The 12th annual Vermont Cheesemakers Festival will be celebrated on August 13 with the highest number of cheese makers per capita, including more than 40 of them.

Vermont is a world-class cheese state and shares its passion for making exceptional cheeses with festival visitors who can also enjoy local foods, wines, craft beers, and spirits and meet the artisans who make them. Spending a summer day on the greens of the Highland Center for the Arts, attendants can sample, buy, learn, and make new friends. The day can be spent sampling and shopping for a selection of artisan foods, beverages, and Vermont specialties while wandering through two open-air tents and exploring the grounds of the Highland Center, nestled in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. Visitors should bring a blanket, enjoy a picnic from one of Vermont’s most beloved food trucks and attend a tasting session pairing local cheeses with a curated lineup of beer, wine, and spirits.

The Vermont Cheese Council has worked to support the Vermont cheese industry since 1996 with both marketing and educational opportunities. The VCC provides the tools necessary to encourage Vermont cheese makers to follow the best possible manufacturing practices to assure customers that Vermont cheese represents the highest level of quality in the marketplace.

General admission is from 11:30 am to 4 pm. Tickets range from $69.50 to $90. Industry admission gives retailers, chefs, grocery buyers, distributors, food writers/media, and other industry personnel a chance to connect with other vendors from 9 to 11:30 am before the public enters. This is a great time to get to know people and products.

Festival policies include cash-only sales, alcohol policies, and children allowed with supervision. Pets are not allowed on the grounds. Refunds are available up to 30 days before the event. Eventbrite’s fee is nonrefundable.

For the day’s schedule, visit www.vtcheesefest.com/schedule/. For more information about the festival, go to www.vtcheesefest.com or call (866) 261-8595.