Downtown Easton turns into one giant bacon-scented block party this weekend, as PA Bacon Fest returns Saturday and Sunday with more than 180 vendors, over 20 musical acts, and free admission for a festival now marking its 15th year. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days across Northampton Street, South Third Street, North Third Street, and Centre Square.
According to WFMZ.com, the festival website promises food, live music, family-friendly activities, and cooking demonstrations across the two-day run. Joe Dimeck, who is affiliated with the Greater Easton Development Partnership, told the station it means a lot to be part of a festival that’s in its 15th year, and he described Bacon Fest as a great time for people who love bacon. Per that same report, the festival features unique bacon items.
One of this year's vendors, Tortuga Club, plans to serve bacon-themed treats for the weekend, the station reports. The restaurant, owned by CJ Moyer, bills itself as a Mexican-American concept known for specialty tacos, including smash burger tacos — a lineup that will get a bacon-forward twist for the festival crowd.
Road Closures, Parking, and a Shuttle With No Wheelchair Lift
Visitors driving in should expect road closures in and around the festival footprint, which spans Northampton Street, South Third Street, North Third Street, and Centre Square, according to lehighvalleylive.com. Parking at Braden Airpark in Forks Township will run $20 per car, with shuttle service scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days.
Shuttles are expected to run roughly every 15 to 45 minutes during the festival's busiest stretches, per the same outlet's report. The guide also cautions that the shuttles lack wheelchair lifts or ramps, and it advises visitors who need a lift to use downtown parking instead.
Attendance Has Varied in Recent Years
Attendance Has Varied in Recent Years Attendance figures for Bacon Fest have varied in recent years. City data cited by lehighvalleylive.com put attendance at 71,400 in 2021, 57,400 in 2022, and 73,700 in 2023 — numbers the outlet noted were nearly two and a half times Easton's own population. That 2023 edition drew more than 140 vendors across five stages of live music, according to the same report.
More recently, The Morning Call reported that last year's festival drew close to 90,000 people, which organizers described as record attendance, with hopes voiced for similar turnout in 2026. With this year's lineup topping 180 vendors and 20 musical acts, organizers appear to be building toward another big crowd in downtown Easton.
Admission remains free, making it an easy ask for Lehigh Valley residents weighing a weekend trip downtown. Between the vendor lineup, the music schedule, and the shuttle logistics, this year's 15th-anniversary edition is shaping up to be one of the festival's biggest yet.
