When it comes to food, is there really any other kind that matters more than bacon? There's a reason why humans love to put bacon in everything, and why even things like bouquets of bacon and bacon-flavored toothpaste exist. It's science. Heck, there's even a bacon camp at Burning Man.

Your brain is wired to explode with desire once you catch a whiff of those tasty, greasy slabs cooking, so what better environment to immerse yourself in than a bacon festival, where bacon is literally everywhere? Luckily, there are several around the country at which you can join forces with your fellow bacon gluttons.

PA Bacon Fest, Easton, Pennsylvania

Started in 2012, PA Baconfest takes place at the Easton Farmers' Market, which is the oldest continuously running open air market in America. Its inaugural year attracted approximately 9,000 people who all wanted to celebrate the pig in all its edible permutations. It was such a success that, of course, organizers decided to do it again, and 2013’s event saw 60 food and beverage vendors, lots of music, lots of pigs, roller derby chicks dressed as bacon slices, along with bacon-related and inspired contests involving speed-eating, cupcakes and chef demonstrations. In 2013, it attracted a whopping 17,000 bacon lovers, thanks in part to its altruistic mission of promoting local, sustainable farms and restaurants. 

At the annual November event, you can buy bacon jam, bacon-stuffed pretzels, bacon pizza, bacon cocktails, sample bacon cupcakes, and purchase chocolate covered bacon—that’s just for starters. Many of the regular market vendors simply amped-up their production line to include the pig in some way, whether it's bacon fudge, bacon cheese dip, or a bacon cinnamon roll—or just choose from 14 different varieties of bacon itself. 

Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival, Des Moines, Iowa

Conceived by a fun-loving, bacon-obsessed friend group in Iowa in 2001 (they even hold “All About Bacon” diplomas from Living History Farms), the one-day Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival became official in 2008 with the blessing of the Iowa Bacon Board and the mission of improving the enjoyment of all things bacon. Tens of thousands from all over the U.S. and the world converge each January at the Iowa Events Center to gorge on more than 15,000 pounds (that's more than 240,000 strips!) of its namesake food, coming in the form of chocolate-dipped bacon, bacon-flavored cupcakes, bacon gumbo, chocolate bacon bourbon tarts, and gelato. Competitive attendees can also participate in bacon lectures, a bacon-eating contest, and the Bacon Queen pageant, which requires extensive knowledge of bacon to win. There's even a pig pardon by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad.

In 2013, Molly Schuyler, from Bellevue, Nebraska, annihilated the record for being the first person to eat all 2.5 lbs of cooked bacon within less than the 5 minute time allotted. Impressive!

Baconfest Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

Seven years, Baconfest Chicago is bigger than ever. At 2015's three-day edition in April, 170 of Chi-Town's best chefs and 4,500 ticketed bacon-lovers from Chicago and across the country streamed into the UIC Forum to proclaim their undying devotion to the cult of bacon. More than four tons of bacon were transformed into some pretty brilliant bacon treats: bacon dust, bacon powder, bacon pasta, bacon fried rice, bacon popcorn, bacon burgers, bacon gravy, bacon meatballs, bacon smoothies, bacon pastrami, bacon mousse, bacon tacos, bacon chili, bacon rangoons, bacon salami, bacon pop rocks, bacon falafel, bacon tamales, bacon soup, bacon meatloaf...and you can bet next year the bar will be pushed even higher. If food isn't enough and you need bacon-inspired liquids as well, the fest's liquor sponsors provide cocktails, beer and wine designed to complement your bacon meal. 

And bacon lovers can show off their passion far beyond just eating. Baconfest Chicago boasts a Best Bacon Poem content, a Bacon Cooking Contest, best participating restaurant presentation, and chefs can even win titles like Most Creative Use of Bacon, and Commitment to Bacon.

Bacon and Beer Classic, Various Locations

This roving festival puts down roots in the Bay Area, New York, Seattle, Indianapolis, Chicago, and the Twin Cities in Minneapolis, in order to make sure that no bacon or beer connoisseur is left out. All of them take place in the iconic sports stadiums of their respective cities, adding an epic, expansive feel to the one-day events. Each features multiple hours of bacon indulgence, thanks to dozens of bacon-inspired dishes by local restaurants and up to 80 craft beers to complement your bacon consumption – and you never have to open your wallet while inside, because tickets are all inclusive. The Bacon and Beer Classics also feature plenty of interactive games and ways to burn off all those bacon and beer calories. Phew.

The Great Big Bacon Picnic, Brooklyn, New York

Called "the bacon event of the year" and "bacon heaven" by local media, the aptly named Great Big Bacon Picnic unfolded for the first time this May in the foodie capitol of U.S. as a way for the New York area's master chefs, brewers, distillers, restaurants and food trucks to show off their bacon wizardry to the masses. Over 100 of these culinary experts convened to create high-concept, bite-sized dishes like Vietnamese bacon sliders, a beer braised bacon burger, a bacon bone marrow croquette, smoked bacon stuffed Oreos, and a panko-and-bacon encrusted lobster bacon spring rolls with tomato bacon chutney. Chefs can dominate contest categories like creativity, deliciousness, and presentation, but honestly it sounds like the true winners here are all the hungry attendees. Word on the street has it that the organizers might just organize something for all the vegetarians out there, in the form of The Great Big Veg Out.