Festival · Watonga, Oklahoma
Watonga Cheese Festival
The Watonga Cheese Festival is held on the second weekend of October in downtown Watonga, northwest of Oklahoma City. In 2026 it ran on Friday 9 October from 1pm to 5pm and Saturday 10 October from 8am, with the parade at noon. Entry to the street festival is free. The 2027 dates have not been announced; on the usual pattern they would be 8 and 9 October.
- When
- Second weekend of October
- Where
- Main Street, Watonga
- Entry
- Free
- Parade
- Saturday at noon
Dates
- 8 Oct 2027 to 9 Oct 2027Second weekend of October (not yet announced) (expected, not yet confirmed by the organisers)
What Happens
The festival takes over Main Street and the Watonga Armory for two days. Listings for the festival describe a parade, live music, crafts, an art show and a quilt show, wine tastings and plenty of cheese: tastings and cooking contests. The cheese food contest, run by the Blaine County extension homemakers, has been held at City Hall on 410 West Main Street, with a junior division on Friday and an adult division on Saturday; every entry must contain at least 3 ounces of cheese.
In 2026 Friday ran from 1pm to 5pm and Saturday from 8am to 5pm, with the parade at 12 noon on Saturday. The Friends of the T. B. Ferguson Home Museum set up a pioneer history exhibit in the Barrett Building on Main Street, just west of the Liberty Theatre.
Planning a Visit
Watonga is a small town in Blaine County, northwest of Oklahoma City; you will need a car. Arrive before noon on Saturday for a spot along the parade route. Contest dishes are put on display in the morning and stay out until at least 4pm, so you can see them after the parade.
The T. B. Ferguson Home Museum at 521 North Weigle Avenue, which tells the story of a pioneer politician and newspaper owner and his wife Elva, is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm.
Elsewhere in Oklahoma
For Oklahoma-made cheese, Lovera's in Krebs, an Italian grocery and deli run by the same family since 1946, makes its own caciocavera and other cheeses. It is open Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm and Sunday 9am to 2pm at 95 NW 6th Street, a long drive southeast of Watonga.
Where to Stay near Watonga
We may earn a commission when you book through this map, at no extra cost to you.
More in United States
All of United States
Caseville Cheeseburger Festival
Caseville, Michigan, United States
Ten days of cheeseburgers and parades on Lake Huron each August.
Heber Valley Artisan Cheese
Midway, Utah, United States
A family dairy near Park City with daily farm tours and a cheese store.
Sweet Grass Dairy Cheese Shop
Thomasville, Georgia, United States
Georgia's best-known creamery serves its cheeses on Broad Street in Thomasville.
Arkansas Cheese Dip Trail
Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Fifteen restaurants on the state's trail, and a championship in Little Rock.
MSU Cheese Store
Starkville, Mississippi, United States
Mississippi State's cheese store, home of the cannon ball Edam since 1938.
Surfing Goat Dairy
Kula, Maui, United States
Goat farm tours and cheese flights on the slopes of Haleakala, Tuesday to Saturday.
Questions People Ask
When is the Watonga Cheese Festival?
On the second weekend of October. In 2026 it was on 9 and 10 October. The 2027 dates have not been announced; the pattern points to 8 and 9 October.
Is the Watonga Cheese Festival free?
Yes, the street festival and parade are free. Some activities, such as wine tastings, may cost extra.
What time is the Watonga Cheese Festival parade?
At 12 noon on the Saturday, along Main Street.
Official site: watongaok.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=367. Dates, hours and prices checked 22 October 2026; confirm on the official site before you travel. See all cheese festivals.