Next Festival: Oct 3, 2026

We will be making some changes to this festival for 2026 to enable us to have MORE BOURBON TIX, so check back in May of 2026 for more details. 
​
11:00 am - 5:00 pm
(*Early Admission)
****
Noon - 5:00 pm
(General Admission)

*Ticket types that have early entry at 11:00 am:
Chalet Tix, Early Admit Sponsor Tix, and Early Bird Individual Tickets

Windsor Castle Park, Smithfield, VA
All festivals are 21 & up only.
TICKET RELEASE DATES: 

EARLY BIRD INDIVIDUAL for all festivals &
SEASON TRIO BUNDLES
Go on sale: 
July 1, 2026,  9:00 AM

*******
GENERAL ADMIT TIX RELEASES: 

1st Release: 
TDB - but will be toward the end of July 2026.  

2nd Release: 
TDB - but will be toward the end of July 2026 
Presented by: 
Check out this short video and see what all the excitement is about! 
​For more videos, visit PartyWithPurposes.com.
Thanks to our Community Enrichment Sponsor: 
We anticipated about $80,000 in proceeds from this festival will benefit over (50) organizations that support our community! 
​
2025 Bacon Fest - Benefiting Grant Recipients: 
Hands & Hearts - $10,000
Rushmere Volunteer Fire Department - $10,000
Below is info from last year's (2025) festival. FYI - We will be making some changes for 2026 to enable us to have MORE BOURBON TIX, so check back in May of 2026 for more details.

2025 Smithfield VA Bacon & Bourbon Music Fest

See Sponsor Info for Private Party Chalets, Tables and Small Business Sponsorship for any festival.
FAQ's & Info: 
for Bacon & Bourbon Fest
Ticket TYPES, PRICING & release dates:
There are different types of individual tickets, Early Bird or General Admission, and then either Bourbon (get bourbon & beer tastings) or the NonBourbon (get beer tastings only) tickets. FYI - non-bourbon tickets can buy Old Fashioned at the Cocktail/Mocktail booth in the Bourbon Village. 

ALL types of tickets get the bacon and trip thru the bacon condiment bar. 

For more details for for this season' s release dates, click here. 

Early Bird Tickets:
125 Bourbon/$100 Non-Bourbon: 
Entry thru VIP Gate an hour early at 11:00 am. 

$125 - Early Bird Bourbon Ticket (gets beer & bourbon tastings). 

$100 - Early Bird Non-Bourbon Ticket (gets beer tastings only) 

​Perks with Early Bird Tickets: 
  • Purchase early for any of our (3) festivals and know you have tickets in advance of general admission on-line sales. Our festivals usually sell out quickly! 
  • Remain on sale until sold out. Bourbon Tix usually sell out earlier than Non-Bourbon Tix. 
  • Get Early Entry thru VIP Gate an hour early at 11:00 AM. 
  • Get early access at 11AM to bourbon/brew tastings and first dibs on picking your seating location. 
  • No VIP Parking passes are included but with early entry you will have first chance parking in General Parking area. 
  • $40 Tax Deduction (amount paid over normal ticket price) 

General Admission Tickets & Non-Sponsor Tables & DD Tix: 
Noon entry thru Main Gate. Sold at two different release dates each year, usually in late July. 

$60 - General Admit Non-Bourbon Tix (beer tasting only) but you can purchase an Old Fashioned at the Cocktail/Mocktail booth in Bourbon Village. 

$85 - General Admit Bourbon Tix (bourbon & beer tastings) FYI Limited number available & usually sell out before Non-Bourbon Tickets do.

$560 - $760 Non-Sponsor Table, come with (8) Tickets price depends on how many bourbon tix you want. Pick tix types when purchase table.  Location preference is taken, but not guaranteed. Sponsor tables have first choice on location.
Location choices are: Amphitheater Stage, Brew Stage or Manor House Lawn Stage. 

$30 - Designated Driver Tix - sold day of event at the Will Call Booth starting at 10:30am. Available even if event is sold out. CASH ONLY. Still must be 21 & up. ID Required. DD Ticket includes entry into the event, bacon ticket & trip thru bacon condiment bar. May not consume alcohol or participate in tastings. Does not get a Stadium Cup or a tasting glass. 

what Do tix include?
TICKETS INCLUDE:
  • Entry into the fest, a tasting glass, and a stadium cup (for purchasing beer). 

  • Unlimited tastings from 40 Virginia Craft Brew selections from some of your favorite breweries. (Bourbon Tix gets brew tastings also....)
 
  • Lots of Bacon - each ticket holder gets 1/2 lb. (*pre-cooked weight, it's about 8 thick Smithfield Premium Cut slices).
 
  • One trip thru the Bacon Bar. Eat your bacon hot off the grill, or take it to the Bacon Condiment Tent and add yummy condiments to it. 
 
  • Live Music on two large stages and also on Manor House Lawn Stage.
 
  • Unique Retail Vendors.
 
  • Additional Food, Wine, VA Brews, Mich Ultra, Bud Light and canned cocktails, non-alcoholic beer and flavored water also for sale both in Brew Village and in Bourbon Village at Canned Cocktails & Mocktail booths.  In bourbon village you can also purchase Old Fashioneds.

  • Regular Water Bottles & Soda also for sale at the Isle of Wight Academy Booster Club Booth located in the Bourbon Village.

Non-Bourbon Ticket includes unlimited brew tastings from VA Breweries only. No bourbon tastings. 

Bourbon Ticket includes everything above (including brew tastings also) PLUS:
  • A special wristband with (10) Tabs on it for sampling bourbons. 
  • (10) half oz. tastings of small batch, hard-to-find, high-end, interesting or specialty Bourbons (with $25 Bourbon ticket upgrade). Bourbon tix must be purchased in advance, you cannot upgrade at the festival.
  • All Bourbons are for  tastings only, except at the Cocktail/Mocktail Booth in the Bourbon Village you can purchase Old Fashioneds, Canned Cocktails and Non-alcoholic beer & flavored waters.  ​
Designated Driver Tickets: available day of event at the Will Call Booth.  $30 CASH ONLY.  Includes Bacon & Bacon Condiment Bar.  Even if event is sold out, DD Tix are always available. May not drink alcohol or participate in tastings. Still must be 21 & up. Does not receive stadium cup or tasting glass. 
How do bourbon tastings work?
Early Entry Tastings Hours:
Includes Early Bird Tix, Chalet Tix & Sponsor Tickets only
11:00 am to 4:00 pm Tasting hours

Regular Tastings Hours:
General Admission Tickets and Non-Sponsor Tables:
Noon - 4:00 pm

Old Fashioned Cocktails on sale at the Cocktail/Mocktail booth located in the Bourbon Village, but bottles of bourbon NOT FOR SALE at the fest. 

See FAQ on BUYING FOOD & DRINKS for full listing of what is on sale at fest. 
If you purchased the Bourbon Ticket, you will get a special wristband with (10)  tabs on it when you enter the gate. You also get a pretty cool souvenir tasting glass to use for both your Bourbon or Brew tastings. You can redeem these tabs at the Bourbon Tasting Stations.

There are ten stations with a total of  60-70 high-end, small batch or interesting bourbons to choose from. We also offer some of the fun flavored ones, along with featuring some VA Distilleries' Bourbons. 

Located in-front of the Bourbon Stations, is the Bourbon Info Tent and Bourbon Ice Station.  There are some Bourbon Hosts on hand to assist you if you have questions.  You can also stop by the info tent and pick up a bourbon info card OR scan the QR code to pull it up on your phone. 

We do provided complimentary small cups of ice to folks with bourbon wristbands if you want to pop a piece in your tasting glass. We  don't provide mixers, and other than a limited number of Old Fashioneds we will be selling in the Bourbon Village, it is only a tasting event.  If you want a full cup of ice and a soda, to mix your bourbon with, you can purchase those from the Water/Soda booths. 

Some bourbons will run out before others, so check out what is available and make a plan for your tastings.  Some types we have lots of, others that are harder to get, we may run out of before the end of the festival.  

All pours are single 1/2 oz (there is a mark on your glass) and we do not offer a "double pour" tasting. If you want to get a second sample you will have to go to the end of the line. 

Don't forget -  you get the VA Brew Tastings also - just take your bourbon tasting glass over to the Brew Village and sample some of the hottest VA Breweries around.
HOW DO VA BREW TASTINGS WORK?: 

VA Breweries:

Virginia Craft Breweries will be at the fest featuring (40) brews for you to sample or purchase by the cup or growler.  All Ticket holders, both Bourbon Tickets and Non-Bourbon Tickets get to sample the VA Brews. Scroll down to see list of featured breweries. 

Tastings: When you enter the fest you will receive a tasting glass.  Take it to any of our featured VA Breweries and sample as many brews as you like. Rinse Stations are available. If you got a bourbon tasting glass you can use it for brew tastings as well. Tastings end at 4:00 PM. Sales end at 4:30 in the Brew Village. 

There are NO TASTINGS available for Bud Light, Mich Ultra or any of the canned cocktails, flavored waters or non-alcoholic beers. They are for purchase ONLY. 
bacon & bacon bar: 

Bacon & Bacon Condiment Bar:

BACON. REAL BACON. LOTS OF BACON……in the TOWN THAT KNOWS HOW TO DO BACON. 

Most other bacon events give you small, sometimes overly creative, tiny snippets of bacon. Then, if you want to eat MORE BACON, you have to buy it.

Not here. Not in Smithfield, VA. That is not how our bacon works. We were bacon before bacon was cool. 

Everyone who enters the gate will get a two part "Bacon Ticket" that entitles them to a half pound of Smithfield Bacon (pre-cooked weight).  Cooked, it's about 8 big premium cut thick slices. Turn in one part of your Bacon Ticket to get the bacon, and the other part for your trip thru the Bacon Condiment Bar. 

Once you get your bacon, you can eat it hot off the grill, or you can take it over to the Bacon Condiment Bar and dress it up anyway you please from a selection of various condiments. Stuff for BLT wraps, or Taco Wraps, Pancakes and various sauces to dip your bacon in including chocolate! 
 
Please be patient with our volunteers who are cooking the bacon. Preparing over a TON, (seriously we are not kidding, we cook over a legit TON of it for this event) does  take some time. We promise we will NOT RUN OUT OF BACON, we have enough for everyone to get their 1/2 lb. We will do our best to get everyone served their fresh cooked bacon as quickly as possible.
BUYING food & DRINKS - What's availABLE? 
NO ALCOHOL CAN ENTER OR LEAVE THE FESTIVAL: You may NOT LEAVE with drinks in a cup, growler, bottle of wine, canned cocktails or non-alcoholic beer. 

​FYI - there are not bottles of bourbon for purchase available at this festival.

IN THE BOURBON VILLAGE: Purchase Wine, Old Fashioneds, Canned Cocktails, Canned Flavored Water and Non-Alcoholic Beer.
There is a Cocktail/Mocktail Booth and a Wine Booth located in the Bourbon Village that accepts cash, credit card OR drink tickets for all beverages. Drink Tickets are only sold in the Brew Village. 

Bourbon Tastings end at 4:00 PM. 

Cocktail/Mocktail Booth Sales in Bourbon Village end at 4:00 PM. 

Wine Booth Sales end at 4:30 PM. 
****************

WATER (bottled)/SODA BOOTH located in the Bourbon Village: Hosted by Isle of Wight Academy Booster Club and sells regular water bottles & sodas. 
****************

IN BREW VILLAGE: Purchase using Drink Tix Only:  VA Brews, Bud Light, Mich Ultra and Canned Cocktails, canned Flavored Waters and Non-Alcoholic Beer. 

DRINK TIX BOOTH: Located in the Brew Village:
For buying drinks in the Brew Village,  first visit the DRINK TIX BOOTH, which accepts cash or credit cards and is located in the Brew Village. Purchase drink tickets and then redeem your tickets to purchase any type of drink in the Brew Village. 

We do have a few "wandering drink tix sellers" walking around the site, they take cash only. 

When you enter the fest, you will get a stadium cup which is what you use to purchase a 16-oz beer. So take it with you if you plan on buying brews. 

Drink Ticket booth closes at 4:00 PM

Brew Tastings end at 4:00 PM.

Brew Sales end at 4:30 PM.
​
Cocktail/Mocktail Sales in Brew Village end at 4:30 PM.

​Growlers: You can bring one of our SVAEvent's logo growlers you bought at one of our other events, or we will have them for sale at the
Drink Ticket Booth the day of the event. We only honor OUR growler. Growlers must be empty when you enter and exit the festival. 

ATM: There is an ATM on site near the Main Gate.
​

Water/Soda:

Support Isle of Wight Academy Booster Club. Regular Water Bottles and Sodas are for sale at the event in the Water/Soda Booth located near the Bacon Condiment Tent. 

Food Vendor: 

Located at the entrance to Brew Village: 
Entertainment schedule:
Amphitheater Stage: 
2025 Band Schedule

11:00 - 1:30
H.M. Johnson Band

2:30 - 5:00
Patrick Ryan Band

Brew Village Stage:

11:00 - 1:30
Brasswind

2:30-5:00 
The Ben Phelps Project

Manor House Lawn Stage:

11:00 - 1:30 
The Wayfare Strangers

2:30 - 5:00 
May Bell

REtail Vendors:
As you stroll around the festival, check out our upscale, unique, hand-crafted retail vendors.

MANOR HOUSE LAWN
Cigars Vendor & Cigar Smoking Courtyard

BOURBON VILLAGE:
EVENT SHIRTS & MERCHANDISE 

BREW VILLAGE: 
EVENT SHIRTS & MERCHANDISE

RETAIL VENDORS: located in the Brew Village. Check back later for list of vendors participating. 
Cigar Courtyard & Smoking:
Want a good cigar with your Bourbon? Or want to purchase some to take home?

Check out our expanded Cigar Courtyard located on the back lawn of the Manor House. 

Smoking is permitted in either the cigar courtyard or in our designated smoking sections that are marked and located near the restroom areas. 

Smoking not permitted inside any tent or chalet yard or in any general area of the festival. 
Do's & Don'ts:
DO THESE THINGS:  
  • Bring lawn chairs/blankets for seating.
  • Bring a hand-held umbrella (for rain or sun). 
  • Wear comfortable shoes.  Event is held on grass fields. Can be muddy if rains. 
  • Bring an ID to the Gate. 21 & Up only event. 
  • Cash & Credit cards accepted and an ATM is also on site. 
  • Make a post-fest safe ride transportation plan. 
  • Bring sunscreen/bug spray. 
  • If you own an SVAEvents growler purchased at one of our other events, you are welcome to bring it (EMPTY) and use it at this event for brew. 

DON'T DO THESE THINGS:
  • No infants, pets or children.
  • No pop up tents, canopies or large "beach umbrellas". 
  • No alcohol can enter or exit this event.
  • No outside food/drink if entering thru MAIN GATE with General Admission tickets (which includes Non-Sponsor Table tickets as well).  

NOTE: For Sponsor Tables & Chalets & Early Bird Tix holders entering thru the VIP GATES, you are permitted to bring in small picnic baskets and coolers are permitted. Chalets see your detailed sponsor info sheet for special instructions on set-up. 

Lost & Found:
If you find something please turn it in at one of the Merchandise Booth so we can try and find the owner. 

If you lost something report it at one of our Merchandise Booths or ask someone with a radio. ​
DIRECTIONS/PARKING/DROP-OFFS:
Directions: Use 705 Cedar Street, Smithfield VA as the GPS address. If given an option, choose the route that uses Route 258/10 and CEDAR STREET. 

**DUE TO VDOT PROJECT ON THE CYPRESS CREEK BRIDGE AT SMITHFIELD STATION, THE BRIDGE IS ONE-WAY ONLY, ALLOWING TRAFFIC TO COME TO DOWNTOWN SMITHFIELD, BUT YOU CANNOT EXIT THAT WAY. YOU WILL HAVE TO LEAVE SMITHFIELD VIA MAIN STREET & ROUTE 10/258. If you are staying at Smithfield Station, you can get to it from either direction.

If coming thru town on South Church Street ****DO NOT turn off of S. Church Street onto "Old" Jericho Road (between the pink and green historic homes). Go one more block toward Main Street and turn on CEDAR STREET to get to the park. 

If coming via RT.10/258 - you will turn at the light on Main Street, then turn right on Underwood (1st right after car wash).  At the stop sign turn right on CEDAR STREET and follow signs to Windsor Castle Park. 

Parking: Our parking crew will be directing traffic once you arrive at the park.  We have three areas: VIP Parking, General Parking and Handicapped Parking. None of the parking is far, and we have plenty.  There are also golf carts available to give rides to folks that need assistance.  

UNLESS YOU HAVE AN OFFICIAL VIP PARKING PASS OR HANDICAPPED PERMIT, you will turn right on Kayak Lane and park in the general parking lot. PLEASE HAVE YOUR VIP PARKING PERMIT READY TO SHOW TO OUR PARKING CREW.  

YOU CAN LEAVE YOUR CAR OVERNIGHT IF SOMEONE PICKS YOU UP FROM THE FEST.  SVAE & The Town of Smithfield are not responsible of any damage/theft to your vehicle, but it will not be towed.  Please pick up on Sunday. No overnight camping permitted.

BEING DROPPED OFF? TURN ON FLASHERS so our parking crew knows you are a drop-off!

Individual cars- drop off instructions: Turn on your flashers & tell parking attendants that you are being dropped off and they will give you a special pass for your window. You will continue past the manor house and pull over in our designated drop-off area.  After unloading your passengers, you will exit out Old Jericho Road to S. Church Street.

Individual cars - pick up instructions: Cars picking you up will need to come to fest via Cedar Street and park in our CELL PHONE LOT in General Admission parking lot.  THEY MAY NOT DRIVE IN TO THE GATES TO PICK YOU UP. 

PARTY BUSES/LIMOS: Groups who rent a party bus or limo will be directed to our Shuttle Stop to unload passengers. 

If they are not staying during the fest, they will leave via Cedar Street.  

If they are staying on site during the event and will be parking the Party Bus/Limo, they will be directed where to park in the Cell Phone lot in General Parking by our parking staff.  

When the event is over, they can return via Cedar Street or if parked in Cell Phone Lot, they can pull back into the Shuttle Stop to pick up passengers OR you can just meet your Party Bus/Limo in the cell phone lot.  All event traffic will exit via Cedar Street. ​
Picture
Click on map to enlarge.
Presented by:
Community Enrichment Sponsor:
Entertainment Sponsor: