Pimento Cheese Festival
Pimento cheese is a southern delicacy worth celebrating. Come enjoy the nation’s only festival dedicated specifically to pimento cheese!
A new date, more vendors, and, of course, more pimento cheese! This year’s Pimento Cheese Festival is set to be the best yet with more activities and a larger event footprint including Downtown Cary Park.
TEXT “DCP” to 515-97 for day of updates!
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, trivia at The Bark Bar, games, the annual pimento cheese sculpting contest and more.
| TIME | PROGRAM | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|
| 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | Wake Moody Performance | Great Lawn Pavilion |
| 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. | ZimZoom Photo Booth | The Bark Bar |
| 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. | Knockerball | Park Street Arena |
| 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Cheese Carving by Sarah Kaufmann | Academy Pavilion |
| 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. | Cheese Wiz Trivia | The Bark Bar |
| 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. | Wake Moody Performance | Great Lawn Pavilion |
| 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. | Pimento Cheese Sculpting Contest – Sign up for Heat 1 or Heat 2 | Great Lawn Pavilion |
| 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. | Wake Moody Performance | Great Lawn Pavilion |
FESTIVAL MAP
See below for food truck locations.
Food & Beverage
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.
| VENDORS | PIMENTO CHEESE ITEMS | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|
| Andia’s Ice Cream | Pimento Cheese Ice Cream | 30 |
| Annelore’s German Bakery | Pimento Cheese Pretzels Pimento Cheese Scones | 25 |
| Baconessence | The Pimento Melt Double Dog w/ pimento add-on option Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Jalapeno Cheddar Brat w/ pimento add-on option | 11 |
| Baltic Bites | Zrazy Ground Chicken Roll Bites w/ Pimento Cheese Lithuanian Dark-Rye Garlic Bread w/ Pimento Cheese Dip | 17 |
| Beefy Buns | Brisket and Pimento Eggrolls – Braised Beef Brisket & Pimento served with Balsamic Reduction Drizzle Fried Chicken & Pimento Cheese Sandwich – Fried Chicken Breast, Arugula, melted Pimento Cheese | 3 |
| Black Creek Brewery | N/A | 38 |
| Bobasaur | Pimento Cheese & Tajin Rimmed Cup for all Fruit Teas and Lemonade Drinks | 9 |
| Bond Brothers Beer Co. | N/A | 29 |
| Boozie Bakes | Pimento Cheese Cupcakes | 13 |
| Brueprint Brewing Company | N/A | 28 |
| Buff-O-Lina | Pimento Cheese Chicken Wings Pimento Cheese Fries Pimento Cheese Hot Dog Pimento Cheese Beef On Weck | 12 |
| Bull City Ciderworks | N/A | 39 |
| Charlie’s Kabob Grill on Wheels | Pimento Cheese Pretzel Bites Pimento Cheese Chicken Wrap | 32 |
| Che Empanadas | Pimento Cheese Empanadas Chipas (Colombian-Style Cheese Puffs) w/ Pimento Cheese | 20 |
| Dusty Donuts | Mini Donuts Drizzled with Pimento Cream Cheese Icing | 22 |
| Flattz Signature Flatbreads | Chicken & Pimento Sandwich – Grilled Chicken, Pimento Cheese, Greens, Roasted Red Peppers, Banana Peppers & Green Onions Pimento Grilled Cheese – Pimento Cheese, Applewood Bacon and Green Onions | 34 |
| Fortnight Brewing | N/A | 27 |
| Golden K Dog | KDog topped with Pimento Cheese & Flaming Hot Cheetos Pimento Cheese Fries | 23 |
| Green Onions Bistro | Chicken Teriyaki Pimento Cheese Dumplings w/ Sweet Chili Sauce & Garnished w/ Pickled Jalapeños Pimento Sandwich/Sub – Chicken, Beef Birria or Tofu options | 10 |
| Gussy’s Greek | Greek Pimento Burger Pimento Feta Cheese Balls | 19 |
| Hatchet Brewing Company | N/A | 37 |
| Hot Chix Hot Cakes and Chicken | Cheesy Chix – Pancake Fried Chicken Tacos w/ Pimento Cheese & Hot Honey Cheesy Chicken Tots – Tater Tots Covered in Pimento Cheese w/ Chicken and Hot Honey | 40 |
| JAM Soft Serve Ice Cream | Pimento Cheese Milkshake | 18 |
| Jolly’s Catering and Events | Pimento Cheese Big Mama Wrap Pimento Cheese Mac N Cheese Pimento Cheese Chili Cheese Fries | 5 |
| Mama Birds Ice Cream | Pimento Cheese Ice Cream | 7 |
| Mesas El Salvador | Pimento Cheese Pupusas Pimento Cheese Sliders w/ Roasted Pulled Pork | 1 |
| Mr. A’s Beignets | 3 Traditional Beignets w/ Pimento Cheese | 2 |
| Mr. Puebla Tacos | Pimento Poppers – Open-Faced Jalapeños filled with Pimento Cheese & Brisket Pimen-taco: Fresh Corn Tortilla w/ Pimento Cheese & choice of protein, topped with Cilantro and Onions. Jalapeños optional | 16 |
| Oink N Moo | Smoked Brisket & Pimento Quesadilla Smoked Brisket & Pimento Grilled Cheese | 14 |
| Red, White, Bubbly, and Brew | N/A | 36 |
| Royal Cheesecake & Varieties | Pimento Cheese Pound Cake Pimento Cheese Cheesecake | 33 |
| Safari Eatz | Pimento Mac & Cheese Samosa Roasted Goat w/ Pimento Cheese Sliders | 6 |
| The Heights Dominican Kitchen | Green Plantain Smash w/ Pimento Cheese Shmear & Choice of Dominican Salami or Cheese or All Three Pimento Mac and Cheese topped w/ Choice of Protein Pimento Cheese Loaded Fries w/ Choice of Protein | 8 |
| The Paddy Wagon | Brisket Melt or Pastrami on Rye w/ Melted Pimento Cheese Pimento Cheese Croquettes (Irish Potato Based Dumplings) | 21 |
| The Portable Portugy | Pimento Pork-A-Cheese: Mac & Cheese w/ Chouriço (Portuguese Sausage), melted São Jorge & Topo Azorean Pimento cheese and Portuguese-style pickled peppers, tossed with Cavatappi pasta Pimento Portugy Cheese Fries: French fries, topped w/ Portuguese Style Pimento cheese, sautéed Chouriço (Portuguese Sausage), Garlic, Onions, Piri Piri drizzle and Scallions | 24 |
| Truman’s Smokehouse and Kitchen | Pimento Cheese Brisket Sliders Pimento Cheese & Brisket Jalapeno Poppers Pimento Cheese & Bacon Jam Finger Sandwiches Pimento Cheese & Smoked Bacon BLT Pimento Cheese & Pepper Relish Quesadilla Pimento Cheese & Brisket Nachos | 35 |
| Ultimate Egg Rolls | Mac and Pimento Cheese Ranch Egg Roll Pimento Cheese Philly Cheesesteak Egg Roll | 15 |
| Vicious Fishes Brewery | N/A | 26 |
| Vic’s Pizza Truck | Air Fried Pimento Cheese Balls Classic Pimento Cheese Sandwich Squares | 4 |
| Virgil’s Jamaica | Pimento Cheese Rasta Pasta Pimento Cheese Stuffed Chicken Pattie’s | 31 |
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.
GETTING TO THE EVENT
The Park is located at 327 South Academy Street Cary, NC 27511.
Make the most of the free GoCary bus service to easily access the Park. All eight GoCary bus routes conveniently connect at the Cary Depot which is less than half a mile from the Park. To plan your trip or access the GoCary Ride Guide please, visit GoCary.org.
FREE PUBLIC PARKING OPTIONS:
- Parking Deck Located behind the Cary Regional Library – 113 Walnut St, Cary, NC 27511
- Gravel Parking Lot Next to the Parking Deck on Walnut Street – 105 Walnut St, Cary, NC 27511
- Designated Street Parking throughout Downtown
- Cary Elementary Parking Lot along Faculty Ave
- Town Hall Parking Deck – 121 Wilkinson Ave, Cary, NC 27513
Please note, the following parking lots and areas will not be open to the public:
- S. Academy St will be closed from Park St. to Dry Ave from 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Dry Ave will be closed between Faculty Ave and Walnut St from 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- The parking lot on Charlie Gaddy Lane (Old Library Site)
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.