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The Big Cheese Festival
The ultimate two-day homage to fromage is back! Try hundreds of cheeses at Jungle Jim's Big Cheese Festival on March 7 & 8!
SOLD OUT
Where: The Oscar Event Center
5440 Dixie Highway
Fairfield, OH 45014
Cost: $5-$55

Jungle Jim’s Big Cheese Festival Returns March 7 & 8, 12PM-5PM!

Join us inside The Oscar Event Center at Jungle Jim’s Fairfield on March 7 & 8 for a swiss-stravaganza celebrating all things cheese from 12PM–5PM.

Taste hundreds of cheeses and mountains of charcuterie plus pickles, olives, pairings, demos, music, voting, and surprises around every corner. One of our most beloved festivals for a reason, this is our ultimate two-day homage to fromage!

Experience the World of Cheese at Jungle Jim’s Big Cheese Festival!

Wheel-y Love What You Taste? Take it Home!

Everything showcased at the festival is available just a few steps away in The Cheese Shop! If you sample something you really love, you can stock up on all your new favorites for home!

Say Cheese!

Who puts the bold in bold washed rinds? Vote for the Top Cheese in seven different categories: Blue, American Original, Cheddar, Charcuterie, Flavored Cheese, Sheep/Goat, and the overall top-shelf spot of Best in Show!

Always a Gouda Time

It’s been a while since we’ve cut to the cheese and we’re eager as a mouse for the return our most legendary festival! Join us for the 8th Annual Big Cheese Festival and taste your way through:

  • Aged cheddar
  • Creamy gouda
  • Funky blues
  • Bold washed rinds
  • Pickles, olives & stacked charcuterie
  • Beer & Wine Pairings

And more!

Cheddar Than Ever Add-on Experiences!
Meet mongers, wine experts, and more inside The Cooking School!
Space is extremely limited, with just 30 seats available for each session, so reserve your seat before they sell out!

  • Elevated Wine & Cheese Classes
  • Cheesemaking Seminar With Ambrosi Cheese
  • Charcuterie Board Building With the Di Bruno Brothers

Photos

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Tickets

🧀 General Admission – $30

Taste hundreds of cheeses and mountains of charcuterie plus pickles, olives, pairings, demos, music, and surprises around every corner. One of our most beloved festivals for a reason, this is our ultimate two-day homage to fromage!

Brie-lliant Add-On Experiences!

Meet mongers, wine experts, and more inside The Cooking School! Space is extremely limited, with just 30 seats available for each session, so reserve your seat before they sell out! Each experience averages 45 minutes of education, tips & international bites. 

đź‘§ Kids Tickets - $5

For ages 12 and under. Children under the age of 5 are free!

đź§€ Saturday Cheesemaking Seminar

2PM | $15 (SOLD OUT)

Featuring:

  • Zaha Calcaire Sparkling Wine – Argentina
  • Vignamato Verdicchio – Italy
  • Tenuta Buon Tempo Rosso di Montalcino – Italy
  • Omen Cabernet Sauvignon – California

đź§€ Saturday Cheesemaking Seminar

4PM | $5 (SOLD OUT)

Learn more about the food you love with Ambrosi Cheese! Watch Ambrosi crack rare wheels of:

  • Parmigiano Reggiano (24 & 36 Months)
  • Vacche Rosse (24 month Red Cow Reggiano)
  • Solo di Bruna (24 month Brown Cow Reggiano)
  • Paired with aged balsamic

🍷 Sunday Elevated Wine & Cheese Class

2PM | $15

Featuring:

  • Weinkeller Erbach Riesling – Germany
  • RĂ©my Lefevre Bourgogne Chardonnay – France
  • Benmar “Above the Clouds” Pinot Noir – Oregon
  • Jax Y3 Cabernet Sauvignon – California

đź§€ Sunday Cheesemaking Seminar

4PM | $5

Build a charcuterie board with the Di Bruno Brothers! Compete to win Best Board in this hands-on master class.

2020 Vendors

2026 Sponsors and Vendors Coming Soon!

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

Best of the Fest 2020 Winners
Come back soon for the 2026 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

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


Frequently Asked Questions

  • Where is the festival?

    Jungle Jim’s Big Cheese Festival will be held in The Oscar Event Center located above 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
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  • How much are tickets?

    Single day admission is $30, kids tickets $10.
    Check our tickets page for additional promotions now through December 26th.

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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.

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  • How much is parking?

    Free.

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  • Is Beer and Wine included in the ticket price?

    A purchased Drink Wristband ($35) will give you access to beer & wine samples throughout 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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