Join us, rain or shine, for the 2026 Carolina Mountain Cheese Fest to benefit the WNC Cheese Trail. Meet the makers and the milkers, explore the craft of cheesemaking, sample product, and buy lots of local cheese! We will have vendors from across the Cheese Trail including winemakers, specialty gourmet food and more! Please note: pets are not permitted at the festival.
When and Where: We invite you to the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina on October 11, 2026, when we'll be on the grounds of Oak and Grist Distilling Company in Black Mountain to celebrate southern cheese and support the WNC Cheese Trail.
You'll get to experience more delicious cheese this year! We have more additional ticket levels this year with less people at each level based on FAN feedback.
Cheese Fest Ticket Levels - OCTOBER 11TH AT OAK AND GRIST
11:30am: The Super Cheese Lover - 50 tickets only for $75. Includes a bag, drink ticket, a sticker, cheese tasting table and 30 extra minutes to shop and enjoy with no crowds.
12pm: VIP Cheesy - 150 tickets for $40 includes a bag and sticker and access to the cheese tasting table.
1pm: Big Cheese - 250 tickets for $35 -- sticker and access to the cheese tasting table
2:30p: Cheese Supporter 300 tickets for $20 -- don't worry.. we have some special cheese treats planned for you all.
AT THE DOOR ONLY 4p to 5pm Cheese tickets for $5-- Enjoy seeing our cheesemakers and friends, but you may wait a little longer in lines and have a little less cheese available to purchase.
Tickets are needed for those ages 10 years and up.
Parking at Oak and Grist is great and we will have more staff helping on this, but we still encourage car pooling &/or meeting up with friends nearby and using one car to get to the venue - especially if you want to taste their offerings.
We'll be updating our festival website regularly with information about the day's activities. We'll have a wide variety of family-fun activities, vendors from across the region, demos, workshops, competitions, farm animals and more!
Tickets proceeds benefit the WNC Cheese Trail and are non-refundable. Please know that if you are unable to use your tickets and cannot find another to use them, we assure you that WNC cheese makers value your contribution as an important way to support small artisanal businesses and help keep the local dairy industry alive and well.
Purchase entrance tickets here!
Interested in Volunteering or in Sponsorships? We've got several levels of sponsorships and would love to promote you. Please connect with us at [email protected]!
Ticket proceeds benefit the WNC Cheese Trail and are non-refundable. There has been a $1 fee to help with processing.
PLEASE NOTE - Pets are not permitted at the festival, except for service animals.
Thanks!!
