GALLERY: 25th Annual Cheese Curd Festival brings crowds

Posted 7/1/26

ELLSWORTH - This year, Ellsworth’s 25 th annual Cheese Curd Festival welcomed visitors from all 50 states and numerous countries.

What started as a hometown celebration has grown into …

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GALLERY: 25th Annual Cheese Curd Festival brings crowds

The beautiful summer weather on June 26 and 27 drew thousands of people to the 25th annual Cheese Curd Festival. Even with road construction on Wallace Street, shuttles moved smoothly.

The beautiful summer weather on June 26 and 27 drew thousands of people to the 25th annual Cheese Curd Festival. Even with road construction on Wallace Street, shuttles moved smoothly.

Sarah Nigbor / Pierce County Journal

The gyro bowl (lamb or chicken) had the option of including squeaky cheese curd crumbles.

The gyro bowl (lamb or chicken) had the option of including squeaky cheese curd crumbles.

Sarah Nigbor / Pierce County Journal

The Richmond St. BBQ food truck from Appleton won the best cheese curd dish at the 25th annual Cheese Curd Festival for the third year in a row.

The Richmond St. BBQ food truck from Appleton won the best cheese curd dish at the 25th annual Cheese Curd Festival for the third year in a row.

Contributed photo

Steve Schutz (center), owner of Tried & True thrift shop on Wall Street, welcomed his daughter Meghan Weinberg and her two sons, Monroe and Ethan, from Seattle, Wash. and his son Jamey Weinberg and wife Jody Weinberg from the Twin Cities for Cheese Curd Festival.

Steve Schutz (center), owner of Tried & True thrift shop on Wall Street, welcomed his daughter Meghan Weinberg and her two sons, Monroe and Ethan, from Seattle, Wash. and his son Jamey Weinberg and wife Jody Weinberg from the Twin Cities for Cheese Curd Festival.

Sarah Nigbor / Pierce County Journal

Isabella Ganzer (left) and Mia Murphy, who are going into ninth grade at Ellsworth High School, were volunteer ice cream servers at the Cheese Curd Festival ice cream tasting event June 27.

Isabella Ganzer (left) and Mia Murphy, who are going into ninth grade at Ellsworth High School, were volunteer ice cream servers at the Cheese Curd Festival ice cream tasting event June 27.

Sarah Nigbor / Pierce County Journal

Linnea Sears (left) and mom Missy Sears, of Ellsworth, were on hand for the ice cream sampling event in the Taste of Wisconsin tent June 27.

Linnea Sears (left) and mom Missy Sears, of Ellsworth, were on hand for the ice cream sampling event in the Taste of Wisconsin tent June 27.

Sarah Nigbor / Pierce County Journal

Contestants in the youth categories (8-11 and 12-15) came from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Nebraska. They were required to down a ¼-pound of cheese curds the fastest to claim the prize.

Contestants in the youth categories (8-11 and 12-15) came from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Nebraska. They were required to down a ¼-pound of cheese curds the fastest to claim the prize.

Sarah Nigbor / Pierce County Journal

Contestants in the youth categories (8-11 and 12-15) came from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Nebraska. They were required to down a ¼-pound of cheese curds the fastest to claim the prize.

Contestants in the youth categories (8-11 and 12-15) came from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Nebraska. They were required to down a ¼-pound of cheese curds the fastest to claim the prize.

Sarah Nigbor / Pierce County Journal

Cheese Curd eating contest longest running champ Alex Smrekar, of Blaine, Minn. (second from left) won the contest again and reclaimed the men’s title after being disqualified last year for dropping a curd.

Cheese Curd eating contest longest running champ Alex Smrekar, of Blaine, Minn. (second from left) won the contest again and reclaimed the men’s title after being disqualified last year for dropping a curd.

Sarah Nigbor / Pierce County Journal

The women’s category brought an Ellsworth local to the table, but alas, she lost to a Minnesota resident.

The women’s category brought an Ellsworth local to the table, but alas, she lost to a Minnesota resident.

Sarah Nigbor / Pierce County Journal

The new cheese curd relay team winner defeated Alex Smrekar and his partner, who is from Wilson, hailing from Minnesota.

The new cheese curd relay team winner defeated Alex Smrekar and his partner, who is from Wilson, hailing from Minnesota.

Sarah Nigbor / Pierce County Journal

Posted Wednesday, July 1, 2026 1:28 pm

ELLSWORTH - This year, Ellsworth’s 25^th annual Cheese Curd Festival welcomed visitors from all 50 states and numerous countries.

What started as a hometown celebration has grown into something that brings people together while making a lasting impact on our community. Because of you, local businesses welcomed new customers, nonprofit organizations raised important funds, and Ellsworth had the opportunity to share its heart with thousands of visitors,” the Festival posted on Facebook.

“We also want to thank everyone for your patience on Saturday during an unexpected equipment issue at Cheese Curd Central. A small fryer fire temporarily took two fryers out of service, resulting in longer wait times while our amazing volunteers, the Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery team, and the Chippewa Valley Energy team worked quickly to get everything back up and running. We appreciate your understanding more than you know.

“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for making our 25th Annual Cheese Curd Festival so special.”

Keywords

Cheese Curd Festival, 25th anniversary, Ellsworth, Wisconsin