What to Know20th Annual California Artisan Cheese FestivalMarch 20-22, 2026Santa Rosa$40 and up
FLING INTO SPRING: There are several ways to saunter into the softest and sweetest season, with flower-focused adventures, nature walks, and gentle outdoor excursions adding zing to our early spring. But there are a few rites to consider around the Golden State should you want to fling into spring, grandly and with flavor, and one of the most notable will line up the cutting boards and little blackboard signs in Santa Rosa. For that’s where dairy devotees will creamily convene, all to enjoy the annual California Artisan Cheese Festival. The first day of the festival is as springful as springful gets: It’s taking place March 20, on the vernal equinox, and the whole snackable shebang wraps March 22. And while opportunities to taste a kaleidoscopic variety of bespoke wheels and slices and hunks will abound, so will engaging experiences like creamery tours.
THE ARTISAN CHEESE TASTING & MARKETPLACE… is a robust centerpiece, and with good and gourmand-y reason. The “tasting” part means attendees will be able to try cheese and noshable goodies from over 100 vendors, and chat with the experts and staffers who know their Cheddars, Goudas, and Blues. The out-and-about Farm & Producer Tours are also popular (and sell-out-able), and the 2026 themes include “Icons of the Coast” and “Honey, Heritage, and Cultured Classics”; two other experiences are on the roster, with focuses on “Field to Fromage” and “Bold Northern California Craft” (oh yum). The festival has been around for two decades, and while tastings are a popular draw, as is knowing where these fine cheeses originate; securing your spot well ahead of your Santa Rosa arrival is a must. Tickets, times, and information about hotels are on this site.