Everything that's happening for Big Cheese Days 2024

Big Cheese Days are back (as we're sure you've heard)!  We are CRAZY excited for this event which will take place every Saturday in May.

In addition to their regular Cheese Trail offers, our Cheese Trail partners are stepping things up a notch with exclusive tastes, tours, experiences, deals and more so read on for what you can expect and be sure to check out our Cheese Trail trip ideas at the bottom of the page as well. 

The 411 on Big Cheese Days

Read on for what you need to know about Big Cheese Days as well as what each partner's offer is. We'll sort by cheesemakers and by hub to make it super easy for you. You can even skip ahead based on what you want to read about: 

• What You Need to Know
  • What is the Cheese Trail
  • Where is Oxford County
• What the Cheese & Dairy makers are Up to
• What's happening in Blandford-Blenheim
• What's happening in Woodstock
• What's happening in Tillsonburg
• What's happening in Ingersoll
• What's happening in Gunn's Hill

What You Need to Know

Here's the inside scoop of everything you should know before heading out on your Big Cheese Days adventure.

What is the Cheese Trail

The Oxford County Cheese Trail is a curated list of 30+ stops that all have special cheese and dairy-related offers year-round that celebrate Oxford County’s rich heritage. You choose the stops you would like to visit based on location and activities. 

Where is Oxford County

Oxford County is conveniently located in Southwestern Ontario where two major highways (401 and 403) meet.

It’s just a 90-minute drive from downtown Toronto and two hours from border crossings at Bu­ffalo, Detroit and Sarnia. Our largest communities include the City of Woodstock and the towns of Tillsonburg, Ingersoll, Norwich and Tavistock. 

What the Cheese & Dairy makers are up to

 

Mountainoak Cheese

Where: Mountainoak Cheese, 3165 Huron Rd. New Hamburg, ON. (View Map)
Hours: Open 9 am - 5 pm, tours from 10 am - 4 pm

• Tours with tasting all day between 10 am and 4 pm ($15 per person or $45 family rate), no pre-booking required.
• Barn Tours + Food Truck Available on Select Saturdays | See Dates & Info

Bright Cheese and Butter

Where: Bright Cheese and Butter, 816503 Oxford Rd. 22 Bright, ON. (View Map)
Hours: 9 am - 4 pm

• Sample their well-known, naturally-aged cheese amde with 100% local milk.

Udderly Ridiculous Farm Life

Where: Udderly Ridiculous Farm Life, 906200 Township Rd 12, Bright, ON. (View Map)
Hours: 9 am - 7 pm

• Buy One single serve Goats Milk Ice Cream and Get One Free
  • Experiences: Book online for goat recess, alpaca walks and more! Book an Udderly Ridiculous Experience.

Golspie Dairy

Where: Golspie Dairy, 455259 45th Line RR#3, Woodstock, ON. (View Map)
Hours: 10 am - 4 pm

• 'Stretching the Curd' a cheesemaking workshop (10 participants per session, recommended for ages 10 and up) | 10:30 am or 1:30 pm every Saturday in May (1-hour workshop, must book ahead online)

Gunn's Hill Artisan Cheese

Where: Gunn’s Hill Artisan Cheese, 445172 Gunn’s Hill Rd. Woodstock, ON. (View Map)
Hours: Open 9 am - 5 pm, tours at 10 am and 1 pm

• Tours at 10 am and 1 pm ($10 per person) Book in advance at gunnshillcheese.ca
• Artisan Grilled Cheese Sandwiches - Available from 11 am - 1 pm

Red Dragon Dairy

Where: Red Dragon Dairy, 383723 Salford Rd. RR#1 Salford, ON. (View Map)
Hours: Open 10 am - 5:30 pm

• Serving up fresh, grilled Welsh Rarebit sandwiches using their sheep cheese | Free with all purchases over $20.00

Dad's Ice Cream

Where: Dad's Ice Cream, 2 Vance Dr. Tillsonburg ON. (View Map)
Hours: 12 pm - 10pm (OPENING EARLY: Open Saturdays in May)

• Butter Tart Sundae featuring butter tarts from The Country Table in Tillsonburg. This sundae is layered with Shaw's signature vanilla ice cream, decadent butterscotch topping, and finished with peanuts, whipped cream and a cherry.

New Galma Dairy

Where: New Galma Dairy, 284059 Daniel Rd. Mount Elgin, ON. (View Map)
Hours: 11 am - 4:30 pm (Last three Saturdays in May)

• Taste New Galma's Gouda Cheese, deliciously melted on a baguette, using the Arteflame

What's happening in Blandford-Blenheim

Thames River Melons Farm Market & Pick-Your-Own Patch

Where: Thames River Melons, 775530 Blandford Rd. Innerkip, ON. (View Map)
Hours: 9 am - 5 pm

• Hot Honey Feta Cheese Dip with Soft Pretzel Bites for dipping | $15 plus tax (serves four as an appetizer)

  A made from scratch, sweet & spicy cheese dip featuring Oxford County feta, smothered in a farm-made hot honey. Order this appetizer, perfect for a dinner party or movie night snack, in advance for a quick pick-up, or snag one on-site. Limited number available day-of.

• Thames River Melons will be launching a *brand-new* Beekeeping Experience, with the inaugural date available during Big Cheese Days, on Saturday May 25th. Stay tuned and book here.

What's happening in Woodstock

Brickhouse Brewpub

Where: Brickhouse Brewpub, 190 Fairway Rd. Woodstock, ON. (View Map)
Hours: 11am-11pm

• Braised Beef Poutine & 20oz Pint ($19). Choose from 24 beers on tap.

Upper Thames Brewing Company

Where: Upper Thames Brewing Co. 225 Bysham Park Dr. #9, Woodstock, ON. (View Map)
Hours: 11am-7pm

• Proscuitto & Brigid's Brie Pizza & 20oz Pint ($20).

Charles Dickens Pub

Where: Charles Dickens Pub, 505 Dundas St. Woodstock, ON. (View Map)
Hours: 11:30 am - 1 am

• Big Cheese Days Menu for the month of May featuring local cheeses. Available from Tuesday to Saturday 12:00pm – 9:00pm.

Habitual Chocolate

Where:  Habitual Chocolate, 389 Dundas St. Woodstock, ON. (View Map)
Hours: 10 am - 5 pm

• Brie Ice Cream ($2.50) | Option to add on local berry compote topping for small fee.

Whisk and Roll Bakery

Where: Whisk and Roll Bakery, 600 Dundas St. Woodstock ON. (View Map)
Hours: 8am-2pm

• Elderberrry Cheesecakes using Berrylicious Elderberries and Crowdie from Golspie Dairy. Made from scratch with local ingredients.

SixThirtyNine

Where: SixThirtyNine, 639 Peel St. Woodstock, ON. (View Map)
Hours: 5-10pm
To Note: Book a reservation in advance online.

• Big Cheese Days Prix Fixe Menu (offered all May long) with five mouthwatering courses of custom culinary creations featuring Oxford County Cheeses (must be booked online or by calling (519) 536-9602 | $65 +HST/person)
• Experience: Reserve a spot at the Chef's Table for dinner. Book the Chef's Table Experience here.

Your Farm Market

Where: Your Farm Market, 39 Young St. Woodstock, ON. (View Map)
Hours: 8am-6pm

• Shop and meet rotating pop-up vendors each Saturday in May | (8am-12pm)

What's happening in Tillsonburg

Coyle's Country Store

Where: Coyle's Country Store, 244282 Airport Rd. Tillsonburg ON. (View Map)
Hours: 9 am - 5 pm

• Buy 2 squares of cheesecake fudge, get one free. This delicious homemade fudge is made on-site at Coyles Country Store.

Tillsonburg Station Arts Centre

Where: Tillsonburg Station Arts Centre, 41 Bridge St. W. Tillsonburg ON. (View Map)
Hours: 9 am - 12 pm

• Community Courtyard Project. Add your creativitity to the Station’s Courtyard Community Art Project and paint a rock for theier garden for all to admire (supplies provided) | All ages welcome. Donations to the Centre are always welcomed!

Two Girls and a Cheese Shop

Where: Two Girls and a Cheese Shop, 20 Brock St. Tillsonburg ON. (View Map)
Hours: 10 am - 3 pm

• Stop by this adorable cheese shop and try a rotating Ontario cheese sample, with a unique cheese to taste every Saturday in May.

Betty's Marketplace

Where: Betty's Marketplace, 87 Broadway St., Tillsonburg, ON. (View Map)
Hours: 10 am - 3 pm

• Sample and shop Betty’s exclusive selection of cheesy popcorn from Reel Treats plus cheesy items and food pairings.

 

What's happening in Ingersoll

 

The Elm Hurst Inn

Hours: The Elm Hurst Inn, 415 Harris St. Ingersoll, ON. (View Map)

• Elm Hurst Inn: The Oxford County Cheese Trail Package. One night accommodation in a Deluxe Inn Room, complimentary breakfast in the Mansion Restaurant, a chilled bottle of sparkling wine, tasting of chocolates and an Oxford County cheese board to your room. 15% off for the month of May.

• Elm Hurst Spa: An indulgent experience at the spa including full body exfoliation, soothing scalp and body massage, plus a luxurious milk and honey wrap, leaving you relaxed and your skin glowing. (75 minutes) Promotion price - $135+ tax.

The Ingersoll Cheese Museum

Where: The Ingersoll Cheese Museum, 290 Harris St. Ingersoll, ON. (View Map)
Hours: 10 am - 4:30 pm

• Explore and get a taste of Ingersoll’s cheesy history at the museum with guided tours, crafts, + more.

The Wine Cellar and Cheese Shop

Where:  The Wine Cellar and Cheese Shop, 188 Thames St. S. Ingersoll, ON. (View Map)
Hours: 9 am - 5 pm

• Stop for a rotating Arteflame lunch by Chef Sean on Saturdays or pick up a small picnic style cheese & charctuerie plate, complete with two non-alcoholic wines for the road. Pre-order with Chef Sean by calling the shop the day before.

Patina's Gifts of Art & Craft

Where: Patina's Gifts of Art & Craft, 112 Thames St. S. Ingersoll, ON. (View Map)
Hours: 11 am - 4 pm

• Check out this small-town gift shop with big time selection including Canadian-made pottery. Buy a piece of pottery and receive a free cheese ball mix.

Louie's Pizza and Pasta

Where: Louie's Pizza & Pasta, 440 Bell St. Ingersoll, ON. (View Map)
Hours: 9am-9pm

• Mushroom Ravioli; roasted mushroom ravioli, garlic parmesan cream, white wine, grape tomatoes, onions, arugula, Gunn’s Gill Handeck - served with bread

• Patty Melt; grilled rye bread layered with bright's cheddar and Gunn’s Hill Smoked Five Brothers stuffed with a smash patty simmered with onions and jus - choice of side

• Cheddar Potato Bacon Pizza; parmesan cream, bacon, potatoes, Bright's cheddar, sour cream, and chives

• Complimentary deep-fried cheese curds when you purchase 2 entrees.

 

What's happening in Gunn's Hill

 

Greener Pastures Eco Farm

Where: Greener Pastures Eco Farm, 774766 Oxford Rd. 14, Woodstock, ON. (View Map)
Hours: 1 - 4 pm

• Greener Pastures Eco Farm: Arteflame Grilled Trio: Pork Garlic Sausage, Potato Wedges, & Mushrooms | (1-4pm) | $6/plate

• Blue Cow Delivery: Mason Jar Milkshakes | $7/each (While Supplies Last)

Jakeman's Maple Farm

Where: Jakeman's Maple Farm, 454414 Trillium Line, Beachville, ON. (View Map)
Hours: 10 am - 4 pm

• Pancake & Syrup Duo for $16.50, every weekend in May | Duo includes 500ml Kent Bottle of Maple Syrup and Jakeman’s Pancake Mix

Wild Comfort Body Care

Where: Wild Comfort Body Care, 445300 Gunn’s Hill Road, Woodstock ON. (View Map)
Hours: 1 pm - 4 pm

• Pop in between 1pm and 4pm to try a Soap Felting Experience. | $10/soap felting experience

Norwich and District Historical Society Museum & Archives

Where: Norwich DHS, 89 Stover St. N, Norwich, ON. (View Map)
Hours: 10 am - 4 pm

• Churn Back Time Experience at 2:30pm (Book in advance | Adult - $12.00, Child - $8.00, Family - $25.00)

 

See you soon!