Events
2026 Pimento Cheese Festival
Pimento cheese is a Southern delicacy worth celebrating.
The nation’s premier festival dedicated to pimento cheese is taking over Downtown Cary Park once again on April 11, 2026, with vendors serving inventive, delicious pimento cheese-infused creations. Past items have included pimento cheese ice cream (yes, you read that right) and a variety of other dishes such as egg rolls, empanadas, and more.
Schedule of Events
The Pimento Cheese Festival is from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. Visitors can enjoy food from more than 50 vendors, live music, games and activities, the annual pimento cheese sculpting contest, and more.
| TIME | PROGRAM | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|
| 11 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. | The Embers Performance | Great Lawn Pavilion |
| 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Mouse Trap Kids Games | Gathering Garden |
| 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Scrap Exchange | The Nest Pavilion |
| 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Food Trucks and Breweries (see list below) | Surrounding the Park |
| 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Pimento Cheese Marketplace | Frantz Square |
| 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Pimento Cheese Lounge featuring DJ Tegan | Ivey Ellington Lot |
| 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Pimento Cheese Merch Tent | Academy Plaza |
| 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Closest to the Pin Golf Simulator | Park Street Arena |
| 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Cheese Carving by Sarah Kaufmann | Academy Pavilion |
| 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. | Puppy Cup with TST and Peak Lab Rescue | Park Street Arena |
| 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. | Pimento Cheese Sculpting Contest | Great Lawn Pavilion |
| 3 p.m. | Announcement of the Marketplace’s Best Pimento Cheese | Frantz Square Lawn |
| 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. | The Embers Performance | Great Lawn Pavilion |
Festival Map
Food & Beverage
2026 Pimento Cheese Marketplace Vendors
Vote for your favorite pimento cheese throughout the day and see who will take home the trophy this year!
| Chef Jamie |
| Southpaw Treats |
| Wendy’s Wicked Peppers |
| Once in a Blue Moon Bakery |
| Chicken Salad Chick |
| Raleigh Cheesy |
| Frankie B’s |
| House at Gatewood |
| Weaver Street Market |
| LaFarm |
| Great Harvest |
| Crosstown Pub |
| Uncle Chris’ Premium Pimento Cheese |
| BE Bakery |
| The Albatross |
| DJ’s Pimento Cheese |
2026 Food Trucks and Beverage Vendors
There will be a variety of food trucks and vendors delivering their regular menus as well as unique pimento cheese-infused dishes. Check out the list of vendors below. Food items are subject to change.
Vote throughout the day for your favorite food truck item. The winner will receive the Peoples
Choice Award.
| Andia’s Ice Cream | Variety of award-winning ice cream including a pimento cheese flavor, vegan and gluten free option |
| Annelore’s German Bakery | Pimento Sausage danishes, Pimento cheese pretzels, Pimento Pretzel croissants, Pimento scones |
| Baltic Bites | Pimento cheese chicken bites, pimento cheese and chips, smoked sausage with pimento cheese and many other items! |
| Beef Street and a Pig | Hot Honey Buffalo Chicken and Pimiento Cheese sandwich, Loaded Brisket Fries with homemade Pimiento Cheese Sauce, Pimiento Cheese stuffed Brisket meatball subs |
| Big Mike’s Barbeque | Big Cheesy – BBQ between two pimento grilled cheese sandwiches, Pimento cheese grits with burnt ends or smoked jalapeno sausage, Pimento cheese Mac and cheese |
| Black Creek Brewery | |
| Bobasaur | Dill pickle lemonade with a pimento cheese rimmed cup, Dill pickle iced tea with a pimento cheese rimmed cup, Dill pickle Arnold Palmer with a pimento cheese rimmed cup |
| Bond Brothers Beer Company | |
| Carolina Brewing Company | |
| Chick-N-Que | Turkey Pimento Cheese Sausage Balls, Pimento Cheese Collard Green Waffle Wedges, Strawberry Jam Pimento Cheese Cookies |
| Corner Boys BBQ LLC | Brisket & Pimento Cheese Sandwich, Pulled BBQ Pork Pimento Cheese Sandwich, Pimento Cheese & Mac N Cheese Sandwich |
| Craft Public House | House Pretzels – Handmade soft pretzels with pimiento cheese dip and hot mustard sauce. Pulled Pork Nachos – Smoked pork shoulder, pimiento cheese sauce, BBQ sauce. Loaded Fries – Hand-cut seasoned fries, melted pimiento cheese, bacon, scallions. Pimiento Bacon Cheeseburger – Black angus, pimiento cheese, bacon, fresh pretzel bun. Smothered BBQ Chicken – Grilled Chicken, pimiento cheese, and BBQ sauce. Pimento Mac & Cheese Bowl – Shells & pimento-infused cheese sauce |
| Curry in a Hurry | Pimento cheese Naan, Pimento Chicken Tikka bowl, Loaded Pimento cheese fries |
| DonutNV | Maple Bacon Pimento Cheese Donut, Pimento Cream Cheese & Bacon Donut |
| Edit Beer Co. | |
| Empanadas RD | Our new and famous loaded sweet plantain with bacon, pulled pork, and melted pimiento cheese. Most popular empanadas, chicken buffalo, and now adding pimiento cheese. Loaded savory plantain with pork belly and melted pimento cheese. |
| Fortnight Brewing | |
| Fresh AF Vegan | Vegan pimento cheese chicken Sammie, Vegan pimento cheese tots, Vegan pimento cheese burger |
| goldenKdog | Korean Corn Dogs with Pimento Cheese topping, Pimento Cheese Fries, Chicken Tenders with spicy pimento cheese dip |
| Henry’s Hot Chicken | Pimento Cheese Chicken Sandwich: Chicken, Texas Toast, Pimento Cheese, Pickles, Comeback Sauce. Chicken Pimento Fries: Crinkle Fries, Pimento Cheese, Fried Chicken, Hot Honey. Baked Pimento Mac: Pimento Cheese Mac n Cheese |
| Hot Chix Hotcakes and Chicken | Pimento Cheesy Chix-wich: Crispy chicken tenders sandwiched between a toasted brioche bun topped with pimento cheese and drizzled with hot honey. Pimento Cheezy Chix – pancake wrapped around fried chicken, topped with pimento cheese and drizzled with hot honey. Pimento Cheesy Chicken Tots – crispy tater tots covered in pimento cheese, topped with fried chicken and drizzled with hot honey |
| JAM Soft Serve Ice Cream and Shaved Ice | Pimento Cheese Milkshakes- a creamy blend of vanilla ice cream and pimento cheese topped with whipped cream and dusted with Ritz crackers. Pimento Cheese Sundae with Waffle Cone Pieces- Vanilla ice cream paired with pimento cheese and waffle cone pieces topped with a drizzle of hot honey. Pimento Cheese and Caramel Snow Creme-Layers of caramel-flavored shaved ice and pimento cheese create this unique one-of-a-kind cooling dessert. |
| Magdalena’s Chimney Cakes | Sweet chimney cake lined with honey butter and filled with Pimento Cheese Frozen Custard, topped with butter crunchies Savory pimento grilled cheese chimney (filled with pimento cheese, drizzled with hot honey, topped off with pickles). Sweet chimney cake lined with spicy pimento cheese, filled with vanilla frozen custard and topped with candied bacon crumbles and hot honey drizzle |
| Mama Birds Ice Cream Catering | Cheddar pimiento cheese ice cream with homemade cornbread pieces and spiced candied pecans. Pimiento Cheese (Spicy) cheddar and pepper jack pimiento cheese ice cream with candied jalapenos and candied bacon |
| Mesas El Salvador | Pimento pupusas, pimento pulled pork slider, yuca fries with pimento dip |
| MoMoMandu | Pimento Chilli MoMo : Handmade Nepali dumplings tossed in spicy garlic-chili sauce, finished with a creamy pimento cheese twist. Loaded Chowmein: Wok-tossed noodles with fresh vegetables, savory soy-chili sauce, and a drizzle of creamy pimento cheese. Creamy Chicken Chilly: Chicken bites stir-fried in spicy garlic-chili sauce, coated with creamy pimento cheese for a bold Nepali fusion twist. |
| MoonRunners Saloon Food Truck | Brisket Pimento Cheese Sliders with caramelized onions. Fried pimento cheese bites. Fried Pork belly on a stick with pimento cheese dip |
| NC Burger | Pimento Cheeseburger, Pimento Jalapeno Hot Honey Chicken, Pimento Cheese Cheese Curds. |
| Not just a Fry Guy | Hot Honey Pimento Cheese Fries: Pimento Cheese with Hot Honey and Green Onions. Loaded Pimento Cheese Fries: Melted Pimento Cheese Sauce, Bacon Bits, Sour Cream & Green Onions. Southern Volcano Fries: Pimento Cheese with Chili Crisp Drizzle and Pork Rind Crumble. |
| Praise Cheeses! | Grilled Jalapeno Pimento Cheese Sandwich. (As is, or add ham or bacon) Loaded Fries. Fries, topped with jalapeno pimento cheese, sprinkled with bacon bits and green onions. Served with a side of parmesan ranch. Loaded Baked Potato. Jumbo baked potato, topped with jalapeno pimento cheese, bacon bits, green onion, and sour cream. |
| Raleigh Popsicle Co | |
| Red, White, Bubbly & Brew supporting JEN, INC | |
| Rescue Dogs & Catering | Pimento Cheese, Claussen Pickle Spear Drizzled with Mikes Hot Honey all on our Award Winning Grilled Garlic Butter Buns or on our Crispy Seasoned TOTS. “Mike Hot Mama” (Available on a hot dog or tots) Pimento Cheese, Jalapeños Drizzled with Mike Hot Honey served on our Award Winning Grilled Garlic Butter Buns or on our Crispy seasoned TOTS. Pimento & Bacon Mac & Cheese Bowl (Available with or without bacon) |
| Safari Eatz | Safari Roll-Kenyan inspired pimento cheese roll. Zanzibar Street Potatoes- a double stuffed pimento cheese potato. The Serengeti Slider- Bison topped with creamy pimento cheese |
| South Line Brewing Company | |
| Super Spuds | South Philly Spud-steak, onions and peppers, jalapeno pimento cheese, and crispy jalapenos, Spicy southern dog-hotdog with bacon, jalapeno pimento cheese and crispy jalapenos, Southern Spuderman bites-loaded potato balls with jalapeno pimento cheese, bacon, green onion |
| TAPS Creamery | Pimento Cheese Apple Pie Sundae: Vanilla ice cream, warm apple pie filling, whipped pimento cheese sauce, graham cracker crumb, caramel Drizzle, shredded Cheddar Cheese |
| The Angry Lobster | Claws and cheese made with pimento cheese. Lobster pimento balls – lobster cheese fritter featuring pimento cheese. Pimento Mac and cheese |
| The Heights Dominican Kitchen | Sweet plantain smash with pimento cheese topping, shredded cheese. Loaded French fries with pimento cheese topping, guava sauce, shredded cheese. Pulled pork platter with pimento cheese topping, topped with optional special sauce over top. 7 cheese mac and cheese topped with pimento cheese, shredded cheddar and optional sauce |
| Tobacco Wood Brewing Company | |
| Tombachi Restaurants | Pimento Cheese Crab Rangoons, Pimento Cheese and Pork Belly Bao Bun, Pimento cheese FRIED rice hibachi balls |
| Truman’s Smokehouse and Kitchen | Brisket and pimento cheese spring rolls, Pimento cheese quesadillas, Pimento cheese pork nachos |
| Vicious Fishes Brewery |
Market 317 serves incredible snacks, coffee, beer, wine and more. They will have their own pimento cheese for sale.
The Bark Bar serves beer, wine and prosecco and features light snacks as well.
Accessibility
Downtown Cary Park strives to provide a positive experience for all guests. Our goal is to accommodate you and meet your individual needs. Please fill out the event accessibility form here and a staff member will be in contact with you.