It's hard to believe it has been 16 years since the first California Artisan Cheese Festival launched at the Sheraton in Petaluma. It was and is a huge deal for showcasing the then-fledgling Sonoma/Marin farmstead cheese movement and pairings with regional farm-to-table offerings and brews. Annual tours, busing hundreds of cheese lovers from around the world on the back roads of the region to taste at source bring back fond memories of flavor discoveries and fun folk.
I've attended several fantastic dinners over the years during the Cheese Fest, including a wonderful beer/cheese pairing dinner at the Sheraton a few years back. The pandemic hit festivals and events hard. Cheesemakers are hanging in there, some more successfully than others after the food tourism industry was hit like everyone else.
And so it's absolutely fantastic to hear that California’s premier cheese festival, the California Artisan Cheese Festival has announced that it is returning on Saturday May 7th, 2022 for a one-day in-person event where guests will be able to sample over 100 award-winning cheeses and other local artisan goods.
Tickets are now on sale for the crowd-favorite Artisan Cheese Tasting & Marketplace which will take place from 12-4pm at the vast Grace Pavilion at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds Event Center in Santa Rosa.
And new this year, the footprint of the Festival will be expanded to include the adjoining outdoor Shade Park area so guests will have more room to enjoy all that the festival has to offer, including live entertainment by local Sonoma County-based Jazz band, King Street Giants.
“We are incredibly fortunate to be able to offer support and recognition for our amazing local cheesemaking community with the return of the California Artisan Cheese Festival, which has become one of the country’s most anticipated annual events for cheese lovers and foodies,” said Anthea Stolz, Executive Director of the California Artisan Cheese Guild.
“And because of the tough circumstances over the last two years, we are extremely grateful that we can come back and give folks the opportunity to safely attend a beloved event while supporting California farmers and cheesemakers who have had a tough go of it throughout the pandemic.”
For the last two years, the Festival pivoted to an online event in order to continue supporting artisan cheesemakers and farmers and this year’s much anticipated return will allow local cheese lovers the opportunity to once again gather in person. By offering the same number of tickets but providing a much larger space to gather, the festival organizers hope guests will feel that they may comfortably and safely sample and purchase cheese and other goodies from a variety of their favorite vendors.
“The Artisan Cheese Tasting & Marketplace has always been considered the “grand finale” of the Festival,” said Judy Groverman-Walker, the Event Producer of the California Artisan Cheese Festival. “Because this fan-favorite event gives local cheese enthusiasts the opportunity to not only taste but also purchase new, limited-production, and rare artisan cheeses as well as other amazing products, we thought this would be the best event for folks to show their support of local food purveyors.”
General admission tickets are $60 each. Child tickets are $30 for kids 5-12 years old.
The Artisan Cheese Festival is considered a mega-event by the state of California, so in accordance with their requirements, all attendees must provide proof of Covid-19 vaccination upon entry. State and County Covid-19 guidelines are constantly evolving, and so the California Artisan Cheese Company will continue to closely monitor and adopt these changes to ensure a safe event for all involved.
**Specific details on participating cheesemakers and other businesses to be announced soon.
For more updates, tickets and other details about the California Artisan Cheese Festival visit http://www.artisancheesefestival.com/.
Generous sponsors of the Artisan Cheese Festival include American AgCredit, Beehive Cheese Company, Cowgirl Creamery, Cypress Grove, Donald and Maureen Green Foundation, Edible Marin & Wine Country, Exchange Bank, Formaticum, Lace House Linen, Nicasio Valley Cheese, Oliver’s Markets, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co., Real California Milk, Rustic Bakery, Sierra Nevada Cheese Co., Tony’s Fine Foods, and Whole Foods Market.
A 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, the California Artisan Cheese Festival strives to increase cheese appreciation, educate consumers about artisan cheeses, support the cheesemaking community and its sustainability and celebrate the creations of California’s many farmers and cheesemakers. The festival began in March 2007 as the first-ever, weekend-long celebration and exploration of handcrafted cheeses, foods, wines and beers from California. In keeping with its dedication to the community, the Artisan Cheese Festival has donated more than $145,000 in grants to nonprofit partners that support local sustainable agriculture including the California Artisan Cheese Guild. For more information about the California Artisan Cheese Festival, visit http://www.artisancheesefestival.com/ or follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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