DOWNEAST CIDER + CHEESE FESTIVAL

Celebrating a revival of two traditional foods, hard cider and cheese, the Downeast Cider + Cheese Festival honors the rich tradition of Maine’s historic apple industry, the first and only event of its kind in the state.

We are excited to offer a combination of free and ticketed events spread throughout the weekend. Our main event this year is a tasty Cider & Cheese Bazaar with local food vendors, food trucks, and more! Ticket sales for this year’s market bazaar have closed.

Schedule of Events

Click an image below to learn more about each event at this year’s Downeast Cider + Cheese Festival. To be the first to learn about the 2025 festival join our mailing list!

PURVEYORS

We’re delighted to announce the Maine cideries and cheesemakers joining us in 2024 are . . .

Cideries+

• Absolem Cider Company

• Bon Vent Cider

• Fogtown Brewing Company

• Graze

• Pressed for Cider (non-alcoholic)

• Run Amok Mead

• Sea Hag Cider

• Whaleback Cider

Cheesemakers

• Creamy Acres Creamery

• Fuzzy Udder Creamery

• Springdale Farm Creamery

• York Hill Farm

FAQs

Will there be a tasting event this year? 

We will NOT have a formal tasting event during the 2024 Cider & Cheese Festival. However, each cider and cheese vendor will bring enough samples of their product for you to taste while you shop at the bazaar.

What is the cider + Cheese Bazaar?

The 2024 Downeast Cider + Cheese Festival will culminate in a bazaar where purveyors will set up their booths and samples for cider and cheese lovers to taste, learn, shop, and enjoy together. Tickets sales from the bazaar support this annual festival and Heart of Ellsworth’s mission to bring cultural cornerstones like Cider + Cheese to the community. Ticket sales for 2024 are closed!

are children allowed?

We’re excited to announce that we can accommodate youth attendees for the 2024 Bazaar! However, all attendees under the age of 21 must be accompanied by an adult with a VIP or general admission (including Cider Pressing + Bazaar) ticket holder. Youth tickets cost $5. Underage attendees will receive a wristband indicating that they are ineligible to participate in cider tastings.

Is the festival in-person or virtual?

We’re excited to offer fully in-person festival events this year.

Is the Festival Market open to non-tasting ticket holders?

Thank you to everyone who provided tasting event feedback in 2023! We’re excited to announce that we’ve reinvented this year’s shop-from-the-purveyors event based directly on vendor and attendee input. Thank you to the vendors and volunteers who are making this new format possible!

Will there be tasting bags this year?

We’ve set our focus on bringing the cider and cheese community together in person downtown this year. As a result of our focus and rising costs, we’ve discontinued tasting bags. However, VIP Bazaar ticket holders will receive a commemorative tote bag to hold their festival goodies!

Where should I stay while I’m in Ellsworth?

Ellsworth has many wonderful places to stay for the weekend. Accommodations are more available and affordable this time of year, especially at larger hotels just outside the city center such as Colonial Inn, Comfort Inn, Eagles Lodge Motel, and Ramada Inn. We recommend booking early.

Where’s a good place to eat during my visit?

An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but Downtown Ellsworth has so much more to offer! Whether you’re craving pub eats, pizza, curry, or lobster, here’s where to eat in Downtown Ellsworth.

Have another question or comment?

For more information, email us at info[at]heartofellsworth.org. We’re always happy to take questions or feedback!

2024 Festival Sponsors

Are you interested in sponsoring this year’s Downest Cider + Cheese Festival? We welcome your support! Please email us at info@heartofellsworth.org to become part of this Ellsworth community tradition.

Check out photos and videos from previous festivals to get a feel for what the Downeast Cider + Cheese Festival is all about!