Michigan’s Cheese Capital Is Throwing a Three-Day Festival This Month

If you've ever had Pinconning cheese, you know it's worth celebrating. That's exactly what they'll be doing later this month at the annual Pinconning CheeseTown Festival.

When Is the Pinconning CheeseTown Festival?

I'm sure you're familiar with Pinconning, but if not, let's break it down. It's a small town along Saginaw Bay that's known as Michigan's Cheese Capital. From June 19 through June 21 at Doc Letchfield Park, it'll host its annual CheeseTown Festival, and yes, it's pretty much exactly what it sounds like.

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This year's festival is getting an extra day and a full-blown carnival, giving you even more reasons to make the trip. And I use the term "trip" loosely since Pinconning is only about an hour from Genesee County.

What Happens at the Pinconning CheeseTown Festival?

You'll find live music, fireworks, a softball tournament, a parade, a petting zoo, a magic show, and even races where participants get free cheese. Because of course they do.

One event that always gets a lot of attention is the macaroni and cheese cookoff.

If you're bringing the kids, there will be plenty for them too, including alpacas, goats, pigs, and other animals at the petting zoo on Saturday.

Fair warning: you're also going to hear your fair share of cheesy jokes throughout the weekend. It's basically unavoidable.

Why Is Pinconning Known as Michigan's Cheese Capital?

The festival also celebrates the town's long cheese-making history. Pinconning has been known for its cheese for more than 100 years, and several family-owned cheese shops still call the town home today.

I stopped at Pinconning Cheese House recently and loaded up on cheese, and man, it's good. I've never been to the Pinconning CheeseTown Festival, but it sounds like it might be worth a little road trip north.