Join us, rain or shine, for the 2025 Carolina Mountain Cheese Fest to benefit the WNC Cheese Trail. Meet the makers and the milkers, explore the craft of cheesemaking, sample product, and buy lots of local cheese! We will have vendors from across the Cheese Trail including winemakers, specialty gourmet food and more! Please note: pets are not permitted at the festival.
When and Where: We invite you to the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina on September 28, 2025, when we'll be on the grounds of Oak and Grist Distilling Company in Black Mountain to celebrate southern cheese and support the WNC Cheese Trail.
You'll get to experience more delicious cheese this year! We have more additional ticket levels this year with less people at each level based on FAN feedback.
We are honoring tickets sold last year that didn't ask for refunds or to be donated. So be sure to check back for ticket numbers. We also are adding a few events on alternate days that are festival adjacent!
** Added Event** Friday, September 19th - 6:30pm Raclette and Cider Night at Barn Door Cider Works 30 tickets total $75 per ticket Dinner and Dessert with Cider Flights
Cheese Fest Ticket Levels - SUNDAY, SEPT 28TH AT OAK AND GRIST
11:30am to unlimited: The Super Cheese Lover - 40 tickets only for $65. Includes a bag, drink ticket, a sticker, cheese tasting table and 30 extra minutes to shop and enjoy with no crowds.
12pm to 2pm VIP Cheesy - 75 tickets for $40 includes a bag and sticker and access to the cheese tasting table.
1pm to 3pm Big Cheese - 150 tickets for $35 -- sticker and access to the cheese tasting table
2:30p to 5pm Cheese Supporter 150 tickets for $25 -- don't worry.. we have some special cheese treats planned for you all.
3:30p to 5pm Cheese 300 tickets for $15 -- we've got some special cheese treats planned, but you may wait a little longer in lines.
Tickets are needed for those ages 10 years and up.
We will also have a very limited supply of tickets for tours inside the distilling company. We will be updating the information on these over the next few weeks. We are anticipating more activities and vendors this year - and our folks can't wait to see you all again.
Parking at Oak and Grist is great and we will have more staff helping on this, but we still encourage car pooling &/or meeting up with friends nearby and using one car to get to the venue - especially if you want to taste their offerings.
We'll be updating our festival website regularly with information about the day's activities. We'll have a wide variety of family-fun activities, vendors from across the region, demos, workshops, competitions, farm animals and more!
Tickets proceeds benefit the WNC Cheese Trail and are non-refundable. Please know that if you are unable to use your tickets and cannot find another to use them, we assure you that WNC cheese makers value your contribution as an important way to support small artisanal businesses and help keep the local dairy industry alive and well.
We are NOT anticipating having general admission this year. We may change that, but we're keeping our numbers down so folks can enjoy ALL the cheese.
Purchase entrance tickets here!
Interested in Volunteering or in Sponsorships? Please connect with us at wncctcmcf@gmail.com!
Ticket proceeds benefit the WNC Cheese Trail and are non-refundable.
PLEASE NOTE - Pets are not permitted at the festival. Thanks.