Sixth Annual Great Canadian Cheese Festival Takes Place In Picton On June 4-5

Great Canadian Cheese Festival Deli May 31, 2016

What a huge selection of artisan cheese!

Twenty-three category winners at the recent Canadian Cheese Awards, including the Canadian Cheese of the Year, Avonlea Clothbound Cheddar, will be in the spotlight at The Great Canadian Cheese Festival. Plus another 100 more artisan and farmstead cheeses from coast to coast.

Clearly, the biggest selection of the best cheeses ever available for sampling and purchase in one place, that's what cheese lovers will find at the sixth annual Cheese Festival in Picton on June 4-5.

Close to 40 Canadian cheese producers, including the crème of the crème of Quebec, will be on hand to share their passion and their stories with thousands of cheese lovers. There's even an opportunity to socialize with cheesemakers at Raclette Rave, the Saturday evening social highlight of the Festival.

Thanks to St. Albert Cheese Co-op, the first 1,000 ticket holders admitted on Saturday will enjoy a sample package of freshly made cheese curds. Soft and creamy, St. Albert curds have a delightful squeaky sound when chewed. On Sunday, the first 1,000 ticket holders will chowdown on grilled-cheese sandwiches freshly made by competing chefs using a blend of 14 award-winning cheeses. Yes, 14!

Also on Sunday, there is free admission to watch County chefs compete in the Road to Royal Chef Challenge being hosted by Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in conjunction with the Festival.

But there is more to #TGCCF than cheese, in fact, more than 500 foods and beverages are on offer. Included in price of admission: informative cheese seminars presented by Dairy Farmers of Canada, artisan foods galore, fine wine, craft beer, crisp cider, plus a souvenir tote, a souvenir glass, live music, dairy farm animals, food court and FREE parking.

Tickets are sold at the door but buying them online in advance means speedy access to all the deliciousness via the Express Entrance. Admission is $50 per person, seniors, $45. Children under 15 admitted free. Click to order tickets online.

Want to save a pile of money? Come as a group! http://cheesefestival.ca/tickets/groups-and-tours/

Here are the award-winning cheeses you will be able to sample and purchase at the Cheese Festival on June 4-5:

 

CHEESE OF THE YEAR – FROMAGE D'EXCEPTION

Avonlea Clothbound Cheddar

Cows Creamery

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island/L'Île-du-Prince-Édouard

MAIN CATEGORIES – CATÉGORIES PRINCIPALES

FRESH CHEESE – FROMAGE FRAIS

SEMI-SOFT CHEESE – FROMAGE À PÂTE SEMI-FERME

FIRM CHEESE – FROMAGE À PÂTE FERME

FIRM CHEESE WITH HOLES – FROMAGE À PÂTE FERME AVEC OUVERTURES

  • Oka l'Artisan – Agropur, Saint-Hubert, Québec

MIXED RIND CHEESE – FROMAGE À CROÛTE MIXTE

  • Zoey, Lenberg Farms Classic Reserve by Celebrity – Mariposa Dairy, Lindsay, Ontario

BLOOMY RIND CHEESE – PÂTE MOLLE À CROÛTE FLEURIE

OLD CHEDDAR (aged from 9 to 18 months) – CHEDDAR FORT (entre 9 et 18 mois d'affinage)

  • Lindsay Bandaged Goat Cheddar, Lenberg Farms Classic Reserve by Celebrity – Mariposa Dairy, Lindsay, Ontario

AGED CHEDDAR (aged more than 18 months) – CHEDDAR VIEILLI (plus de 18 mois d'affinage)

  • Avonlea Clothbound Cheddar – Cows Creamery, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

GOUDA CHEESE – FROMAGE GOUDA

BLUE CHEESE – FROMAGE À PÂTE PERSILLÉE

FLAVOURED CHEESE – FROMAGE AROMATISÉ

 

SPECIAL AWARDS – PRIX SPÉCIAUX

 

BEST COW CHEESE – MEILLEUR FROMAGE DE LAIT DE VACHE

  • Appletree Smoked Cheddar – Cows Creamery, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

BEST GOAT CHEESE – MEILLEUR FROMAGE DE LAIT DE CHÈVRE

  • Lindsay Bandaged Goat Cheddar, Lenberg Farms Classic Reserve by Celebrity – Mariposa Dairy, Lindsay, Ontario

BEST SHEEP CHEESE – MEILLEUR FROMAGE DE LAIT DE BREBIS

BEST BLENDED-MILK CHEESE – MEILLEUR FROMAGE DE LAIT MIXTE

  • Zoey, Lenberg Farms Classic Reserve by Celebrity – Mariposa Dairy, Lindsay, Ontario

BEST FARMSTEAD CHEESE – MEILLEUR FROMAGE FERMIER

BEST ORGANIC CHEESE – MEILLEUR FROMAGE BIOLOGIQUE

BEST RAW-MILK CHEESE – MEILLEUR FROMAGE DE LAIT CRU

BEST NEW CHEESE – MEILLEUR NOUVEAU FROMAGE (Introduced to market in 2015/Mis en marché en 2015)

  • Zoey, Lenberg Farms Classic Reserve by Celebrity – Mariposa Dairy, Lindsay, Ontario

 

REGIONAL AWARDS – PRIX RÉGIONAUX

BEST B.C. CHEESE – MEILLEUR FROMAGE DE LA COLOMBIE BRITANNIQUE

BEST ONTARIO CHEESE – MEILLEUR FROMAGE DE L'ONTARIO

  • Tania, Lenberg Farms Classic Reserve by Celebrity – Mariposa Dairy, Lindsay, Ontario

BEST QUEBEC CHEESE – MEILLEUR FROMAGE DU QUÉBEC

BEST ATLANTIC CANADA CHEESE – MEILLEUR FROMAGE DES PROVINCES ATLANTIQUES

  • Appletree Smoked Cheddar –Cows Creamery, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

The Great Canadian Cheese Festival is produced by Cheese Lover Productions with the generous support of Celebrate Ontario. Dairy Farmers of Canada is Diamond Sponsor, Prince Edward County is Gold Sponsor, Bay of Quinte Region is Principal Partner.

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.  

THE GREAT CANADIAN CHEESE FESTIVAL
June 4-5, 2016, Picton, Ontario
1.866.865.2628
http://www.cheesefestival.ca

The sixth annual Great Canadian Cheese Festival, the biggest artisan cheese show in Canada, takes place June 4-5, 2016, at Picton Fairgrounds in the heart of Ontario's must-visit Prince Edward County. For more information and tickets, go to CheeseFestival.ca or call 1.866.865.2628

Source: Great Canadian Cheese Festival