March 7-9
United States Championship Cheese Contest
GREEN BAY, WIS.
The biennial competition returns to America’s Dairyland to crown the greatest curds, butter, and yogurt in the nation. On the final day, toast the top winner at the contest’s public tasting event.
uschampioncheese.org
March 10-11
Boston Beer and Cheese Fest
BOSTON
Nosh curds and sip suds at this event featuring 25 beer and cider makers and 12 creameries and affineurs from around New England. New this year: charcuterie samples!
drinkcraftbeer.com
March 18-19
Oregon Cheese Festival
CENTRAL POINT, ORE.
This PNW curd celebration now spans two full days—all the better to squeeze in more tasting, learning, and sipping at Rogue Creamery.
oregoncheeseguild.org
March 24-26
California’s Artisan Cheese Festival
PETALUMA, CALIF.
Beyond the festival itself, don’t miss the newly expanded farm tours; a jovial cheesemonger competition; and, new for 2017, a night dedicated to pairing local curds with spirits.
artisancheesefestival.com
April 9
CheeseTopia
MINNEAPOLIS
This traveling Midwest curd celebration stops in the larger Twin City this year. Meet and greet nearly 50 makers from around the Great lakes Region—and taste their cheeses, of course.
April 11
National Fondue Day
Our recipe for Fondue Cheesy Bread makes this timeless party food portable: culturecheesemag.com/fondue-bread.
April 12
National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day
Eat everyone’s favorite sandwich for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a late-night snack—find around-the-clock recipes at culturecheesemag.com/grilled-cheese-spectacular.
April 22
Raw-Milk Cheese Appreciation Day
Celebrate raw-milk cheese with various events around with various events around the world hosted by Oldways Cheese Coalition and its partners.
oldwayscheese.org.
April 28-30
South African Cheese Festival
STELLENBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA
This three-day outdoor event boasts not only a wide variety of wedges and wheels but also unique accompaniments: local wine, spicy preserves, and indigenous teas, to name a few.
cheesefestival.co.za
April 29-30
Artisan Cheese Fair
MELTON MOWBRAY, ENGLAND
Sample some of the UK’s rarest cheeses alongside wine, cake, beer, chutney, meat pies, and more, or stop by a guided tasting or educational class.
artisancheesefair.co.uk
May 14
Mother’s Day
Give a doe, ewe, or cow a thankful pet today. Remember: Without them there would be no cheese. (And call your own mom, too.)
Photo credits: Andrew Purcell, Rogue Creamery, Eric Isselee/Shutterstock.com
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