Gulf Coast beer, bacon & Beyond 2026


A NEW 2-DAY EXPERIENCE! FORMERLY THE GULF COAST BEER & BACON FESTIVAL.

March 13–14, 2026

This isn't just a festival, it's an event wrapped in Bacon along with BBQ, and all types of food tastings along with Beer, Cocktails, Chocolate & so much more!!  There will be a Root Beer Kids Fest Saturday morning & chili cookoff where kids can come out, compete in a food competition, and just have fun!

How would you like to participate?

More Beer. More Bacon. more BBQ.
Two Full Days of Sizzling Fun.

Expect a Bacon, BBQ & food lover's dream lineup of food tastings, craft beer tastings from local and regional breweries, along with Mississippi Distilleries & so much more!  Along with giving out 3 Golden Tickets this year, there will be People's Choice Awards, live music Friday & Saturday nights on the Island View Casino Stage at 7 pm, talent competition/DJ, arts & crafts vendors plus VIP experiences you'll talk about for months. This is a great marketing event, and the main Fundraiser for Mississippi Heroes, so your support goes a long way to the mission of supporting family, professional, and community caregivers across Mississippi while building wheelchair ramps for those in need.  Our goal is to finish 2025 strong with the help of your early ticket purchase (2 ramps per week) 


The Root Beer Kids Fest is Saturday morning, along with an introduction to the Jr. Food Championship.    There will be local vendors and a Chili Cookoff, along with the kids' cooking competition.  Just a fun family day of community.  The proceeds from Saturday morning will go towards a 1st Responders Grant Program to help offset financial needs due to injuries on the job & other financial stressors.

Friday Night (21+)

7:00–10:00 PM (6PM VIP)

BBQ, Bourbon & Beer with STARZ Band Live on the Island View Casino Stage.  There will also be an adult talent competition, and vendors. VIP will have early entry, special seating area along with special tastings. 

Saturday Morning

10:00 AM–2:00 PM

Root Beer Kids Fest, talent competition, Jr. Food Championship & 1st Responders Chili Cook-Off. 

Saturday Night (21+)

7:00–10:00 PM (6PM VIP)

Beer, Bacon & Burger with GHOSTS OF GAMBLERS Live on the Island View Casino Stage.  There will also be an adult talent competition, and vendors. VIP will have early entry, special seating area along with special tastings. 

Get In On The Action!

Don't just taste and watch - jump into the fun! From adult and kids cooking competitions, to the Chili Cookoff Showdown, there's a way for everyone to compete, win prizes, and be part of the festival excitement.

GOLDEN TICKET OPPORTUNITIES

We will have Bacon, Barbecue, & Burger Golden Tickets.  We will also have People's Choice with trophies for all who are part of this fundraiser.  The Golden Ticket winners  receive entry to compete in the World Food Championships - it is our commitment to our Gulf Coast Chef's and Restaurants.

PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS

Festival attendees vote for their favorites across multiple categories - Best Brew, Best Home Brew, Best Bacon, BBQ & Burger creations, best booth, crowd favorite, and more.

SATURDAY MORNING CHILI COOK-OFF  (New for 2026!)

Join the Chili Cookoff right along our local 1st Responders.  All money raised from Saturday morning will go into the 1st Responders Grant Program to help offset financial needs.  There will be a $250 prize to the winning chili.  1st Responders vs the community - a way to build community.  All 1st responders are invited to make a team and compete:   emergency services, firefighters, police, EMTs - compete for bragging rights and prizes.  OF NOTE:  This will be an outside event with no electricity.  Bring your own setup, tent & supplies (but let us know if you need help and we will take care of it for you).

TALENT COMPETITION

Show off your skills on the main stage! Music, comedy, unique talents welcome with cash prizes for winners.  Friday and Saturday night slots for the adults.  Saturday morning slots for the kids. 

BACON, BBQ, Burger, BEER, chocolate & COCKTAIL COMPETITIONS
(Restaurants AND OTHER VENDORS)

Professional and amateur divisions for the best drinks & food creations on the Gulf Coast with People's Choice Awards and opportunity to walk away with a Golden Ticket to the World Food Championships in Indianapolis with opportunity to win Grand Prize of over $100,000.

Not Just a Festival—A Mission

Every sip and every bite goes toward building wheelchair ramps, celebrating unsung caregiving heroes, and keeping our Gulf Coast community lifted. The 1st Responders Chili Cook-off funds will go into our 2026 1st Responders Grant Program that we will be kicking off.


Beer & Bacon Fest is the largest fundraiser for Mississippi Heroes, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting family caregivers across Mississippi. In 2025, we raised $45,000 with this event and built 50+ ramps. This year, we're aiming even bigger.

Stay Where the Party Happens

Important Details:


Our Amazing Partners

These incredible businesses make Beer & Bacon Fest possible while supporting caregivers across Mississippi.

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