For the second year in a row, area residents will participate in the Chasin’ Bacon Challenge early Saturday, followed by the Swig & Swine event later that evening all in the name of supporting the YWCA Bradford.

In commenting on the events, Angela Erway, development and marketing director for the YW, said the Chasin’ Bacon Challenge at Callahan Park will hold registration at 8 a.m. for a fee of $25 per person with the challenge at 9 a.m. slated for all ages. She said anyone under the age of 5 must be accommodated by an adult in order to experience the obstacle course. Family packages are also available.

Erway said comfortable, athletic apparel is advised, but participants are also advised against wearing new clothing or sneakers as they can expect to get wet and dirty on the obstacle course.

Erway further noted the two-mile obstacle course was initially created to offer a fun and healthy event for people to do as a family or with friends.

“You don’t need to be an expert to partake in the event, either,” Erway said. “As with most obstacle courses, we will have those wishing to compete go first, then the others will follow at their own pace.”

In addition, the obstacles, which include hurdles, a tire drag and Army crawl, can be modified for each participant’s strength or skill level. She said a fun experience for all will include a slip-and-slide activity at the finish line. Erway said the obstacle course is set up as a challenge, not a race, and therefore will not have official timers.

“However, at registration, people will have the opportunity to choose if they would like to compete, and then we will determine the beginning heats based on those individuals,” Erway explained. “We have Chasin’ Bacon Challenge medals for the men’s and women’s 1st (gold), 2nd (silver) and 3rd (bronze) place finishers.”

As for the Swig & Swine event, which will be held from 4 to 10 p.m. at the Masonic Center at 625 South Ave. in Bradford, tickets are $30 for individuals 21 and older. The event will include live music by Marshmellow Overcoat, followed by the Marshall Law band, as well as food and drinks, a bacon-eating contest and a mechanical pig ride.

Erway said food will be provided by a variety of local restaurants and food vendors who will offer some of their patron favorites. Guests will be able to sample each item and then vote on their favorite.

“They are all competing for this year’s “People’s Choice Award,” Erway continued. “There is a beautiful trophy at stake for whichever bacon-themed food item the Swig & Swine guests choose as the winner.”

Food vendors will include Brick Oven Pizza & Catering — Chicken, Broccoli and Bacon Alfredo Pizza; Pizza Napoli & Restaurant — Memphis Pizza, with Bacon, BBQ sauce and cheese; CJ Bar-B-Que & Catering — with Bacon Mac & Cheese; White’s Culinary Artistry — with Mimosa Cupcakes and a side of bacon; and DeLong Enterprises — with Shine Shakers.

“In addition to the bacon-inspired food samples, each guest will receive tickets for tastings of a variety of beverages offered by one of our event sponsors, Allegheny Beverage Company,” Erway added. “This year will be featuring Brewdog Brewing, Corona, Harpoon Brewery, Crook & Marker Selter Company and a local favorite, Four Mile Brewing, based in Olean, N.Y.”

In commenting on last year’s bacon-eating contest, Erway recalled that people were hesitant to enter the event at first, as they were unsure of the rules and the amount of bacon they needed to consume.

“Once people started partaking in the event’s other offerings, individuals gained some confidence, or maybe they were just getting hungry,” Erway remarked. “Either way, the contestants realized that it wasn’t about how much you can consume, but how quickly you can eat a half-pound of cooked bacon.”

She noted 10 contestants will be randomly selected from all the bacon-eating entries and the contestant who finishes his or her plate first will be declared the winner and awarded this year’s trophy.

Erway said proceeds from the two activities will benefit programs and services offered by the YWCA Bradford.

For more information on the events, to register or purchase tickets online visit www.ywcabradford.org or stop in at the YW office at 24 West Corydon St.