The independent community hub · since 2026
A national
holiday for the
squeakiest
day
in dairy.
On October 15 each year, restaurants, festivals, and creameries from coast to coast celebrate the cheese curd. We're the community hub keeping the holiday's history, awards, and directory of celebrations.
The 2026 commemorative poster · free download in the
celebration kit
Countdown to National Cheese Curd Day
The 12th annual celebration
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Celebrate October 15
Four ways to make it squeak.
Join a celebration
Festivals, fundraisers, and community events happening near you.
Browse festivals →
Celebrate at home
Bring the holiday home with recipes, party ideas, and easy ways to join in.
Ways to celebrate →
Get the celebration kit
Download the official poster, printable signs, social graphics, and more.
Get the kit →
The 2026 Season
Curd of the
Year
Seven categories. A judging panel of cheesemakers, chefs, and the curd-loving public. The country's only awards program dedicated entirely to the squeak.
Aug 1
Nominations open
Sep 15
Voting opens
Oct 15
Winners announced
Plate one
What is
the holiday?
National Cheese Curd Day was founded by Culver's in 2015 , who chose October 15 as the date a single chain could rally its restaurants around the curd. In the years since, the day has spread far beyond any one company. It's now celebrated by independent restaurants, regional cheesemakers, festivals, and curd-lovers everywhere.
We're the community version of the holiday. Independent. Funded in partnership with a 4th generation cheese company, but not by them. The directories are open. The awards are voted on. The celebration kit is free. The holiday belongs to everyone.
Plate two
The directories
Three open registries that grow every year. Curds, festivals, and restaurants, submitted by the community and edited by us.
Festivals
A festival could be happening near you!
From the Ellsworth Cheese Curd Festival to the Great Curd-Off, we maintain dates, locations, and event histories for the country's curd festivals.
Browse festivals →
Curd Roundup
Fan favorite curds, mapped by state.
Wisconsin, Vermont, New York, Quebec-adjacent, Ontario, anywhere curds are made. Every entry is researched, never programmatic.
Browse curds →
Restaurants
Where to eat curds, organized by city.
Restaurants celebrating the day with specials, classics, or just being known for incredible fried curds. Submissions always open.
Browse restaurants →
Free download
The 2026 celebration kit
Printable signs, social graphics, the cheese curd fact sheet, and this year's commemorative poster.
The Curd Nerd
Monthly dispatch.
Cheesemakers, festivals, and the celebration of October 15. Heavier programming in late summer when Curd of the Year voting opens. Quieter the rest of the year.
Used to send the dispatch. Never sold. Unsubscribe in one click.
P
The press kit →
For journalists
The press kit, photos, history, and named spokespeople.