One of the most popular part of Cheese Curd Festival is the Cheese Curd Eating Contest, which had an upset in the men’s category this year. A great crowd cheered on all contestants.
Photo courtesy of Cheese Curd Festival
The Tucker Baker Band performs a Johnny Cash hit on the Park Stage at Cheese Curd Festival Friday, June 27.
Sarah Nigbor / Pierce County Journal
Poutine, a classic Canadian dish, features hand cut French fries smothered in gravy and fresh cheddar cheese curds.
Sarah Nigbor / Pierce County Journal
Lilyana Boyd raises her hands in victory during the Women’s Cheese Curd Eating Contest June 28. She finished ¼ pound in 1 minute, 36 seconds, defeating the old record by 11 seconds.
Photo courtesy of Cheese Curd Festival
Food trucks serving cheese curd-inspired dishes lined Wall Street, framed by picnic tables filled with friends and neighbors catching up.
Sarah Nigbor / Pierce County Journal
Food trucks serving cheese curd-inspired dishes lined Wall Street, framed by picnic tables filled with friends and neighbors catching up.
Sarah Nigbor / Pierce County Journal
Mike Steele hands off a bowl of fresh cheese curds ready to drop into the fryers at Cheese Curd Central on June 27.
Sarah Nigbor / Pierce County Journal
The trio of deep-fried cheese curds included hand battered original, cinnamon n’ sugar dessert curds, and this year’s featured flavor, hot honey.
Sarah Nigbor / Pierce County Journal
Cheesy Gouda Mac n’ Cheese was a popular pick on Food Truck Alley at the 2025 Cheese Curd Festival.
Sarah Nigbor / Pierce County Journal
Arthur Gustafson, 2, came all the way to Cheese Curd Festival from Jackson, Mich., with his family.
Sarah Nigbor / Pierce County Journal
A Pierce County Highway Department 1967 International Loadstar 1890, owned by Dan Plizga, was on display at the Cheese Curd Festival Car Show June 27.
Sarah Nigbor / Pierce County Journal
Fr. Derek Gilde, New Brighton, Minn., checked out a Grand Prix similar to the one his mother drove when he was growing up in River Falls at the Cheese Curd Festival Car Show.
Sarah Nigbor / Pierce County Journal
Cheese Curd Festival Committee member Raynee Farrell (right) congratulates Aiden Corniea, the winner of the Kids 8-11 Cheese Curd Eating Contest. She ate ¼ pound of cheese curds in 2 minutes and 17 seconds, a new record!
Photo courtesy of Cheese Curd Festival
Cheese Curd Festival Committee member Raynee Farrell congratulates the winners of the Kids 12-15 Cheese Curd Eating Contest, Caleb Gorth Olson and Angel Jacobson. They tied at ¼ pound eaten in 2 minutes and 4 seconds.
Photo courtesy of Cheese Curd Festival
Pablo Leyva is the new Men’s Cheese Curd Eating Champion, defeating three-time winner Alex Smrekar, who dropped a curd and was disqualified. Leyva completed his ¼ pound serving in 2 minutes and 2 seconds.
Photo courtesy of Cheese Curd Festival
Alex Smrekar and Cale Arby were the winners of the Two-Person Cheese Curd Eating Relay on June 28. They ate a ¼ pound each in 1 minute, 58 seconds.
Photo courtesy of Cheese Curd Festival
An Ellsworth police officer stoops to say hello to a young Cheese Curd Festival visitor.
Sarah Nigbor / Pierce County Journal
Elynn Bergh, Ellsworth, found her matching Cheese Curd Buddy (#248) and collected a prize from the Cheese Curd Merch Shop on Friday, June 27.
