Canadian Cheese Grand Prix winners will be in the spotlight at the fifth anniversary Great Canadian Cheese Festival in Picton, Ontario, on June 6-7, 2015.
An expected 5,000 consumers will be able to taste and purchase about 150 different cheeses made by artisan producers from Newfoundland to British Columbia-making it the biggest cheese show in Canada.
New for 2015, Makers+Mongers, the Festival's popular Saturday evening function celebrating the men and women who make and sell artisan cheese and artisan foods, will be expanded on a Cheeseburgers in Paradise theme and feature a Jimmy Buffett tribute band.
Cheesemakers, artisan food producers, small-batch wineries and craft breweries and other exhibitors and vendors have reserved 125 booths making the event at the Picton Fairgrounds the biggest cheese show in Canada and one of the biggest artisan foods markets in Ontario.
In addition to cheese and more cheese, artisan foods and beverages, the Artisan Cheese & Fine Food Fair on Saturday and Sunday, June 6 and 7, features:
- New for 2015: Winners of the prestigious Canadian Cheese Grand Prix sponsored by Dairy Farmers will be in the spotlight-and available for sampling and purchase.
- VQA wine for sale: Sales of VQA wines by the bottle or case by wineries as part of the pilot project initiated by the Ontario government to promote locally-grown wines.
- New topics: Seminars in the All you Need Is Cheese® Annex presented by Dairy Farmers of Canada as a bonus feature of the Artisan Cheese & Fine Food Fair. Learn about the best in Canadian cheese at special presentations conducted by leading cheese educator Deborah Levy.
- The Festival's own Cheese Dairy Farm featuring cows, goats, sheep and Yvette, the sweetest water buffalo you'll ever meet.
- A Food Court featuring tasty eats on a cheese theme.
- Sunday, June 7, is Family Day at the Cheese Fair with children admitted free when accompanied by an adult.
Cheese Fair adult admission includes:
- Access to all sponsors, exhibitors and vendors–with about 375 products to sample
- 10 tasting tickets for cheese, artisan foods, wine and beer, valued at $10
- Souvenir Festival insulated tote for your purchases, valued at $10
- Glass for sampling wine, beer and cider
- Admittance on first-come, first-served basis to cheese seminars presented by Dairy Farmers of Canada
- Festival Dairy Farm, Food Court and FREE parking.
The advance ticket price is $45 per person. At the event, the price is $50. There is no fee charged on online ticket purchases. Youth and child tickets for the Cheese Fair are available. All other Festival events are age of majority only.
The festival also offers a Tutored Tasting program, special events like Gastronomy on the Farm with Jamie Kennedy and a Cooking with Cheese Class, Cheese Tours-one in Prince Edward County, the other in Bay of Quinte Region-and Makers+Mongers.
The Great Canadian Cheese Festival is produced by Cheese Lover Productions with the generous support of Celebrate Ontario. Dairy Farmers of Canada is the lead sponsor, Prince Edward County and Bay of Quinte Region are presenting sponsors.
Picton Fairgrounds is located in the heart of Prince Edward County, south of Belleville in Bay of Quinte Region. One hour from Kingston, two hours from Toronto, three hours from Ottawa and New York State, and less than four hours from Montreal.
Advance tickets are sold online at www.CheeseFestival.ca. They are also sold at the event but save money and avoid the line-up at the door by purchasing tickets in advance.
Source: The Great Canadian Cheese Festival
