{"id":8087,"date":"2025-03-29T19:08:03","date_gmt":"2025-03-29T23:08:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cheeselover.ca\/?p=8087"},"modified":"2025-03-29T19:10:08","modified_gmt":"2025-03-29T23:10:08","slug":"historic-venue-in-kingston-setting-for-rebirth-of-great-canadian-cheese-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cheeselover.ca\/index.php\/2025\/03\/29\/historic-venue-in-kingston-setting-for-rebirth-of-great-canadian-cheese-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"Historic venue in Kingston setting for rebirth of Great Canadian Cheese Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Historic Fort Henry with Kingston, Ontario, in background.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Great Canadian Cheese Festival,<\/a> the showcase of the best in Canadian cheese and artisan foods that attracted thousands of foodies to Prince Edward County for seven years, is being resurrected by new ownership in a spectacular new venue in Kingston, Ontario.<\/p>\n

Tickets are on sale<\/a> for the May 24-25 festival at Fort Henry, a National Historic Site, built following the War of 1812.<\/p>\n

The 19th-century fortress<\/a> overlooks Kingston and Lake Ontario, offering an unforgettable backdrop for celebrating Canada\u2019s finest cheeses and artisanal foods. With its grand stone architecture and expansive outdoor grounds, Fort Henry combines history and open space, creating a welcoming environment for festival-goers to explore Canadian flavours in a truly iconic location.<\/p>\n

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Canadian cheese ranks among the best in the world.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The fort\u2019s vast grounds are ideal for the festival, providing ample room for vendor booths, cheese tastings, informative seminars and live entertainment, all with a scenic lakeside view. Guests can savour cheese, artisan foods and craft beverage pairings in a relaxed, spacious layout that allows for mingling with producers and artisans.<\/p>\n

Fort Henry is a two-hour drive from Ottawa, three hours from Toronto or Montreal. Kingston offers many choices for accommodations and plenty of first-class restaurants.<\/p>\n

The driving force behind the new Great Canadian Cheese Festival is Patricia McDermott, owner of\u00a0Agrarian Market<\/a>\u00a0in Picton since 2012 and operator of\u00a0farmers markets<\/a>\u00a0in the County for the last 15 years.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter starting my cheese shop in Bloomfield in the County over 10 years ago, and attending the original Great Canadian Cheese Festival, I knew I wanted to bring my love of cheese to more people. That\u2019s the motivation that led me to produce the new Great Canadian Cheese Festival and the Ontario Cheese Festival on rotating years.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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There will be special programming for children at the festival.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Great Canadian Cheese Festival brings together many of the country\u2019s best cheesemakers and artisan food producers for two full days of meeting, tasting, buying and learning.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the biggest artisan cheese show in Canada, with more than\u00a0100 exhibitors\u00a0and vendors offering hundreds of artisan food products, including over 300 cow, sheep, goat, and water buffalo milk cheeses, plus wine, craft beer, distilleries, zero proof, and cideries, pickles, jams, honey, charcuterie, and more.<\/p>\n

Tutored tastings will be led and cheeses selected by acclaimed cheese sommelier\u00a0Vanessa Simmons<\/a>\u00a0of Ottawa and cheese educator Roxanne Renwick of Toronto.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the schedule of events for two jam-packed days of cheese, cheese and more cheese:<\/p>\n

SATURDAY MAY 24<\/strong><\/p>\n