Ontario Cheese Festival
Saturday, Oct.17, 2026 | Elora, Ontario
🎁 First 500 guests get a free insulated bag!
General Admission: $25
Welcome Back to Elora
There’s a reason we can’t stop talking about Elora. From the legendary Elora’s Longest BBQ to the serene Elora Mill, this town has a way of wrapping you in hospitality, craftsmanship, and creativity. Returning here for our annual Ontario Cheese Festival feels like the easiest decision of the year.
Elora and its surrounding communities are home to an extraordinary group of makers—artisans producing an incredible selection of flavourful cheeses, thoughtful pairings, and local beverages. Bringing these creators together under one barn roof is always an honor, and a true celebration of Ontario’s agricultural and culinary talent.
On Saturday, October 17th, join us at the Grand River Raceway to explore exceptional flavours, savour perfect pairings, and meet the makers shaping Canada’s food landscape. Come celebrate the best of Ontario with us.
Patricia McDermott
CEO, PEC Markets Inc.
A Tradition of Excellence
Highlights from 2025
Last year, the Ontario Cheese Festival became a landmark event for artisanal makers. With electric energy and a sold-out crowd, we showcased the very best of our region’s craft.
Watch our feature segment on CTV News to see why OCF is the premier destination for vendors and food lovers alike.
Join us at the Ontario Cheese Festival!
Sample award-winning cheeses & wines, and support local creators.
🎁 First 500 guests through the door get a free insulated bag!
General Admission: $25
When
Where
Who
75+ Curated Artisans & Makers
📸 Say Cheese! Photo Spot
Strike a pose and say CHEESE!
Grab your friends, your family—or your favourite wedge—and capture a little Ontario Cheese Festival fun at our Say Cheese! Photo Spot. Snap a photo, share the moment and take home a memory of your delicious day in Elora.
Come for the cheese. Stay for the photo. Say CHEESE! 🧀
🧀 The Great Ontario Cheese Challenge
Think you know your cheese? Prove it!
Taste a selection of mystery Ontario cheeses and put your cheese knowledge to the test. Cow, goat or sheep? Mild, aged, creamy or bold?
Make your guesses, reveal the answers and earn some serious cheese bragging rights! 🧀🧀
Special Programming & Masterclasses
Special Elevate your festival experience with hands-on cheesemaking and sommelier-guided tasting flights. Limited capacity per session — Festival General Admission pass required for entry & Masterclasses
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11:00 AM
Cheesemaking Workshop
Presented By: Mary Ann Ferrer, PhD, ACS CCP
Led by University of Guelph dairy scientist Dr. Mary Ann Ferrer, this hands-on workshop introduces the core art and science of home cheesemaking. Learn key principles from milk selection to curd cutting, hand-craft your own fresh mini-panela cheese, and take home your custom mini-cheese mould! All ages & skill levels welcome-a fantastic family experience.
$60 (+ HST & fees)
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12:00 PM
Influencers & Press Session
Presented By: Patricia McDermott, Owner Prince Edward County Markets Inc and Agrarian Market
Influencers & Press: Get the Scoop! Meet with Patrcia McDermott to learn all about the Ontario Cheese Festival and the PECMI mission to connect local growers, makers, and small businesses with the vibrant communities that surround them.
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12:30 PM
Tutored Tasting: Tradition Reimagined
Presented By: Karyn Stowe
Discover how Ontario cheesemakers bring together tradition and creativity, reimagining time-honoured techniques to produce distinctive, world-class cheeses. Taste a selection of exceptional cheeses with local beverage pairings that celebrate the flavours of Ontario.
$75 (+ HST & fees)
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2:00 PM
Cheesemaking Workshop (Encore)
Presented By: Mary Ann Ferrer, PhD, ACS CCP
Led by University of Guelph dairy scientist Dr. Mary Ann Ferrer, this hands-on workshop introduces the core art and science of home cheesemaking. Learn key principles from milk selection to curd cutting, hand-craft your own fresh mini-panela cheese, and take home your custom mini-cheese mould! All ages & skill levels welcome-a fantastic family experience.
$60 (+ HST & fees)
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3:00 PM
Tradition Reimagined (Featuring Special Guest Wendy Furtenbacher)
Presented By: Karyn Stowe with Special Guest Wendy Furtenbacher, CCP
Discover how Ontario cheesemakers bring together tradition and creativity, reimagining time-honoured techniques to produce distinctive, world-class cheeses. Taste a selection of exceptional cheeses with local beverage pairings that celebrate the flavours of Ontario.
$75 (+ HST & fees)
Exhibit at the Festival
Showcase your craft to thousands of passionate, high-intent food and cheese lovers. Benefit from on-site cold storage, booth runners to support your team, and robust digital promotion. Keep 100% of your sales!
Don’t Miss a Single Pairing
Join our inner circle of food lovers. Subscribe today to receive early access to ticket sales, exclusive vendor announcements, and delicious festival updates.
Meet the Makers
Discover the passion and talent behind Ontario’s premier artisanal cheeses, thoughtful pairings, and exceptional local beverages.
🧀 Want behind-the-scenes access? Join our volunteer team!
Get free festival admission, snacks, and verified volunteer hours.
LOCATION
Grand River Raceway | Elora, Ontario
The Ontario Cheese Festival finds its home in the vibrant, picturesque community of Elora. This October, the fully serviced Grand River Raceway will be transformed into a premier culinary destination—a cozy, indoor, weather-proof space where artisan cheesemakers, craft producers, and food lovers unite to celebrate fine craftsmanship and flavor.
Located in the Elora, Ontario, just on the edge of the village, The Grand River Raceway provides the perfect setting for a journey of discovery. Explore the vendor markets, attend a Masterclass, and enjoy the generous hospitality of a community eager to welcome the very best of Ontario artisan excellence.
Festival Hours: Saturday, October 17, 2026: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Visitor Tips:
- Cozy & Indoor: The entire festival is hosted indoors within a modern, fully climate-controlled facility. Rain or shine, the crowds stay comfortable and the cheese stays perfect.
- Parking: Ample free parking is available directly on-site at the raceway grounds.
- Facilities: Fully accessible indoor washrooms are located directly within the main facility for your comfort and convenience.
7445 Wellington County Rd 21, Elora, ON N0B 1S0
We respectfully acknowledge that we are situated on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinabewaki, Attiwonderonk, Mississauga, and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Today, this area is home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, and we acknowledge the 46 treaties and other agreements that cover the territory now called Ontario.