11 Wisconsin Cheese Festivals | The Cheese Professor

When bringing you a lineup of American Cheese Festivals, we made the seemingly scandalous decision to downplay those festivals occurring in America’s dairy state, Wisconsin. Why? Because Wisconsin has so many cheese festivals as to warrant its own lineup. For anyone who knows Wisconsin even a little, you won’t be surprised that the cheese fervor there is very real, and also to see that beer and bacon play frequent supporting roles in the state’s myriad cheese celebrations as well.

Cheese festivals occur all over the U.S., but while most states are lucky if there’s any kind of cheese happening beyond a mac and cheese or grilled cheese cook off — and let’s be honest, we’re happy to see those, too — Wisconsin boasts at least 11 different annual festivals for residents and visitors to get their cheese on. Presented in calendar order, here’s a rundown of Wisconsin’s curdy festivities, with everything you need to know about how and where to celebrate with the nation’s official cheeseheads.

Beer, Cheese, and Beyond Fest

January, Madison

Madison’s Alliant Energy Center is a proper expo-sized venue, fitting for a day-long celebration of two of the state’s major culinary passions. While beer is the star of the show here, we’re certainly happy that cheese gets to be in the room where it happens, with local vendors such as Meister Cheese and Harmony Cheese onsite to provide piles of curds and cubes for sampling. If photos from past festivals are any indication, this party is also an opportunity for a bit of flashy or funny attire, making it the best place to possibly spot a cheesehead cap outside of a Green Bay Packers game.

Dairy State Cheese and Beer Festival

April, Kenosha

Beer and cheese are a good cause in their own right, but the Dairy State Cheese and Beer Festival was developed as a fundraiser to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha. The afternoon-long event is a sampling extravaganza, with brews from a variety of breweries and home brew societies, and cheese provided by local vendor The Brat Shop. Samples from Vern’s Cheese Inc., Jim’s Cheese, and Laack Bros. Cheese Co. are available to taste and buy.

Between the Bluffs Beer, Wine, and Cheese Festival

April, LaCrosse

We’ve gone from beer and cheese, cheese and beer, to beer, wine, and cheese. My, but we heart Wisconsin! (It’s not in the headline, but we also have it on good authority that charcuterie is also part of the deal here.) Now in its 22nd year, what began as a small event at a local brewery is now a celebration of the entire La Crosse Region. The day-long festival takes place at the La Crosse Oktoberfest Grounds, and past cheese and charcuterie vendors have included Wisconsin Fried Cheese Curds, Nordic Creamery, and Swiss Family Smokehouse.

Wisconsin Cheese Festival

May, Lake Geneva

Will there be beer? Of course there will be beer — it’s Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Cheese Festival, however, is a true celebration of dairy, as a gathering of “cheese makers and cheese lovers, farmers, artisans, and vendors,” including Say Cheese Curd Company, The Cheese Box, and Alp and Dell. The three-day festival at a concert venue includes samples, naturally, but also other cheese-centric activities such as cheese sculpting demonstrations, cheese trivia, and cheese bingo.

Great Wisconsin Cheese Festival

June, Little Chute

There’s the Wisconsin Cheese Festival, and then there’s the Great Wisconsin Cheese Festival, not to be confused. Known colloquially as CheeseFest and held in early June, the three-day Great Wisconsin Cheese Festival is a music festival with a strong cheese presence. Consider events such as a Big Cheese Parade, cheese carving, an abundance of cheese and gourmet mac and cheese samples, and even a cheese curd eating contest.

Cheese Curd Festival

June, Ellsworth

As one month rolls into the next in Wisconsin, so too do its cheese festivals progress through a natural course, celebrating every aspect of the state’s cheese industry. And what would Wisconsin be without a Cheese Curd Festival — the ultimate in good, squeaky-clean cheese fun? Held in Ellsworth, Wisconsin, the two-day festival celebrates the town as the state’s Cheese Curd Capital. Expect every manner of cheese curds to taste, including deep fried versions, creative curd dishes, and even dessert curds. Naturally there’s also a cheese curd eating contest, as well as several rounds of a craft beer and cheese curd pairing competition.

New Glarus Beer, Bacon, and Cheese Festival

June, New Glarus

Considered “America’s Little Switzerland,” the town of New Glarus, Wisconsin, rolls out the beer, bacon, and cheese for an afternoon in June, simultaneous to its annual Polkafest. (In effect, the town also rolls out the barrel along with the beer, bacon, and cheese.) Specific vendors are announced the week of the event, but expect to see Alp & Dell and the Chalet Cheese Haus, as well as other artisan cheese makers and local purveyors of Swiss Cheese Pie.

Cheese Capital Festival

June, Plymouth

It would seem that many cities in Wisconsin could claim to be the cheese capital, but actual statistics point to Plymouth. In 1918, Plymouth was the location of the National Cheese Exchange, which set commodity prices for bulk cheese, and today Plymouth is the home of major cheese companies such as Sartori, Sargento, and Great Lakes Cheese, among others. According to the Cheese Capital Festival materials, the mission of the two-day festival is to honor this cheesetastic history. In addition to samples, a cheese-themed parade, and a cheese eating contest, the festival also features a foam cheese wedge race on the Mullet River.

Colby Cheese Days

July, Colby

Colby, Wisconsin is one of the few places in the U.S. that can claim a namesake style of cheese, a definite reason for celebration. The annual Colby Cheese Days are more a three-day community fair than actual cheese festival, but cheese definitely still has a major place on the marquee. A cheese parade, naturally, is a highlight on the schedule (the third, so far in the calendar year, for those keeping score,) as well as the World Championship Cheese Curd Throw.

Art of Cheese Festival

September, Madison

One of the country’s largest cheese festivals, now in its second iteration, Wisconsin’s Art of Cheese Festival takes place over three days in September, celebrating a plethora of the state’s cheese makers. In addition to a half-day cheese sampling fair, and evening Wisconsin Cheese Ball, the festival features many ticketed events like cheese outings and pairing workshops. Some of the most creative options include Art of Pairing Cheese and Bloody Marys, and Art of Pairing Cheese Curds, Cocktails, and Mocktails. There’s even a cheese-themed golf outing, and cheese yoga.

Drink Wisconsinbly Curd Fest

October, Milwaukee

With points for excellent word/curd-play, Drink Wisconsinbly is the name of a Milwaukee pub that hosts an annual tribute to Wisconsin’s favorite squeaky snack, the cheese curd. Local restaurants and producers, including Big Moo Cheese, are invited to share their curd-forward fare at the one-day event. A polka band strikes up the mood, and a tattoo artist is on hand for flash tattoos — a perfect opportunity to secure your lifelong commitment to dairy appreciation.