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How much do Lincoln diners enjoy bacon?

Apparently quite a bit, as the East Lincoln Business Association (ELBA) found out.

The organization sold all 1,000 tickets available for the inaugural BaconfEAST, its fundraiser for the Food Bank of Lincoln.

The event will run from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Lancaster Event Center, 4100 N. 84th St.

More than 25 food vendors will offer samples while competing for the “Bring Home the Bacon” culinary award. Hormel has provided up to 30 pounds of bacon to each vendor. The Nebraska Pork Producers is a sponsor, too, providing cash prizes and trophies.

The event’s popularity doesn’t surprise Matt Smith, general manager of Grandmother’s and an ELBA board member. His restaurant will serve bacon-wrapped chicken covered in a brown sugar chili powder mix.

“Who doesn’t like bacon?” he asked. “Plus, it’s Nebraska in February. What else do we have to do?"

ELBA is just over 3 years old. The group had been searching for a signature event that would bring attention to it, said BaconfEAST chair Susan Kirkpatrick of Office Interiors and Design.