A Decade of Delight: Reflecting on the Little Falls Cheese Festival

By Dave Warner

LITTLE FALLS, NY – As the Mohawk Valley prepares to host the 10th annual Little Falls Cheese Festival on October 4, 2025, it’s a perfect moment to look back on a decade of growth, resilience, and cheesy celebration.

From its modest beginnings in 2015 as a tribute to the city’s 19th-century legacy as the nation’s cheese capital, the festival has become New York State’s premier gathering for artisan cheesemakers and food enthusiasts.

Despite challenges like rain, heat, and a global pandemic, it has flourished into a vibrant community event, drawing thousands to Main Street each year. This milestone anniversary introduces exciting new features, building on a rich history of innovation and tradition.

The festival’s early years laid a strong foundation. In 2018, the fourth annual event on July 14 drew around 4,000 attendees, with over 50 vendors offering more than 120 cheese varieties. Organizer Kyrie Felio captured its mission: “We continue to maintain the heart of our mission, which is to celebrate New York State artisanal cheesemakers and historical involvement with Little Falls.”

That year introduced “Markers on Main,” showcasing artisans like glassblowers and jewelers, and added mead tastings from Heartsease Hill Meadery alongside wines. Elaine Cobb invited exploration: “The festival is located on Main Street, but the entire city will be full of energy. We encourage everyone who comes to the festival to explore Little Falls and see all we have to offer.”

Post-event reflections highlighted the festival’s impact. At a volunteers’ picnic in Rotary Park, Felio noted a “constant stream of people” and praised the crafters’ fair for drawing crowds to the west end.

Co-founder Alice Laurenson emphasized the draw: “Our focus has always been to bring people from as far away as we can to Little Falls to buy quality New York State cheese.” Her husband, Tom, added, “They have to come here to get cheeses that they really can’t get anywhere else.”

Vendor Andy McEvoy from Paca Gardens called it a “record festival,” with “excited and happy people of all ages,” despite the July heat.

In 2019, the fifth festival on July 13 expanded to over 80 vendors and 120 cheeses, incorporating craft beverages from Olde York Farm Distillery. Sophie Newsome of the distillery remarked, “Cheese and spirits may not seem like the most obvious pairing, but as someone who worked as a cheesemonger, I can say you’d be surprised at how well they go together.”

Entertainment included 10 musical acts and the play “Where’s the Cheesemonger?” by Angela Harris. Talent booker Kevin Hughes promised variety: “There will be a lot of variety… We’ve brought back some wonderful acts from last year and are bringing in more amazing talent this year.”

Attendance reached about 6,000, prompting Mayor Mark Blask to exclaim, “What a fantastic day for Little Falls… I’m absolutely overwhelmed by the number of people.” Logo contest winner Raema Rotindo, vending her Rockerbox Garlic spices, recalled the prior year’s “constant stream of people.”

The 2020 festival faced a significant setback with the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to its cancellation. Organizers responded with the “Keep Cheese Alive” initiative, encouraging online sales and direct purchases to support vendors.

Teri Chace, a key committee member, urged, “Small producers are in dire straits right now… We must help them survive.” The hiatus spurred planning for a rescheduled 2021 event in October.

The sixth festival on October 2, 2021, marked a triumphant return, drawing a record-shattering 8,000 attendees. Chace explained the date shift: “In mid-July, the attendees AND the cheeses were melting!”

New features included shuttle buses, a Food Truck Food Court, and partnerships with the Central New York Cheese Trail. Vendor Juli Webster called it “my best show ever,” while cheesemakers Cindy and Tim Powers said, “It was amazing talking with so many people.”

Chace affirmed, “We plan to keep our festival in autumn, going forward.”

The seventh festival in 2022 aimed to be the largest yet, with expanded cheeses and beverages. A highlight was “Les Moutons,” a Canadian troupe’s sheep reenactment performance. Chace enthused, “We are all so excited for Les Moutons… It certainly won’t be something they’ll soon forget!”

Attendance stabilized around 8,000, cementing the October slot.

In 2023, the eighth festival persevered through rain, drawing thousands for the Cheesy 5K and vendor booths. Jeff Winders of Willow Running noted, “We try to make it fun for people.” A historical booth from Herkimer Home featured 18th-century dairy demos, with site manager Michael Roets stating, “The dairy industry was absolutely crucial to the Mohawk Valley in the 18th century.”

Chace added, “We’re obviously very proud of the role Little Falls plays in the history of the cheese industry.” Practical tips included using shuttles and bringing cooler bags.

Last year’s ninth festival set a new benchmark, attracting 14,000–15,000 attendees under ideal weather. Chace described it as “remarkable,” crediting volunteers and planning more buses for 2025.

An after-party at Rock City Brewery supported the New York Cheese Council. Scot Nolan emphasized the festival’s ethos: “We’re not just an outdoor agricultural mall… we’re a full-fledged celebration of New York’s rich cheesemaking heritage.”

For its 10th anniversary, the festival is introducing new attractions. A New Orleans-style second-line parade with brass instruments and festive marching will launch the day at 10 a.m. Food options are expanding with trucks in the vacant CVS lot, offering crepes, waffles, and coffee, and one near the caboose serving Utica-style riggies and greens.

The “Rhythm and Rinds” annex at the Rock Valley Brewing Company will feature beer, wine, live bands, and pre-packaged cheese boxes for easy pairing.

Author Karina Moss will sign her popular “cheesy mystery” books, and enhanced shuttle services will include a stop near the annex. Chace, reflecting on the milestone, said, “We’ve made history every year… this year, we’re looking to pay tribute to our city’s roots.”

From its humble start to a decade of growth, the Little Falls Cheese Festival has woven itself into the fabric of the community, blending culinary excellence with small-town charm.

As Chace noted in 2018, “Every year, it’s a little bit better.” This October, with new features and a nod to its storied past, the festival is poised to be the cheesiest yet.

For more details, visit www.littlefallscheesefestival.com.