There’s A Great Big Cheese Festival Coming To Minnesota And It’s As Delicious At It Sounds

Spring and summer calendars in the Land of 10,000 Lakes are full of the small-town festivals that take place all over the state at this time of year, but one you should most certainly add to your own calendar is the Pine Island Cheese Festival. It’s probably the premier cheese festival in Minnesota.

The Pine Island Cheese Festival takes place each year in early June in the town of Pine Island, Minnesota.

The town is located just north of Rochester.

The festival lasts a full weekend, and like any self-respecting small-town festival, it offers food, vendors, and live entertainment.

The cheese festival, held at Trailhead Park and the Creamery, has been a Pine Island Tradition since 1936.

The festival, which celebrates the town’s long cheese-making tradition, includes a parade, as well as a nightly Cheese Festival Beer Garden.

One of the festival’s highlights is the search for the Golden Nugget (of cheese).

Clues are provided until one lucky nugget hunter finds the treasure and earns a prize.

Festival goers can also enjoy a small carnival with games and rides.

And a fireworks display adds some oohs and aahs to the event.

Since it is a cheese festival, don’t forget to partake of the main event: fresh Pine Island cheese products.

For more information about the festival, including dates, event line-up, and where to purchase buttons, visit the Pine Island Cheese Festival website. Check out the festival's Facebook page for photos and updates. While you're in town, be sure to stop by South by SouthEast Brewing Company for a pint of its finest - it will help keep you cool on a hot June day!

Have you attended the Pine Island Cheese Festival? What was your experience? Let us know in the comments ,and be sure to clue us in on any similar cheese festivals or other events that we should know about by visiting our nomination page.