MADISON - The Fourth Annual Wisconsin Cheese Originals Festival is set for Friday, Nov. 9 through Saturday, Nov. 10 at the Monona Terrace, with the Meet the Cheesemaker Gala set for Friday night.
The Meet the Cheesemaker Gala, the keystone event of the two-day annual festival, expands into the Monona Terrace Ballroom to accommodate the more than 40 dairy artisans.
The event draws more than 1,000 people to Madison each year to sample Wisconsin's best artisan cheeses.
Similar to last year, the gala will be ticketed in two time frames, allowing everyone to personally meet and greet cheesemakers. A maximum of 300 tickets will be sold for each session, which run from 6 to 8 p.m. and from 8 to 10 p.m.
New this year, a half dozen local food artisans will join the cheesemakers in sampling product, including artisan chocolate, honey, crackers, meats and preserves. Almost all products will be offered for sale by Metcalfe's Market in a special marketplace inside the gala. Attendees will be able to taste and then purchase their favorite cheeses and artisan foods.
The two-day festival includes all-day Friday creamery tours, the Friday night gala, Saturday educational sessions and Saturday night cheesemaker dinners.
Tickets to all festival events go on sale to the public at 7 a.m. Monday, Sept. 24. Members of Wisconsin Cheese Originals may purchase tickets one week earlier. All events sell out in advance. More information is available at www.wicheesefest.com. For a complete lineup of the cheesemakers, companies and cheeses, visit www.wicheesefest.com/meet-the-cheesemaker.
The Meet the Cheesemaker Gala, the keystone event of the two-day annual festival, expands into the Monona Terrace Ballroom to accommodate the more than 40 dairy artisans.
The event draws more than 1,000 people to Madison each year to sample Wisconsin's best artisan cheeses.
Similar to last year, the gala will be ticketed in two time frames, allowing everyone to personally meet and greet cheesemakers. A maximum of 300 tickets will be sold for each session, which run from 6 to 8 p.m. and from 8 to 10 p.m.
New this year, a half dozen local food artisans will join the cheesemakers in sampling product, including artisan chocolate, honey, crackers, meats and preserves. Almost all products will be offered for sale by Metcalfe's Market in a special marketplace inside the gala. Attendees will be able to taste and then purchase their favorite cheeses and artisan foods.
The two-day festival includes all-day Friday creamery tours, the Friday night gala, Saturday educational sessions and Saturday night cheesemaker dinners.
Tickets to all festival events go on sale to the public at 7 a.m. Monday, Sept. 24. Members of Wisconsin Cheese Originals may purchase tickets one week earlier. All events sell out in advance. More information is available at www.wicheesefest.com. For a complete lineup of the cheesemakers, companies and cheeses, visit www.wicheesefest.com/meet-the-cheesemaker.
