If you love bacon and beer as much as we do (is that even possible?!), then get ready to head over to gorgeous downtown outdoor venue Vinoy Park for the 3rd Annual St. Pete Beer & Bacon Festival! The fun gets started at noon on Saturday, January 19th - but you'll definitely want to be there from 3 pm - 7 pm for the absolutely crucial beer and spirit sampling. 

Brought to you by Sarasota's Brewed Life Festivals, this stellar event will feature craft beers from around the area and artisanal, locally-distilled hooch for your responsible drinking pleasure (don't drink and drive!). There's going to be a huge array of offerings from all of your favorite breweries, such as Big Storm Brewing Co., Silverking Brewing Company, 3 Daughters Brewing, Coppertail Brewing Co., Hidden Springs Ale Works, Motorworks Brewing, and loads more - and naturally, you'll want to check out the offerings from area purveyors of fine liquors like Gaspar's Rum and Siesta Key Rum.

Beer is cool and all, but let's talk about bacon. This festival is going to have so many delicious things to nom on, it'll make you drool like crazy just thinking about it! Check out Sonny's BBQ to treat yourself to some of their lovingly crafted, mouth-watering, deliciously smokey vittles. Of course, don't miss the Bacon Boss Food Truck, serving up the very best of bacon-centric snacks and tasty tidbits. Visit Star of the Sea for some deliciously decadent fried goodness, and you have to check out the exquisite snacks from Southern Comfort Kitchen and Smokehouse. However, if you or some of your crew just aren't in the mood for bacon, there will be options available for the non-bacon lovers (they made me say that). 

All kidding aside, the 3rd Annual St. Pete Beer & Bacon Festival isn't just a slice of food and drink paradise right here in on Earth, but the event is also raising funds for an eminently wonderful organization, the Pet Pal Animal Shelter. Since the 1980s, Pet Pal has been a life-saving force for local pets in need - this no-kill shelter strives to place lovable critters in new forever homes while educating the community on the importance of spaying and neutering your pets and responsible pet ownership. A portion of the festival's proceeds will go directly to Pet Pal Animal Shelter to further this noble mission. 

Tickets for this most awesome of festivals start at just $10 for a general admission ticket, $39 for a beer sampling admission, $49 for a beer & spirits sampling ticket, or if you want to go the whole hog (hee hee), treat yourself to the Sonny's BBQ VIP Admission for just $89 - which includes complimentary open bar, free food, and special VIP parking! Visit 727area today to get your tickets - and be sure to check out our constantly updated lists of the most fun things to do, see, eat, and drink in St Pete. Best of all, it's free! 

All photos from 727area