Throughout the day, enjoy a carefully curated selection of Maine food trucks alongside opportunities to sample and purchase Maine craft beverages—perfect for discovering your next favorite pairing.
Every ticket includes an insulated festival goody bag with a reusable gel pack, making it easy to keep your cheese purchases fresh while you explore.
Festival entertainment features live performances by acclaimed Maine singer-songwriters Jud Caswell and Sigrid Sibley, providing the perfect soundtrack for a day celebrating Maine’s food, farms, and makers.
Explore a full schedule of educational demonstrations and interactive presentations, including:
- Fresh Ricotta: A Live Cheesemaking Demo with Jean Koons, Maine Cheese Guild President, featuring a step-by-step demonstration of crafting fresh ricotta and tips for making it at home.
- Melted Magic: A Maine Fondue Experience, showcasing how to create rich, flavorful fondue using Maine cheeses, complete with serving ideas and creative pairings.
- The Great Maine Cheese Swap, a fun discussion comparing iconic international cheeses with exceptional Maine-made alternatives that may become your new favorites.
- What Does It Take to Have a Creamery in Maine? An open conversation with Maine cheesemakers about starting and operating a creamery, caring for animals, producing artisan cheese, and building a successful farm business.
Enjoy the limited-ticket Unexpected Pairings Tasting Experience at 3:30 p.m. then celebrate with the announcement of the 2026 Maine Cheese Competition winners.
Families will enjoy the Children’s Pavilion, featuring Maine Dairy &
Nutrition Council’s interactive educational exhibit and a popular Live Cow Exhibit.
Additional demonstrations, tastings, and educational programming are currently being finalized and will be announced as they are confirmed.
Whether you’re meeting Maine’s cheesemakers, sampling award-winning cheeses, learning new culinary skills, discovering local beverages, or simply enjoying a memorable day with family and friends, the Maine Cheese Festival delivers an unforgettable celebration of Maine’s vibrant cheese community.
