Experience the World of Cheese at Jungle Jim’s Big Cheese Festival!
Our Big Cheese Festival is the ultimate two-day homage to fromage! During this highly anticipated two-day festival, we bring out the best and the brightest of the cheese and charcuterie world for you to taste, enjoy, and savor with expertly-selected beer and wine pairings. Family-friendly and crafted for enthusiastic amateurs, connoisseurs, and fanatics alike, the Big Cheese Festival is the premier event for fromagers everywhere! This year, we’re going Big (Cheese) by moving the exclusive VIP area to The Oscar Station, our brand new event space accessible by the famous Jungle Jim’s monorail! We have a great festival in store for you, so we hope you’ll join us for the 7th annual Jungle Jim’s Big Cheese Festival!
The Festival
Always a Gouda Time
Our annual Big Cheese Festival is the ultimate two-day homage to fromage! We bring out the best and the brightest of the cheese and charcuterie world for you to taste, enjoy, and savor with expertly-selected beer and wine pairings. Family-friendly and crafted for enthusiastic amateurs, connoisseurs, and fanatics alike, the Big Cheese Festival is the premier event for fromagers everywhere! Aged cheddar and gouda, pickles, olives, and charcuterie… the list goes on and on! This weekend of cheesy wonder is your opportunity to sample it all!
Brie Mine
As always, all of the products showcased at our festival are available in the store! If you love what you taste, our Cheese Shop is a short stroll away where you’ll find all of your new favorites available for purchase!
Back and Cheddar Than Ever
You’d better, I mean feta believe this. With more booths, new vendors, and an expanded layout, our 2020 Big Cheese Festival will be better than ever. With music, demonstrations, and entertainment happening all weekend, you’ll find something new and exciting around every corner.
Say Cheese!
This is a family-friendly show with exciting activities planned for all ages! There will be live music to complement the experience, as well as several entertaining photo opportunities and activities available throughout the day.
Photos
Directions, Parking & Lodging
The Oscar Event Center at Jungle Jim’s International Market
5440 Dixie Highway
Fairfield, OH 45014
Parking
Need somewhere to stay?
Jungle Jim’s has partnered with the following hotels and special offers may be available for customers who book their rooms with them. When making your reservations be sure to mention that you will be attending a Junglefest!
Holiday Inn at Centre Park of West Chester
5800 Muhlhauser Rd.
West Chester Township, OH 45069
Welcome to the Brand New West Chester Hotel at Centre Park! Welcome as you begin your journey to Centre Park and step into an extraordinary experience at the Holiday Inn Cincinnati North – West Chester featuring Ohio’s first Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse. Located 20 miles from Downtown Cincinnati and within minutes of I-275 and I-75, our hotel rises above all of the competition.
Free Shuttle!
Phone: 513-874-2744
Cincinnati Marriott North
6189 Muhlhauser Rd.
West Chester, OH 45069
The Cincinnati Marriott North at Union Centre is the perfect place for you to stay on your next getaway! Located conveniently off of I-75 in West Chester, the Cincinnati Marriott North features 295 comfortable guest rooms, 24-hour business center, wireless Internet, non-smoking rooms, indoor lap pool, executive fitness center, and so much more! The property also features the RiverCity Grille Restaurant and Lounge, a great casual dining experience, which is a great way to end a long day!
Phone: 513-874-7335
Hilton Garden Inn
9306 Schulze Dr.
West Chester, OH 45069
The Hilton Garden Inn West Chester hotel is conveniently located off I-75 within one mile of businesses, shops, restaurants and many activities! Feel at home in a bright and spacious guest room or suite, equipped with complimentary WiFi, an HDTV, a mini-refrigerator, a plush Garden Sleep System bed, a work desk with ergonomic chair and a Keurig® coffee maker. Unwind in the Lounge or on the patio, and enjoy tasty American cuisine in the welcoming Garden Grille & Bar.
Phone: 513-860-3170
Courtyard by Marriott Hamilton
1 Riverfront Plaza
Hamilton, OH 45011
The Courtyard by Marriott Hamilton hotel is ideal for the business traveler, with 120 guestrooms, 6,500 square feet of meeting and banquet space with full catering available, and a healthy breakfast buffet. Looking for Miami University hotels? The Courtyard by Marriott Hamilton is a short drive from Miami University and a perfect choice for your next trip to Butler County. Situated in the heart of downtown Hamilton, “The City of Sculpture,” the Courtyard by Marriott Hamilton is close to many dining, entertainment, and shopping options. The Courtyard provides exactly the room you need for work, relaxation and sleep with a large work area with well-lit desk and free high-speed Internet access. Also available is an indoor pool, exercise room, and business center.
Phone: 513-896-6200
Quality Inn West Chester
8567 Cincinnati Dayton Rd.
West Chester, OH 45069
The Quality Inn of West Chester is located conveniently off of I-75. The hotel features wonderful guest amenities including: a spacious heated indoor swimming pool, business center, Internet access, and exceptional customer service!
Phone: 513-755-3900
Home2 Suites
7145 Liberty Centre Dr.
Liberty Township, OH 45069
Settle in and stay a while at our new Home2 Suites by Hilton Cincinnati Liberty Center. Enjoy all the comforts of home just minutes from downtown Cincinnati and adjacent to Liberty Town Center. Business travelers appreciate our proximity to businesses such as Jungle Jim’s, Cincinnati Enquirer, GE Aviation, Level 3 Communications and Proctor & Gamble.
Phone: 513-644-2207
Four Points by Sheraton Cincinnati North
7500 Tylers Place Boulevard,
West Chester, OH, 45069
Four Points by Sheraton Cincinnati North is centrally located between Dayton and Cincinnati, minutes from the Voice of America Center, Cincinnati Premium Outlets, and Miami Valley Gaming. Enjoy fast & free WiFi, free parking, and local Best Brews® craft beer during your stay at our West Chester hotel.
Phone: 513-777-1101
2020 Vendors
2020 Sponsors
Saputo Specialty Cheese
Fromi
Black Kassel
Yancey’s Fancy
Red Apple Cheese
2020 Vendors
Robert Rothchild Farm
Howard’s Creek Authentic Beer Cheese
Saputo Specialty Cheese
Friesland Campina
Old Croc
Bunker Hill Cheese Co. Inc.
Hell Fire Detroit
Chili Rocks
Carr Valley Cheese
Olivia’s Beer Cheese
The Mustard Man
Alexian Pate
Fromi
Fair Ridge Farms
Fortune Fish & Gourmet
Black Kassel
Savello USA, Inc
Yancey’s Fancy
Tillamook
Pasture Pride
Farm House Kitchen
Natural Valley
Red Apple Cheese
Burnett Dairy
Arla
Smoking Goose
Bellisari’s Gourmet Convenience
Emmi Roth USA
Mackenzie Creamery
North Country Charcuterie
Agora Foods International
Cypress Grove Cheese
Williams Cheese Company
Middlefield Co-op (Ohio)
Atalanta
Stellar Pimento Cheese
Deer Creek Cheese
Cabot Creamery
Golfo di Napoli Dairy
Grafton Village Cheese
Dutch Cheese Makers
Olli Salumeria
LaClare/Saxon Creamery
Fabrique Delices
Ambrosi
Quince & Apple
Di Stefano
Boone Creek Creamery
Columbus
Sartori, Reny Picot, Win Schulers
Cedar’s Foods
Jungle Jims Olive Bar
Ohio Valley
Ste. Michelle Wine Estates
Winery Exchange
E&J Gallo
Tickets
Our Big Cheese Festival is the ultimate two-day homage to fromage! This year, we’re going Big (Cheese) by moving the exclusive VIP area to The Oscar Station, our brand new event space accessible by the famous Jungle Jim’s monorail! We have a great festival in store for you, so we hope you’ll join us for the 8th annual Jungle Jim’s Big Cheese Festival!
General Admission
Sample from over 100 unique barrel-aged beers from local, regional and national breweries, enjoy light snacks, and take home your commemorative glassware! Just remember, these are heavy beers, so please drink responsibly!
Kids Ticket
This event is family-friendly, so bring the whole crew! Your family will be delighted with our festival and they’ll love our cheeses! Kids’ tickets are for children aged 5 to 12 years old. Children 4 years old and younger enter free.
New & Improved VIP Experience
With an all-access VIP ticket, you’ll experience the best that our Big Cheese Festival has to offer with a luxury, VIP-only experience in The Oscar Station, our brand-new venue. Embark on a journey through the world of cheese with unique and rare international cheeses and charcuteries paired with premium beers, wines, and whiskeys selected by our experts. Spend the entirety of the festival in The Oscar Station, or step onto the famous Jungle Jim’s monorail to travel back and forth to The Oscar Event Center where you’ll be able to explore the General Admission area. In addition to the beer, wine, and whiskey pairings available in The Oscar Station, all VIPs will receive a drinking wristband to sample beer and wine in The Oscar Event Center, as well. You must be 21 or older to purchase or use a VIP ticket.
Drinking Wristband
Purchase a drinking wristband at the festival for full access to all of our recommended beer and wine pairings! With a drinking wristband, you’ll get to sample beers and wines from vendors throughout the festival! These cannot be ordered in advance and must be purchased on the day of the event. Wristbands are already included with VIP tickets. You must be 21 or older to purchase or use a drinking wristband.
Best of the Fest 2017 Winners
Best in Show
First Place
Bertozzi Specialty Parmigiano Reggiano – Solo Di Bruna Parmigiano Reggiano
Second Place
Sweet Grass Dairy – Green Hill
Best American Original
First Place
Howard’s Creek – Authentic Beer Cheese
Second Place
Red Apple Cheese – Apple Smoked Gruyere Bar
Third Place
Widmer’s Cheese Cellars – Brick Cheese
Best Cheddar
First Place
Tillamook Cheese – Extra Sharp Cheddar
Second Place
Cabot Creamery – Farmhouse Reserve
Third Place
Montchevre – Goat Milk Cheddar
Best Blue
First Place
Deer Creek – The Blue Jay
Second Place
Sweet Grass Dairy – Asher Blue
Best Charcuterie
First Place
BrewCity Sausage Co. – Bourbon Barrel Sausage Bites
Second Place
Les Trois Petits Cochons – Terrine de Trois Rois
Best Flavored Cheese
First Place
Tillamook Cheese – Smoked Cheddar
Second Place
Mackenzie Creamery – Sour Cherry Bourbon Chevre
Best Sheep/Goat
First Place
Mackenzie Creamery – Sour Cherry Bourbon Chevre
Second Place
Montchevre – Jalapeno Goat Cheese
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where is the festival?
- How much are tickets?
- Can I bring my child?
- Is the event indoors or outdoors?
- How much is parking?
- Is Beer and Wine included in the ticket price?
- Why is Beer and Wine not included?
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Where is the festival?
Jungle Jim’s Big Cheese Festival will be held in The Oscar Event Center located above Jungle Jim’s and the elegant Oscar Station located behind Jungle Jim’s. Please park in the spaces designated for The Oscar Event Center located to the left as you come in the main entrance with the gorilla sign or in the back entrance with the sea serpent.
The Oscar Event Center at Jungle Jim’s
5440 Dixie Highway
Fairfield, OH 45014 The Oscar Station at Jungle Jim’s
8871 N. Gilmore Rd.
Fairfield, OH 45014 Top -
How much are tickets?
Ticket information on our 2021 Big Cheese Festival are to be announced.
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Can I bring my child?
Yes, the Big Cheese Festival is perfect for the entire family.
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Is the event indoors or outdoors?
The Jungle Jim’s Big Cheese Festival will be held in the Oscar Event Center, conveniently located above Jungle Jim’s International Market. As well as The Oscar Station located behind the store.
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How much is parking?
Free.
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Is Beer and Wine included in the ticket price?
VIP ticket holders will have access to beer & wine within the entire show as well as the newly added Exclusive VIP Area. However, General Admission ticket holders must purchase a wristband at the event either Saturday or Sunday to enjoy beer and wine samples only within the GA area of the show.
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Why is Beer and Wine not included?
The primary focus of the Big Cheese Festival is trying new cheeses. In order to keep the ticket cost down for the general attendee, there must be an additional charge for beer and wine.
Please note, the general admission tickets do not include beer & wine.
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