"Last year's festival was our first try and it was great, but we wanted to continue to grow it," explains Planning Committee member Sarah VanOrden of Vanillen Dairy. "So we searched out new vendors, new activities and accepted several local businesses and organizations as sponsors. These are businesses and organizations we support, do business with, and belong to. And we are so grateful that they, in turn, have reached out to support our festival so we could grow it this year."
This year, the Trail has also formed a new partnership with the Finger Lakes Beer Trail to allow a few of their craft beer members to sample and sell at the event, and to add a Beer & Cheese Pairing Seminar to the schedule of events. The Seminar will be lead by the soon to be reopened Clark's Ale House in Syracuse, which specializes in beer and cheese pairings at their establishment. Attendees will not only learn how to create the perfect pairings, they will also get to sample the pairings. The seminar is at3:30, free and limited to 50 people.
Attendees will also get to sample the full pairings at the Wine & Cheese Pairing Seminar at 1:30. This seminar will be led by master sommelier and wine writer Holly Howell and will pair Trail cheeses with wines from wineries that are Associate Members of the Trail. This seminar is also free and limited to 50 people.
Other popular adult activities include the Cooking with Cheese Seminar (free) at 11:30 and Cheesemaking Classes. There will be more Cheesemaking Classes this year, at 11:00am, 12:30pm,2:00pm and 3:30pm and will be led by top regional cheesemaker Tom Pinello. Class size is limited to 12 per session and costs $30.00 per person, or $50.00 per couple. Pre-registration is required by emailing flxcheesetrail@gmail.com, and can be paid for in advance by credit card or the day of the Festival at the registration desk.
For the kids, there will again be a kids' craft corner, Barnyard Olympics, petting zoo, goat milking and games with the NYS Dairy Princesses.
For the whole family, there will be music all day, which is new this year as well. In addition there will be guided and self-guided farm tours, hayrides, Bossy Bingo hosted by the Seneca County 4H, and even a mechanical bull riding contest.
In addition to all the great activities, there will be plenty to eat, sample and buy. There will be a full Farm Market featuring the creameries of the Finger Lakes Cheese Trail and many local food and farm vendors. There will be two BBQ stations, one by Burke's BBQ and the other by Kirton's Farm Market. Local beverages will include the juices of Red Jacket Orchards, wines from three of the Trail's member wineries and beer from three craft brewers. Water and milk will also be available.
Along with the food and drink, the Trail invited their neighbor artisans and farms to participate in the event, so there will also be farm produce and products, along with locally made products and wares. There will even be a booth offering seated massages!
"There will be something for everyone." explains Carmella Hoffman, owner of Sunset View Creamery and member of the festival's planning committee. "Think of it as a huge summer family bbq and farmers market all wrapped up into one!"
The festival is free, but there is a $5.00 per car parking charge. The first 750 attendees who bring their parking stub to the registration table will receive a commemorative re-useable shopping bag. And attendees are encouraged to bring a cooler to keep their purchases in. A tractor-pulled shuttle will run between the festival and the parking areas all day.
A full schedule of events and vendors is available on the Cheese Festival page on the Trail's website or on the Cheese Festival Tab on the Trail's Facebook page. Updates, changes and new vendors are announced on Facebook as well.
