BEER & CHEESE FEST 2026

Thanks for coming!

Close-up photo of a glass filled with a frothy, bubbly beverage, with condensation on the outside of the glass.

Coming Soon!

Available Menus

Close-up of a cold, frothy beer in a glass with condensation and tiny water droplets.

Hotel Partner & Room Block Info

Skip the Ubers. Just stay next door.

Make your Beer & Cheese Fest weekend easy and worry-free. We’ve partnered with Madison Marriott South to offer a special discounted rate of $129/night for festival guests on Friday, January 16 and Saturday, January 17, 2026.

The Madison Marriott South is a short walk from the Alliant Energy Center — the perfect place to relax after a full day of sampling Wisconsin’s best beer, cheese, and more.

Rooms are limited, and the Beer & Cheese Fest room block closes on January 2, 2026. Book early to secure your stay at the discounted rate.

Book your room online using the link below, or call Madison Marriott South at 608-251-2300 X 0 and request the Beer & Cheese Fest Jan2026 room block rate.

Games & Things to Impress Your Friends

A woman with blonde hair running and holding four large glasses of dark soda with ice at an outdoor event, with a crowd in the background.

Stein Relay Races:

Scores on speed and spillage. It's harder than it looks! Carrying up to 35 pounds of bier quickly and safely across the course is a challenge.

A man in a black shirt pouring beer into a glass at an outdoor event with several beer bottles on the table and a crowd in the background.

Spanish Long Pour:

Step up to the challenge of the traditional Spanish long pour! Contestants will test their skill (and balance!) by pouring cider or wine from a bottle held high above their head into a glass below—without spilling. The higher the pour, the smoother the stream, and the fewer drops lost, the better your score. Precision, style, and flair all count in this fun and lively contest that always draws a crowd!

Group of five men raising glasses of beer in a toast inside a bar.

Stein Hoist Competition:

Do you have what it takes to hoist one of our mugs? This competition of strength pits contestants against Steins and the clock.

A hammer hitting a nail into a wooden surface.

Nail Hammering Races:

Get ready to test your precision, speed, and strength in this thrilling and competitive activity! Nail Hammering Races challenge participants to hammer nails into a wooden board as quickly and accurately as possible. Whether you're a seasoned DIY pro or a first-time hammer wielder, this event promises a blend of fun and skill-building for all ages.

Want in on the fun? Sign-ups and waivers happen on-site—easy peasy.

Entertainment & Things to Watch

A woman with curly red hair smiles at the camera, holding a large wrench in her left hand near her shoulder and a ratchet tool in her right hand on her shoulder, standing outdoors on a city sidewalk with trees and buildings in the background.

Wendy Lynn Markus, Violinist

Imagine an evening where sophistication meets vibrant energy, creating an unforgettable atmosphere for guests. Wendy Lynn Markus, a seasoned musician with 28 years of stage experience, brings a dynamic and elegant musical performance that heightens the mood of any occasion.

Wendy's mastery of the violin combines with meticulously crafted backing tracks to create a rich tapestry of sound that captivates and enchants. Her repertoire spans a variety of genres, from which she designs a custom playlist for each event, ensuring the music resonates with the audience's tastes.

Throughout the event, Wendy's presence is both commanding and graceful. Her ability to adapt to the flow of the evening ensures that every performance segment enhances the overall ambiance, whether it's a stirring rendition of a classical piece, a soulful interpretation of a modern ballad, or an electrifying take on a rock classic.

A man singing and playing an electric guitar in front of a colorful, cartoon-style mural. He is wearing sunglasses, a black cap, and has an umbrella decorated with ladybugs on his head. Various musical instruments are attached to his back, including a drum.

Eric Dane Jaqua One Man Band

Eric Dane Jaqua is a Northern Michigan-based one-man band, known as EDJOMB, who combines guitar, vocals, and foot-operated drums to create a soulful, multi-instrumental sound. He is a prolific musician who also performs in other projects, such as the funk/blues duo The Pistil Whips, has a musical family background, and has been active on the Michigan music scene for over a decade

Two women dressed in traditional Bavarian dresses holding long wooden alphorns in a park with city skyline in the background.

The Rhinemaidens

An alphorn is 12 feet of pure wonder. Made of spruce and rattan, an alphorn was used by Shepards for conversions in the Alps. The Rhinemaidens and their alphorns are not only mesmerizing to listen to but inspire absolute awe and amazement to see this majestic instrument in action.

Dr. Natalie Grana is a professional French horn performer and Fulbright scholar in the field of Solfège. She is the director of Alphorn outreach with the Utah based company Alpensong and is on staff with the Alphorn Institute of America. She resides in Chicago where she teaches at DePaul University, Loyola University and Lake Forest College.

Dr. Laura Whisler is a physician and French horn musician who has made alphorn an integral part of her life.

A woman with a big smile stands outdoors next to a carved pumpkin with the words "Curls The Word" and a cartoon character's face. She is wearing a blue tie-dye t-shirt with a cartoon potato character on it and a patch on her sleeve. In the background, there are tents, a grassy area, trees, and tall buildings.

Janisch Creative

Witness a 40-pound block of cheese turn into a beautiful piece of art! Turning cheese into art and ideas into reality—cheese carving.

Silent Disco

Ever danced your heart out while someone next to you is vibing to a completely different song? That’s the magic of a silent disco. Grab a headset, pick your DJ, and get ready to move—no matter your rhythm situation.

FAQs

YES.
This is a 21+ event, no exceptions.
You are welcome to bring in one factory sealed or empty water bottle as well as a pretzel necklace. "Pretzel" is a loose term, if you can string it on a string, we are cool with it. We really hope you don't plan on bringing alcohol to a beer sampling event.
Bags are allowed! Max size is 8.5" x 11" and will be searched. Medical + nursing bags are allowed.
Last pour is at 5:45 PM – no samples after that.
Parking is available at the Alliant Energy Center:
- Parking rates are $10/day for cars and exhibitors, and $30/day for buses.
- Parking is now cashless. You can pre-purchase parking here.
- You are able to have someone drop you off, and there is no parking fee.
- We encourage using local cab services, Uber, or Lyft for safe travel to and from the event.
No, but I bet you have tons of friends who would be happy to take your ticket off your hands.
Yes! Beer & Cheese Fest is way more than just beer and cheese. There will be vendors sampling cider, mead, seltzer, thc-infusions, and a lot more. Plenty of gluten-free/non-beer options.
You get early access at 1PM. Eventbrite doesn't let us customize the start time for each ticket kind, so we have GA gates shown.
Is it a service dog? If so, then yes. If no, then no.
Besides the 2000 lbs of cheese at the event, there will also be food for purchase from a select few food vendors.
There will be waivers at the event you will sign if you want to participate.
Yes! Madison Marriott South right down the street is offering great discounted rates in the Beer & Cheese room block. More info on that here: https://www.beerandcheesefest.com/2026-fest#marriott