We are counting down the days until summer! Here are all the cheese-forward events happening across the country in the upcoming months.
*Denotes a trade-only event
MAY
Knoxville Cheese Fest
April 28 – May 4 | Knoxville, Tennessee
A weeklong festival of all things cheese, the Knoxville Cheese Fest will have grilled cheese and cider pairing workshops, French cheese tastings, mini golf, and more. Experience local businesses such as Sparrow Wine Bar, Euphoric Cheese Shop, and Lilou Brasserie.
Cayuga County Wine and Cheese Festival
May 3-4 | Owasco, New York
This weekend festival in the heart of the Finger Lakes will offer live cheesemaking demonstrations from local makers in addition to “cheese-flavored popcorn and other cheesy food for lunch.” Plus, there will be a cheese giveaway. Admission is free for all.
Counter Culture Tampa*
May 6 | Tampa, Florida
Next stop on our Counter Culture tour: Tampa. Join us to connect with the best cheesemakers, importers, mongers, and buyers from all over the world. Hear from Le Gruyère AOP, Grana Padano, and more.
Pickle & Grilled Cheese Festival
May 10-11 | Chantilly, Virginia
Northern Virginia’s Pickle & Grilled Cheese Festival is almost upon us. Try all the pickles—dill or hot, spears or sliced, classic cukes or peppers—and enjoy some melty grilled cheeses.
Counter Culture @ Cheese & Libations Expo*
May 16 | San Diego, California
Counter Culture is headed to San Diego’s Cheese & Libations Expo, which runs the Saturday and Sunday after Counter Culture too. Taste our curated charcuterie and accompaniments and attend talks from Vermont Creamery, Rumiano, and more. Catch us at Maker’s Night to cap off your day.
A selection of Wisconsin cheeses available to try at the Wisconsin Cheese Festival. Photo courtesy of Travel Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Cheese Festival
May 16-18 | Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Cheese Festival joins together cheesemakers and cheese enthusiasts alike. You’ll have a chance to try Wisconsin’s famous cheese curds, artisan cheese selections from Alp and Dell, and tons of whiskey and craft beer. While noshing Wisconsin’s best cheeses, you can also jive to local bluegrass and folk bands.
Phoenix Mac & Cheese Festival
May 24 | Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix’s first-ever mac and cheese festival will take place in the Diamondbacks’ Chase Field. Take part in french fry eating contests or make laps around the ballpark to meet local vendors and feast on all the mac and cheese you can eat.
Great Canadian Cheese Festival
May 24-25 | Ontario, Canada
Dive into Canadian dairy and cheese at the Great Canadian Cheese Festival. Taste award-winning Canadian cheeses or attend professional seminars to learn more about the international dairy trade. The festival is kid-friendly with cheesemaking sessions for teens.
JUNE
Great Wisconsin Cheese Festival
June 6-8 | Little Chute, Wisconsin
The Great Wisconsin Cheese Festival is a weekend-long celebration of the state’s vibrant cheese culture. This event is perfect for the family with amusement park rides, a petting zoo, and entertaining performances. There will be live music and tons of delicious fare. Compete in the Cheese Curd Eating Contest or line up to watch the annual parade.
Pine Island Cheese Festival
June 6-8 | Pine Island, Minnesota
This three-day family-friendly festival has been around since 1936 and hosts local food booths (featuring cheese, of course!), live music, carnival games, and a parade. Taste lots of cheese made in Minnesota and learn more about the history of the Pine Island community.
Beer, Bacon, and Cheese Festival
June 14 | New Glarus, Wisconsin
The Beer, Bacon, and Cheese Festival combines all three of our favorite things. Festival-goers can imbibe some of the Midwest’s best craft brews as well as taste specialty meats (not just bacon!), and obviously our favorite—artisan cheese.
The Kentucky Beer Cheese Festival celebrates Kentucky’s unique contribution to the cheese world.
Beer Cheese Festival
June 14 | Winchester, Kentucky
This festival is a celebration of beer cheese, the salty and spicy spread that originated near Winchester, Kentucky almost a century ago. There will be both amateur and professional contests for the best beer cheese recipe.
Leelanau Cheese Fest
June 14 | Suttons Bay, Michigan
Dive into Michigan’s finest cheeses at the Leelanau Cheese Fest. Learn how to make mozzarella or participate in the Cheese Olympics. Plus, the event is kid-friendly, with activities like face-painting and cheesy crafts. Don’t forget to get a picture with Daisy the Cow!
Michigan’s Mac and Cheese Festival
June 14 | Traverse City, Michigan
Michigan’s Mac and Cheese Festival at Turtle Creek Stadium features tons of food and drink, live music, and a macaroni eating contest. This event sells out every year, so be sure to buy your tickets early! Also, your kid could have the opportunity to judge the mac and cheese contest—details here.
Cheese Capital Festival
June 27-28 | Plymouth, Wisconsin
Mark your calendars for the third annual Cheese Capital Festival in Plymouth. There will be a TransAm Speed Tour Car Parade, a cheese wedge race in the Mullet River, and bouncy houses for the kiddos. Don’t miss out on all the live music and local vendors.
Cheese Curd Festival
June 27-28 | Ellsworth, Wisconsin
Have your fill on deep-fried cheese curds and local hard cider plus enjoy tons of local performances. There will be a vintage car show and a marketplace chock full of art, accessories, and more.
JULY
A cheese Eiffel Tower replica by Lactalis at the 2024 American Cheese Society Conference in Buffalo, New York. Photo by Alana Pedalino.
American Cheese Society Conference*
July 23-26 | Sacramento, California
The annual American Cheese Society Conference is taking place in Sacramento this year. Network with other cheese professionals, attend the keynote speaker session to learn more about family farms and local dairies, and go on the Cheese Crawl.
Atlanta Ice Cream Festival
July 26 | Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta’s 15th annual Ice Cream Festival is right around the corner. There will be an Ice Cream Eating Competition, wellness talks, cardio dance parties, and lots more. Admission is free.
AUGUST
Sampling cheeses at the Vermont Cheesemakers Festival. Photo courtesy of the Vermont Cheesemakers Festival.
Vermont Cheesemakers Festival
August 10 | Shelburne, Vermont
Celebrate Vermont’s cheese culture at the 13th Annual Vermont Cheesemakers Festival. There will be networking for those in the trade and tons of taste-testing at the historic Shelburne Farms Breeding Barn.
Claire Fan
Claire Fan is an editorial intern for Culture Magazine and is based in Providence, Rhode Island, where she is a senior at Brown University. Claire has dabbled in recipe testing, food styling, and writing and her work can be found on her blog saltandsesame.com. She can often be found knitting, reading fiction, or eating sandwiches.
