, with activities starting in the downtown and working their way all around town.
In other places, like Johnnie’s Bar, you can get stuff like bacon in your bloody Mary, or elsewhere around town, there are fast becoming favorites like bacon ice cream and other bacon-wrapped delights.
— The band Kevin’s Cousin plays the Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt on Friday night, Sept. 15, and Blue Moon Drive on Saturday. Kevin’s Cousin — not to be confused with the Cousin Kevin band out of California — plays balls-to-the-wall classic and current rock ‘n roll, they say. You can tell that by the name of their record label, Hairy Nipple Records. The band consists of — cool name — Baibi on lead vocals, Tommy on guitar and vocals, Randy on bass and vocals, and Charlie on drums and vocals. And yes, you read that right, all four members of the band share the vocal responsibilities. Then, Blue Moon Drive hits the stage with a far different style, straight-up honkytonk, although there again is the similarity of not being confused with a band of the same name out of a little ol’ Texas town. However, you might recognize some of the names of this group, who truly look the part, straight out of River Falls. “We’re Dave Snyder, Al Canfield, Bob Feyereisen and Dave Feyereisen. And we’re always looking for one more perfect gig that can change the world,” they say in a possibly overstated manner online. Influences they name are Merle Haggard, Dale Watson, Dwight Yoakam, Buck Owens, Gram Parsons, Johnny Cash, CCR, Hank Williams Jr., The Mavericks, The Valley Boys and Larry Schorn.
— This sure beats a selfie. In what is probably a first for downtown Hudson, have your picture taken with — and just hobnob with or buy their calendars — members of the Viking cheerleader squad at noon on NFL Sunday game day at the newly revamped Pudge’s bar and eatery. That’s when Minnesota faces Pittsburgh.
— An online announcement has a typo and refers to a popular event as the 0th annual car club show. However, the Willow River Car Club will indeed host its longtime yearly gathering, showing off dozens of vintage cars, this Saturday afternoon at Uncle Mike’s in the town of Hudson.
— This Saturday, all day, is also a time of competing motorcycle rallies. There is of course the annual Flood Run, but also being featured is a rally to benefit our troops that starts and ends at the Star Prairie Sports Bar, and for a reasonable price both before and after the riding there are also plenty of eats. But we still recommend that caramel-corn soup thing in River Falls, for eating while along the route.