Looking for some fun this Labor Day weekend? Why not do something a little different this year and attend the 48th Annual Arthur Amish Country Cheese Festival? This festive event will be held September 4-6, 2021, and will offer plenty of activities, live entertainment, fun, and cheese…LOTS of cheese! Read on to see what’s in store over this delicious weekend dedicated to cheese!
Arthur is a small village located within the Illinois Amish country. It has a population of approximately 2,300 residents and hosts several events throughout the year including the annual Arthur Amish Country Cheese Festival!
Greg Schechter/Flickr
If you are someone who loves cheese, then this festival is for you! The 48th Annual Arthur Cheese Festival will be held this Labor Day weekend, September 4-6, 2021. It’s an event that many families in the area look forward to every year, and everyone is invited!
Arthur Welcome Center/Facebook
All festival attendees will be handed free slices of mild cheddar, CoJack, and Mediterranean Sunset cheddar cheeses at the Cheese Tent.
Arthur Welcome Center/Facebook The Cheese Tent will also host its annual National Cheese Eating Championships. Each contestant will be given a 1-pound block of Colby cheese, a bottle of water, and five minutes to finish. The first one to eat all or most by the end of those five minutes is declared the winner!
Check the schedule for the free cheese hours and Cheese Eating Contest on the website.
On the schedule for Monday is the Cheese Chaser Kids Run, one of the Festival’s best events! Younger children between the ages of four to nine years old are welcome to participate. During this free event, kids will chase the two Festival Mascots, Artie Mouse and Miss Slice, down the street for two blocks.
Arthur Welcome Center/Facebook At the end of the race, participants will receive an honorary medal and a goody bag!
Both the Main stage and The Penn Station Music Hall, located close to the Arthur Welcome Center, will host live entertainment throughout the weekend.
Arthur Welcome Center/Facebook
Another fun event to consider participating in is the International Cheese Curling Championships. It’s an incredibly fun event that takes the idea of ice curling to a whole other level using brooms and 4-pound wheels of cheese instead of a curling stone.
Greg Schechter/Flickr
With all the cheese and scheduled events throughout the weekend, you do not want to miss the 48th Annual Arthur Amish Country Cheese Festival!
Arthur Welcome Center/Facebook
Greg Schechter/Flickr
Arthur Welcome Center/Facebook
The Cheese Tent will also host its annual National Cheese Eating Championships. Each contestant will be given a 1-pound block of Colby cheese, a bottle of water, and five minutes to finish. The first one to eat all or most by the end of those five minutes is declared the winner!
Check the schedule for the free cheese hours and Cheese Eating Contest on the website.
At the end of the race, participants will receive an honorary medal and a goody bag!
Ready for a delicious Labor Day weekend in the town of Arthur? For more information, visit the Arthur Cheese Festival website as well as the Arthur Welcome Center Facebook page.
Read our previous post about the First Saturday Arthur Flea Market, held every first Saturday of the month from April until October.
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Address: Arthur Visitors Center, 106 E Progress St, Arthur, IL 61911, USA
