Contact Jeanne Carpenter, 608-358-7837, Jeanne@wordartisanllc.com
MADISON, Wis. – CheeseTopia, a new one-day traveling festival from Wisconsin Cheese Originals that aims to bring the best of the Midwest’s farmstead and artisan cheeses to the heart of the city, debuts in Milwaukee April 12.
Tickets are $25 and go on sale to the public on Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. Members of Wisconsin Cheese Originals may purchase tickets one week earlier. All tickets will be sold in advance. For a complete listing of participating cheesemakers, visit http://www.wisconsincheeseoriginals.com.
The first annual CheeseTopia debuts at the Pritzlaff Building, a renovated warehouse in the Historic Third Ward of Milwaukee. More than 20,000 square feet of floor space will be filled with cheesemaker and artisan food tables surrounded by carved wooden beams, industrial age columns, Victorian era arched windows and gritty cream city brick. Year two of the festival will be in Chicago, while year three is set to take place in Minneapolis.
The goal of CheeseTopia is to bring the best of Midwest artisan and farmstead cheese to the heart of major cities by offering attendees the opportunity to sample and purchase cheese from 40 cheesemakers and local artisans from the Great Lakes Region, including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa. The festival will be open from Noon to 4 p.m. and offer a fun open marketplace atmosphere with cheese samples and a cash bar.
While many artisans will sell their products, farmer’s market style, those who don’t have the opportunity to make cheese available for purchase from Larry’s Market. Owners Steve Ehlers and Patty Peterson will set up tables of cheeses for sale at CheeseTopia, bringing a slice of their Brown Deer market to the heart of the city.
In addition, breakout seminars will take place in separate meeting spaces inside the Pritzlaff Building, which was constructed in 1875 and just recently renovated. Seminar topics will be announced next week.
For more information, contact Jeanne Carpenter, 608-358-7837 or email Jeanne@wordartisanllc.com.
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About Wisconsin Cheese Originals
Have Fun. Do Good. Eat Cheese. Jeanne Carpenter, of Wisconsin Cheese Originals, shares information about Wisconsin artisan cheeses through a variety of events, all in the spirit of celebrating Wisconsin cheesemakers. Join for $35 a year and be invited to tours, dinners, tasting events and educational classes. http://www.wisconsincheeseoriginals.com
