Carolina Mountain Cheese Festival

Tickets for the WNC Cheese Trail’s second annual Carolina Mountain Cheese Fest are on sale starting today through the festival website, mountaincheesefest.com.  Children under 12 are free. The fest will take place on Sunday, April 24, at Highland Brewing Company in Asheville N.C. from 12 – 4 p.m.

This fun filled festival will include hands-on activities for kids and adults, panel discussions, workshops, vendors and cheesemakers. Tickets for additional beer and wine pairings are also on sale through the festival website.

The Carolina Mountain Cheese Fest advances the mission of the WNC Cheese Trail, a 501(c)6 non-profit organization that promotes the production and sale of local cheese, facilitates consumer education and encourages tourism to the region. The festival highlights WNC Cheese Trail cheesemakers and members with numerous opportunities for festivalgoers to learn more about, taste and purchase local, artisan cheeses.

The family-friendly festival will also include a wide variety of producers from the industry such as bread and crackers, meats, pickles and jams. Last year’s festival included over 20 cheese makers, 15 other food industry vendors and was attended by over 1500 festivalgoers.

The WNC Cheese Trail was formed in 2012 by a small group of independent artisan cheesemakers. The primary tool of the organization is the WNC Cheese Trail map that was designed and printed in 2013. The purpose of the map is to encourage locals and tourists to seek out member cheesemakers to buy handmade, traditionally crafted cheeses direct from the producer.

For more information contact Rachel English Brown at rerin.english@gmail.com.

-Submitted by Rachel English Brown