Cheese Curd Festival

media release: Ellsworth’s Cheese Curd Festival is held each year in June and celebrates our town’s designation as the Cheese Curd Capital of Wisconsin. Our very own Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery creates the tasty white morsels, which have earned worldwide acclaim.

Centrally located within Ellsworth’s East End Park, admission to the festival is free. You would be wise to wear your stretchy pants to fully enjoy the wide variety of creative cheese curd dishes, fresh hand-battered, deep-fried cheese curds and dipping sauces, and an exclusive top-secret dessert curd that rivals the mini donut!

Several guided tasting experiences offer you the opportunity to learn and engage with the crafters, cooks, and makers of our festival’s starring foods: Cheese, craft beer, wine, hard ciders, real dairy ice-cream, and authentic Sconnie BBQ.

When you’ve had your fill of food, sit back and enjoy an eclectic mix of music. A variety of regional acts, ranging from solo vocal artists and blues and folk acts, to tribute bands, perform throughout the festival. The Cheese Curd Eating Contest is great fun and keeps spectators on the edge of their seats cheering for their favorite competitors, which if you’re feeling adventurous, could be you!

Friday, June 21, 2024 – 4pm to 10pm

4-7pm Broadway Street: Artisan Marketplace. Part arts and crafts, part farmers market. Browse regional specialties and locally grown, handmade and handcrafted goods.

4-6pm Taste of Wisconsin: Craft & Curd: Paired

– It’s the ultimate brewery face-off! Six local breweries battle it out for best brew and cheese curd flavor pairing. Who will win? That’s up to you–You’re the judge for this intense (and tasty) competition! Learn More.

5pm Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery Parking Lot: Classic Car Cruise-In & Show

6:30-7:30pm Taste of Wisconsin Corks & Kegs Tasting Event. Plan to take part in the tasting experiences offered during the festival. Corks & Kegs adult tasting experiences feature local and regional craft beer, wine and hard cider. A happy hour like no other, enjoy unlimited sampling and light appetizers while visiting with the brewers, crafters and reps. Learn More.

Music:

Broadway Street Stage: Thomas Michael 4:30-7:30pm

Point Stage: The Delta Papas 4:30-6:30pm, 3OTT 7:30-9:30 pm

Park Stage: Them Pesky Kids 6-9 pm

Saturday, June 22, 2024 – 10am to 10pm

10am – 7pm Broadway Street Artisan Marketplace: Part arts and crafts, part farmers market. Browse regional specialties and locally grown, handmade and handcrafted goods.

11am-12pm Taste of Wisconsin: Milk & Cookie Pairing. Whether you’re a kid or a kid at heart, there’s something special about milk and cookies. We’ve specially paired five flavors of milk with five popular freshly baked cookie flavors.

12:30-1:30pm Taste of Wisconsin: Ice Cream Tasting. Families won’t want to miss the Ice Cream Tasting, a one-hour real dairy flavor celebration featuring creative combinations. Learn More.

2pm Point Stage Cheese Curd Eating Contest Learn More.

2-3:30pm Taste of Wisconsin: Block Party Join us for a Block Party dedicated to the cheese lover in all of us! You’ll take a delicious trip around the state as you sample unique Wisconsin cheeses, each with their own Claim to Fame. Learn More.

4-6pm Taste of Wisconsin Craft & Curd: Paired. It’s the ultimate brewery face-off! Six local breweries battle it out for best brew and cheese curd flavor pairing. Who will win? That’s up to you–You’re the judge for this intense (and tasty) competition! Learn More.

6:30-7:30pm Taste of Wisconsin: Corks & Kegs Tasting Event. Plan to take part in the tasting experiences offered during the festival. Kegs & Corks adult tasting experiences feature local and regional craft beer, wine and hard cider. A happy hour like no other, enjoy unlimited sampling and light appetizers while visiting with the brewers, crafters and reps. Learn More.

Music:

Point Stage: Oly 10am-11:30pm, The Dairy Aires 12-1:30pm, Why Worry & the Fret Band 3:30-5:30pm, Debbie Briggs 6-8pm

Broadway Street Stage: Arthur Anderson 10:30am-12:30pm, Dave Snyder 1:00-3:00pm, Brad Marx 3:30-5:30pm, Trandy Blue 6-8pm

Park Stage: Hot Mess 11am-12:30pm,  Vivian Hayes & the Hi-Praise 1:30-3:30pm, Left Wing Bourbon 4:30-6:30pm, Jim Stairs & Squishy Mud 7:30-9:30pm