KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A festival promising "gouda" times is set to kick off Friday evening in Knoxville — the third-annual Knoxville Cheese Fest.
The event gives participants a chance to sample local, domestic and international cheeses. People will also have a chance to learn how to best pair cheeses with other foods and with drinks like wines, ciders or beers.
The event will also feature cheese experts who will be available to answer questions participants may have. They include Michael Landis, an international cheese judge and Amy Burris, from the Euphoric Cheese Shop in Farragut.
A cider expert from Gypsy Circus Cider Company will also be at the event — Stephanie Carson. On Friday, Participants will have a chance to enjoy a cheesy dinner and dessert and attendees can also enter a raffle for cheesy gear.
Saturday will mark the main event — the cheese sampling. A hall will open where attendees can try cheeses and redeem drink tickets for a suggested cider or beer pairing.
People who want to enjoy a cider and cheese dinner on Friday at 7 p.m. will need to pay $45, or $80 for two people. The tickets include five pairings of cheese and cider, as well as dinner with a dessert.
On Saturday, people will need to pay $55 to enter the cheese sampling hall at 1 p.m. as well as six drink tickets for five ounces of sample cider or beer. Extra drink tickets will be able available.
People can wait an hour and pay $35 for four drink tickets and a chance to enter the sampling hall at 2 p.m.
The Knoxville Cheese Fest will be at the TAPestry Event Space at Barrelhouse, located at 621 Lamar Street.