2025 Ontario Cheese Festival (Elora)

OMG SOOOO MUCH CHEEEEESE!

Had an amazing time, a great family day out, lots of samples, lots to learn and found a few new favourites. I've already arranged for extended family to meet next year.

When you're finished, make sure you head in to Elora center to check out the AMAZING Halloween decorations, perfect opportunity for special family photos.

I really enjoyed this event. There were a lot of different vendors and products to sample. We broke up the day by sampling half the products, then went for a walk in the nearby conservation area, then back to the festival to finish trying the rest of the samples. It was a fun, full day outing.
My only displeasure was that there were about 3-4 vendors who did not provide samples of their product (baked goods - breads, tarts, etc). I was unhappy about this because I understood all of the vendors would be providing samples. Plus, I didn't think it was fair to the other vendors who were providing samples. Needless to say, we only purchased products from the vendors who provided a taste of their goodies!

The event was money well spent with lots of vendors with great products to try. We also signed up for the cheese and wine tutorial and it was very informative and host was knowledgeable.

Expecting it to in a nicer location and more to it for the $100 we spent on it!
Definitely didn't eat or drink $50 dollars each worth!
Booths too close together, lines to long and squishy, while waiting for samples

Our group of 5 had an overall good time at the festival. The vendors were generous with samples & information and appreciated the food trucks for a quick lunch! Our only feedback is to spread things out a little more. Was very difficult at times to get access to vendors. I also did not like that some vendors would not take cash.

Ontario Cheese Festival – Honest Review
We recently attended the Ontario Cheese Festival and had a mix of experiences—some delightful, others needing improvement.
🧭 Arrival & Signage
When we arrived on site, it was unclear where to go. While there were signs advertising the festival, there were no directional arrows to guide us to the entrance. A few well-placed signs with arrows would have made a big difference.
🕸️ Venue Cleanliness
Given that this was a food-focused event, I was surprised to see spider webs on the ceiling of the venue. It gave the space a neglected feel, which isn’t ideal for a culinary experience. A cleaner environment would have better matched the quality of the vendors.
🧀 Vendor Experience
There were many vendors, and we made some great discoveries—the variety and passion behind the products were clear. However, it was difficult to approach the tables due to layout constraints. A venue with wider, shallower booths might improve flow and accessibility.
🍷 Cheese 101 Presentation
We attended the Cheese 101 session, and the presenter did a fantastic job. The cheese and wine pairing was thoughtfully curated and delicious. Definitely a highlight of the day.
💸 Pricing
That said, the overall cost felt a bit steep—$50 for admission and $50 for the presentation. Considering the venue and setup, I’ll need to think carefully before committing again next year.

We had a wonderful time. Arriving around 11 we had no idea what was in store for us. The reception was quick, and we were in awe of the number of vendors in attendance. With variety of wine, cheese and other items that would make a great accompaniment to a charcuterie board it was a little overwhelming at first. But we soon got into the flow of it.
At no time did we feel rushed. The vendors took the time to engage in conversations regarding their products. Explaining the different nuances and flavours used. Not only did I leave with a number of purchases, but also information regarding where they could be purchased in stores or from markets. The vendors were very generous with their samples. The only complaint I have, and it was my fault, I should have bought the product immediately upon loving it. When we went back they were sold out. Great event, look forward to next year.

Hello
Improvements for the future could be:

More/larger/further afield signage
If next building is similar directions to parking and entrance door would be helpful

Pass on glasses as a give a way if plastic sample cups are to be used. I noticed that many people did not use their glass-perhaps because of lack of places to rinse it? Money could be spent on signage or other promo product.
I was surprised to see that most vendors who were handling food did not wear gloves. One vendor handed us a piece of cheese from the knife- not sure if that is a violation or not but thought I’d mention it. The Dhow was educational and fun. We enjoyed it very much

Hi,

I thought the event was great overall. I went to the last show in Picton so I was excited that the cheese festival was happening again.

I think the space was a little crowded, though. I think this was a combination of the venue and the amount of people in attendance. I think if the booths more spread apart, it would have helped. Perhaps it would have helped to sell tickets with certain time frames or staggered entrance times? This might have helped to mitigate the crowd.

I work in the industry as a specialty cheese buyer, and I would have appreciated a chance to talk to some of the producers more in depth, but it was hard to even get to a table to try the cheeses, let alone have more of a conversation about potential business opportunities. I know that this isn't necessarily a trade show and is more geared toward the general public, but maybe a retailer pre-view would help?

At any rate, I did appreciate the chance to try some great Ontario cheeses!

Thanks,
Chelsea

We had a great time. Our only issue is that the vendors were located way to close to each other make it very difficult to sample their products.

Antony