THE CHEESE FEST ATLANTA RETURNS SEPTEMBER 23

Ooey-gooey queso, salty feta, Wisconsin cheddar and veiny gorgonzola will be among the cheeses invading Historic Fourth Ward Park in September.

For an advance $35 ticket, you can dive into unlimited samples of more than 500 artisan cheeses and products. (You’ll want to cash in your complimentary drink ticket for a glass or wine or beer to help wash down all of the samples.) VIP tickets for $55 give cheese lovers extra perks, such as wine and cheese pairing classes. This year’s pairing classes will be led by The Cheese Twins, who are best known for their success on the Food Network’s The Great Food Truck Race.

Remember to pace yourself when judging the Macdown and Meltdown contests for the best macaroni and cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches. Contestants from the most prominent restaurants in Atlanta, such as Bread and Butterfly and Cast Iron, will make cheese combinations— think bacon and avocado—that will make you crave more.

The fest also features the Cheese Maker Unplugged series, 15-minute educational seminars with cheese experts who will teach novices the art of tasting. Some Cheese Fest favorites include Allison Hooper of Vermont Creamery, known for her cow and goat milk blended cheeses, and Cowgirl Creamery’s Peggy Smith, with her California-made Mt. Tam, an organic triple-cream.

thecheesefest.com/events/atlanta

STORY: Grace Huseth