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 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: 10 am - 5 pm

• Buy One single serve Goats Milk Ice Cream and Get One Free
  • Experiences: Book online for goat recess, alpaca walks, mini highland cow experience 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, Noon, or 1:30 pm every Saturday in May (1-hour workshop, $55/person, 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
• Charcuterie Cups - $4 each

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)

• Loaded Cheesecake Sundae | Your choice of Cherry or Blueberry Cheesecake ice cream loaded with cheesecake pieces, cherry or blueberry sauce, finished with nuts, whipped cream, and a cherry.

New Galma Dairy

Where: New Galma Dairy, 284059 Daniel Rd. Mount Elgin, ON. (View Map)
Hours: 11 am - 4:00 pm

• Barn Tours and Gouda Sampling | May 3rd, 17th, and 31st
• Taste New Galma's Gouda Cheese, deliciously melted on a baguette, using the Arteflame | May 10th and 24th

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

• Strawberry Cheesecake Pretzel Bun featuring Golspie Dairy Crowdie and Thames River Melons Strawberry Jam| $3 plus tax

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 of Upper Thames Brewing Co. Beer ($21). Choose from 13 beers to choose from.

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 of Upper Thames Brewing Co. Beer ($22). Choose from 13 beers to choose from.

Cheesy Cow Co.

Where: Cheesy Cow Co., 521 Dundas St. Woodstock, ON. (View Map)
Hours: 10 am - 4 pm

• Maple Moo Bites Cheese Dots drizzled with local maple syrup, served with honey BBQ pepperettes.

Habitual Chocolate

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

• Chocolate Tasting Flights | $10

• Ice Cream Tasting Flights | $10

 

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

• 'Say Cheese' Community Created Selfie Wall | All ages welcome. Donations to the Centre are always welcomed!

GoodPud

Where: GoodPud, 39 North St. E, Unit A, Tillsonburg ON. (View Map)
Hours: 12 pm - 6 pm

• GoodPud Tasting Experience |Tasting flight, cooking demo, take-home dessert, recipe pamphlet, and 10% off GoodPud purchases |$15+tax per person| Every Saturday in May, 10:30AM, 12:30PM, and 2:30PM |Book ahead online

Betty's Marketplace

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

• Offer details coming soon!

 

What's happening in Ingersoll

 

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 and enjoy crafts + activities.

• More offers to come! Stay tuned.

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

• Outdoor lunch on the wood-fired grill using local heese. Pre-order + pick-up after 12PM
• 2-3 samples of Ontario cheeses in the shop with a chutney pairing, fruit/nut/pickley item and cracker/baguette.

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

• Grilled Cheesehead; cheddar, gouda, bacon, and tomato, grilled on sour dough | $17 +tax

• Turkey Avocado; turkey breast, guacamole, grilled tomato, mozzarella, smoked five brothers, grilled on sourdough | $19 +tax

• Beef and Cheddar, but better; slow roasted beef, smoked five bros, cheddar, grilled onions and peppers, garlic aioli, grilled on italian ciabatta | $21 +tax

• All Sandwiches served with Fries or Choice of Side, No Side subtract -$3

 

See you soon!