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The first-ever South Jersey Bacon and Beer Festival will take place on Aug. 14 at the Scottish Rite Auditorium in Collingswood. (Express-Times Photo | STEPHEN FLOOD)

(Stephen Flood)

Bacon and beer are great by themselves so Crossroads Programs in Willingboro decided to pair them together as a way to raise public awareness and funds to support foster care homes.

The first-ever South Jersey Bacon and Beer Festival, set for Thursday, Aug. 14 at the Collingswood Scottish Rite Grand Ballroom in Collingswood, will run from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and offer beer and food tastings from eight breweries and 16 restaurants.

The cost is $35 per person and offers multiple food and drink tastings from each vendor.

"We decided our message would get to more people if we offered it on a plate," said Michael Snyder, Crossroads CEO.

Restaurants are asked to prepare bacon-inspired dishes and breweries will share tasting size samplings of their beers at the event.

Tickets are available at www.wheretoeat.in/2014-south-jersey-bacon-and-beer-festival.

Participating restaurants are include The Tortilla Press, Tortilla Press Cantina, The Pop Shop, Keg & Kitchen, Braddocks Tavern, Otts Tavern, Bistro Di Marino, Inde Blue, Andreotti's Catering, Crux Cafe, Blueplate, L'Oceano, Flemings Steak House, Regular Guy Catering, Tavro 13, Aunt Berta's Kitchen, The Little Tuna and Whole Hog Cafe.

Breweries include Weyerbacher, River Horse Brewing Company, Saucony Creek, Yards Brewing, Sly Fox, Pinelands Brewing, Flying Fish and Rinn Duin.