MONROE - With an event dating back to 1914, many time-honored traditions like cheese tasting, live music, dairy farm tours, Swiss entertainment, and parades will be part of the Green County Cheese Days festivities in downtown Monroe Friday, Sept. 14 through Sunday, Sept. 16.
Among the favorites that festival-goers expect at the Cheese Days festivities, there will be a variety of new activities and entertainment options.
New entertaiment options include Sarah the Cheese Lady, who will carve a sculpture from a giant block of Cheddar cheese, as well as some smaller carvings from locally made cheese, like Gruyere from Emmi Roth Kase. Sarah the Cheese Lady appears at the festival courtesy of Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.
Sara Hill, Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board's Culinary Manager of Cheese Education, will be teaming up with local cheesemakers for two new sessions in the Colony Brands Hospitality Tent on Saturday, Sept. 15. "Cheese 101" will give audience members the chance to taste and compare different styles from the eight families of Wisconsin cheese. During "Artisan Cheeses and Pairing Partners," participants will discover how to pair artisan cheeses with other tastes - like fruits, nuts, and chocolates - to bring out their best flavors.
New bands are on the schedule this year, including polka dancing with Barefoot Becky on Friday, Sept. 14 and the Brewhaus Polka Kings on Saturday, Sept. 15. The Friday evening street dance features Boogie and the Yo-yo'z. On Saturday night, the Matriarchs will perform traditional and contemporary folk songs. Midlife Crisis will perform Saturday evening on the Main Stage with oldies, mash-ups, polka medleys and non-stop party tunes.
Monroe Public Library will host a satellite location for "Library on the Square" over the weekend - with a "Live from Cheese Days" webcam and Internet access for posting social media updates. They'll also offer genealogy resources for visitors researching their ancestral roots - Swiss or otherwise.
Race fans can stop in at the Nascar-themed Colony Brands Tent, sponsored through their own RaceTeamGear.com website. Throughout the weekend, see race cars and meet drivers Nathan Haseleu, Jeremy Miller and Keith Steele for autographs and photos.
Also new this year is the Cheese Days mascot named "Wedgie," with his red Swiss beanie and "cheesy" dance moves.
With an additional dining tent area being added this year, there will be more space for guests to sit and enjoy their favorite festival foods. New on the menu is walking tacos, deep-fried cookie dough and cookie dough sundaes, Jambalaya platters, ribbon fries, Po'boys and cinnabuns.
More information is available at www.cheesedays.com. To request a brochure by mail, call (800) 307-7208.
Among the favorites that festival-goers expect at the Cheese Days festivities, there will be a variety of new activities and entertainment options.
New entertaiment options include Sarah the Cheese Lady, who will carve a sculpture from a giant block of Cheddar cheese, as well as some smaller carvings from locally made cheese, like Gruyere from Emmi Roth Kase. Sarah the Cheese Lady appears at the festival courtesy of Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.
Sara Hill, Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board's Culinary Manager of Cheese Education, will be teaming up with local cheesemakers for two new sessions in the Colony Brands Hospitality Tent on Saturday, Sept. 15. "Cheese 101" will give audience members the chance to taste and compare different styles from the eight families of Wisconsin cheese. During "Artisan Cheeses and Pairing Partners," participants will discover how to pair artisan cheeses with other tastes - like fruits, nuts, and chocolates - to bring out their best flavors.
New bands are on the schedule this year, including polka dancing with Barefoot Becky on Friday, Sept. 14 and the Brewhaus Polka Kings on Saturday, Sept. 15. The Friday evening street dance features Boogie and the Yo-yo'z. On Saturday night, the Matriarchs will perform traditional and contemporary folk songs. Midlife Crisis will perform Saturday evening on the Main Stage with oldies, mash-ups, polka medleys and non-stop party tunes.
Monroe Public Library will host a satellite location for "Library on the Square" over the weekend - with a "Live from Cheese Days" webcam and Internet access for posting social media updates. They'll also offer genealogy resources for visitors researching their ancestral roots - Swiss or otherwise.
Race fans can stop in at the Nascar-themed Colony Brands Tent, sponsored through their own RaceTeamGear.com website. Throughout the weekend, see race cars and meet drivers Nathan Haseleu, Jeremy Miller and Keith Steele for autographs and photos.
Also new this year is the Cheese Days mascot named "Wedgie," with his red Swiss beanie and "cheesy" dance moves.
With an additional dining tent area being added this year, there will be more space for guests to sit and enjoy their favorite festival foods. New on the menu is walking tacos, deep-fried cookie dough and cookie dough sundaes, Jambalaya platters, ribbon fries, Po'boys and cinnabuns.
More information is available at www.cheesedays.com. To request a brochure by mail, call (800) 307-7208.