What are the ticket prices for the Great Canadian Cheese Festival?

General Admission (single day) is $45.85. Premium Admission (single day, includes swag bag and tasting glass) is $62.80. VIP Experience (single day, includes Premium perks plus one Tutored Tasting session) is $138.10. Weekend Pass GA is $62.80 and Weekend Pass Premium is $79.75. Tutored Tasting sessions are $80.25 each and can be added separately. All prices include fees and taxes; a flat $2 Ticketmaster processing fee applies per order.

What are Tutored Tastings at the Cheese Festival?

Tutored Tastings are intimate guided masterclass sessions led by world-class cheese sommeliers. Each 60-minute session pairs Canada's finest artisan cheeses with complementary wines, spirits, or non-alcoholic beverages. Sessions are curated by Cheese Sommelier Jackie Armet and tickets are $80.25 per session (or included with VIP admission). Saturday sessions: Strange Bedfellows (12 PM), All Across the Cheese Board (1 PM), and Cocktails & Cheese (3 PM). Sunday sessions: Strange Bedfellows (12 PM) and All Across the Cheese Board (2 PM).

Is the Great Canadian Cheese Festival family-friendly?

The festival is a food-focused event open to all ages. Children who are not drinking can enjoy the artisan marketplace, food vendors, and general atmosphere. Tutored Tasting sessions involve alcohol (except the Strange Bedfellows non-alcoholic session) and are best suited for adults.

Where can I buy tickets for the Great Canadian Cheese Festival?

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster at ticketmaster.ca/the-great-canadian-cheese-festival-tickets/artist/4240549. A flat $2 Ticketmaster processing fee applies per order.

The Great Canadian Cheese Festival 2026 - Peterborough, ON

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🧀 Great Canadian Cheese Festival 📅 June 13 & 14, 2026 📍 Peterborough, Ontario 🕐 Sat 10am–5pm • Sun 10am–4pm

The Great Canadian Cheese Festival 2026

Canada’s Premier Artisan Cheese Celebration • New Home: Peterborough, Ontario

If you love cheese — really love cheese — this is your weekend. The Great Canadian Cheese Festival has been celebrating the craft of Canadian artisan cheesemaking for years, and the 2026 edition is its most ambitious yet. The festival has found a new home in Peterborough, taking over the magnificent historic Morrow Building for two full days of tasting, exploring, and meeting the extraordinary makers behind Canada’s finest small-batch dairy.

We’re talking award-winning cheesemakers from coast to coast, alongside craft wineries, breweries, cideries, bakers, chocolatiers, honey producers, and more. Plus the festival’s renowned Tutored Tasting masterclasses, where world-class cheese sommeliers walk you through curated pairings you won’t forget. It’s equal parts market, masterclass, and celebration — and it’s unlike anything else happening in Ontario this June.

🧀 Artisan Cheesemakers 🍷 Craft Wines & Ciders 🍺 Craft Breweries 🎓 Tutored Tastings 🍟 Charcuterie & Bakers 🎃 Chocolatiers & Sweets 🍴 Unlimited Sampling

🎫 Get Tickets 🗺 Get Directions Official Website →

💡 General Admission includes unlimited sampling access to all vendors. Upgrade to Premium or VIP for swag bags, official tasting glasses, and exclusive Tutored Tasting masterclasses. Tickets via Ticketmaster — all prices include fees and taxes.

✨ Why This Festival Is Worth the Drive

There’s no shortage of food festivals in Ontario, but the Great Canadian Cheese Festival occupies a category of its own. This isn’t a generic food market with a cheese stall tucked in the corner — it’s a serious, lovingly curated celebration of one of Canada’s most underappreciated artisan traditions. The producers here are the real deal: family farms, small creameries, on-farm cheese plants, and multi-generation dairies making things you genuinely cannot find at your local grocery store.

The 2026 festival marks an exciting chapter as it moves to Peterborough for the first time, setting up in the historic Morrow Building — a grand space that gives the whole event a sense of occasion. Alongside the cheese, you’ll find award-winning wineries, local craft breweries, chocolatiers, bakers, honey producers, and more. General Admission gets you full sampling access across the entire floor, which means an afternoon of genuinely eating your way around the country.

And then there are the Tutored Tastings. If you’ve never sat in on a cheese masterclass with a certified sommelier, consider this your invitation. These are small, intimate, 60-minute guided sessions that pair Canada’s finest artisan cheeses with perfectly matched wines, spirits, or unexpected non-alcoholic companions. They book out fast — more on that below.

🎫 Tickets & Admission

Three tiers, two days, one weekend pass option. All prices include fees and taxes; a flat $2 Ticketmaster processing fee applies per order.

General Admission

$45.85

Per day

Full access to all vendors and artisans with generous samplings throughout the festival floor.

Popular

Premium Admission

$62.80

Per day

Everything in GA, plus a Swag Bag (insulated cooler) and an Official Tasting Glass. The tasting glass alone makes this worth the upgrade.

VIP Experience

$138.10

Per day

Everything in Premium, plus one Tutored Tasting session of your choice. The most immersive way to experience the festival.

📅 Weekend Pass — Both Days

General Admission

$62.80

Full access both days at a discounted rate.

Premium Admission

$79.75

Both days plus swag bag and official tasting glass.

📌 Tutored Tasting sessions are $80.25 each and book separately via Ticketmaster. They sell out well before the festival. If you have your eye on a specific session, don’t wait.

Saturday Tickets → Sunday Tickets → Weekend Pass →

🎓 Tutored Tastings: The Masterclass Experience

Curated by Cheese Sommelier Jackie Armet, these intimate guided sessions are where the festival really elevates itself above a typical food market. Each one is about 60 minutes, seats a small group, and takes you on a structured journey through exceptional Canadian artisan cheeses with expert pairing commentary.

Tutored Tasting tickets are $80.25 each and are available standalone through Ticketmaster, or included with a VIP admission pass. These book out early — sometimes weeks in advance.

📅 Saturday, June 13

Sat • 12:00 PM

Strange Bedfellows: Cheesing Outside of the Box

Presenter: Karyn Stowe • Non-alcoholic

Think outside the bottle. Discover how Canadian artisan cheeses find their perfect match in unexpected, non-alcoholic pairings that create genuine ‘WOW’ moments. A brilliant session for those who want the full flavour experience without the alcohol.

Tickets — $80.25

Sat • 1:00 PM

All Across the Cheese Board

Presenter: Vanessa Simmons

Pack your palate for a cross-country journey. From the Maritimes to the West Coast, this session explores the incredible diversity of Canadian cheesemakers and the vintners who complement them perfectly.

Tickets — $80.25

Sat • 3:00 PM

Cocktails & Cheese? Yes, Please!

Presenters: Roxanne Renwick & Mark Bower

The ultimate indulgence. Experience the bold intersection of small-batch Canadian spirits, distinctive whiskies, and the nation’s finest cheeses. A match made in heaven for the adventurous palate.

Tickets — $80.25

📅 Sunday, June 14

Sun • 12:00 PM

Strange Bedfellows: Cheesing Outside of the Box

Presenter: Karyn Stowe • Non-alcoholic

The Sunday edition of the non-alcoholic pairing masterclass with Karyn Stowe. A second chance to experience this popular session if Saturday’s sold out.

Tickets — $80.25

Sun • 2:00 PM

All Across the Cheese Board

Presenter: Vanessa Simmons

The Sunday edition of the cross-Canada pairing journey with Vanessa Simmons. A different day, the same exceptional standard.

Tickets — $80.25

🍴 The Artisan Marketplace

Over 50 makers, producers, and purveyors fill the festival floor. General Admission gives you unlimited sampling access to everything. Here’s a taste of who’s there.

🧀 Cheese & Dairy

2 Farmers & a Cow Ice Cream Co.
Annapolis Fine Cheeses (Nova Scotia)
Capella Meadows (organic goat cheese)
COWS Creamery (PEI)
Crosswind Farm (goat milk, Keene ON)
Empire Cheese Co-Operative (150-yr heritage cheddar)
Fromagerie L’Ancêtre (organic & grass-fed)
Gunn’s Hill Artisan Cheese (Oxford County)
Kampkreek Dairies (water buffalo dairy, Perth County)
Lofty Butter Company
Stonetown Artisan Cheese (St. Marys ON)
La Trappe à Fromage (award-winning curds, Gatineau)
Unique Brazilian Dairy

🍷 Wines, Ciders & Craft Spirits

180 Estate Winery
Byland Estate Winery
Casa-Dea Estates Winery
Drink ON Apples (cider)
The Grange of Prince Edward Winery
Heritage Estate
Junction 56 Distillery
Stanners Vineyard
Tawse Winery
Vodkow (distillery)
The Wine Stuff

🍺 Craft Beer

Bobcaygeon Brewing Company
Legacy Brewing
Malty & Hoppy Delicacy

🍟 Savoury & Charcuterie

Boards Gone Wild
Carolinas Colombia
County Fare
D&D Meats
Gourmet Pleasures Preserves
Niagara Food Specialties
The Rustic Board
YAWDI’s

🎃 Sweet Things & Specialty

Beauty Through Taste
Cheesecakery Bakery
Choc Chique
ChocoSol Traders
GoodPud Inc.
Hard Winter Bakery
Jewels Under the Kilt
Kottonsea
La Plantation Canada
Low Carb Co.
Merrickville Cookies
Nana’s Olde Fashioned Fudge
Pika Pika Foods
Salmon River Sugar Bush
The Shortbread Company
Staples Maple Syrup
Sticky Beesness (honey)
Genuine Creations Canada
We Cater Food On Wheels

💡 General Admission includes sampling access across all vendor categories. Bring an appetite — and maybe a cooler bag if you plan to bring some favourites home.

📍 Location: The Morrow Building, Peterborough

The 2026 festival calls Peterborough home for the first time — a genuinely exciting change of venue. The Morrow Building is a historic landmark in the heart of the city, and it’s being transformed into a premier culinary destination for the weekend. Peterborough is a welcoming, arts-forward city with great restaurants, walkable streets, and easy access from Toronto (about 1.5 hours), Ottawa, and the GTA.

🏠 The Morrow Building

151 Lansdowne St W, Peterborough, Ontario, K9J 1Y2

🗺 Get Directions to Venue

🚘 Peterborough is approximately 1.5 hours from Toronto, 2 hours from Ottawa, and under an hour from Barrie and Oshawa. The downtown area has street parking and nearby lots. If you’re making a weekend of it, the Kawarthas offer excellent accommodation options ranging from downtown hotels to lakeside cottages.

💡 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Visit

🎓 Book Tutored Tastings the moment tickets go on sale. These sessions sell out weeks before the festival, sometimes days after going live. If you want one, don’t wait — even if your general admission ticket is sorted, go back and book your session immediately. VIP tickets include one session automatically.

🥆 The Weekend Pass is excellent value. If you can swing both days, $62.80 for General Admission across Saturday and Sunday works out to less than the price of two single-day tickets. You’ll cover the full vendor floor on Saturday at your leisure, then come back Sunday for a second pass at your favourites.

🍤 Upgrade to Premium for the tasting glass. The official tasting glass matters more than it sounds — vendors pour into it, you carry it around, and it becomes your companion for the day. It also goes home with you as a proper keepsake. The $17 jump from GA to Premium is genuinely worth it.

🍳 Pace yourself, especially on day one. With 50+ vendors all offering samplings, it’s easy to fill up before you’ve made it halfway around the floor. Drink plenty of water, eat something substantial before you arrive, and consider starting at the far end of the room where the crowds are lighter at opening time.

🎁 Bring a cooler or insulated bag if you plan to shop. Many vendors sell retail as well as sample. If you fall hard for a particular cheese, winery, or honey producer, you’ll want to be able to transport your haul home safely. Premium admission includes an insulated cooler bag in the swag, which is another reason to consider the upgrade.

🚫 No outside food or alcohol. The festival operates within a licensed area. All food and beverage consumed must be purchased at the event.

❓ Common Questions

When and where is the Great Canadian Cheese Festival 2026?

June 13 & 14, 2026 at the Morrow Building, 151 Lansdowne St W, Peterborough, Ontario. Saturday hours are 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Sunday hours are 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

What’s included with General Admission?

General Admission ($45.85/day) gives you full access to all vendors and artisans on the festival floor, with generous samplings throughout. You can browse and taste freely across all cheese, dairy, wine, beer, cider, spirits, and specialty food vendors.

What are Tutored Tastings and how do I book one?

Tutored Tastings are intimate guided masterclass sessions (approximately 60 minutes) led by certified cheese sommeliers. Each session pairs Canada’s finest artisan cheeses with carefully selected wines, spirits, or non-alcoholic beverages, with expert commentary throughout. Tickets are $80.25 per session via Ticketmaster, or included with a VIP admission pass. Sessions are held at 12 PM, 1 PM, and 3 PM Saturday; and 12 PM and 2 PM Sunday. They sell out early — book as soon as possible.

Is the Weekend Pass worth it?

Almost certainly yes, if you can attend both days. The Weekend General Admission Pass is $62.80 — that’s less than two single-day GA tickets. The Weekend Premium Pass at $79.75 gets you both days plus the swag bag and tasting glass. If you can make a weekend of it in Peterborough, it’s one of the better-value food festival passes in Ontario.

Is this a family-friendly event?

The festival is open to all ages. Children can attend and enjoy the market atmosphere and any non-alcoholic food vendors. Most Tutored Tasting sessions involve alcohol (except the Strange Bedfellows non-alcoholic session), so they’re better suited to adult attendees. It’s more of an adult food event by nature, though not exclusively so.

Where do I buy tickets?

All tickets are sold through Ticketmaster at ticketmaster.ca. You can purchase single-day Saturday tickets, single-day Sunday tickets, Weekend Passes, and individual Tutored Tasting session tickets all through the same platform. A flat $2 Ticketmaster processing fee applies per order.

Ready to Taste Canada at Its Best?

June 13 & 14, 2026 • The Morrow Building, Peterborough, Ontario • Tickets via Ticketmaster

🎫 Get Tickets on Ticketmaster 🗺 Get Directions

Details are subject to change — always confirm dates, ticket availability, and session lineups on the official Great Canadian Cheese Festival website before heading out.