The 2nd annual Mac & Cheese Festival presented by Dakota Community Bank is making its grand return this Spring on Saturday, May 11th!

In an exciting twist for 2024, the festivities will be hosted at Dykshoorn Park in Mandan, known for hosting community favorites like Holiday Lights on Main, Art in the Park, Buggies-N-Blues, and more.

Taking your valuable feedback from our inaugural event into consideration, we’ve upped the ante for 2024. While Mac & Cheese Festival in Bismarck was a blast in 2023, we’re determined to make this year even more memorable.

Here’s what’s cooking…

More Mac!

Rest assured, you won’t be leaving with an empty stomach. Our all-inclusive ticket packages now come with two additional mac tokens, serving up an extra 8 oz. of macaroni and cheese for your indulgence. The best part? We’re keeping the prices the same as 2023 tickets, giving you more value for your money and, of course, more mac and cheese.

If you find yourself craving even more mac and cheese, additional samples can still be purchased at the event for just $3.

More Vendors!

The battle for the title of North Dakota’s best macaroni and cheese is heating up, and we’re turning up the heat for 2024. We’ve extended invitations to even more vendors, offering you a brie-lliant array of delectable options. Returning to defend their cheesy crown is the reigning champion, Laughing Sun Brewing Co.

Here’s a sneak peek at the confirmed lineup for Mac & Cheese Fest on May 11th:

• Udderly Amazing Treats & Eats
• JD’s BBQ & Grill (NEW FOR 2024)
• Laughing Sun Brewing Co.
• PICKaBob Grill & BBQ (NEW FOR 2024)
• Hensley’s Tasty Truck

With over 15 vendors expected to serve on May 11th, there will be no shorter of options to try. Keep an eye out for the Visit Mandan logo next to any vendors representing our host city. More vendors means shorter lines!

We’ve upped our focus on quality vendors, providing them with a higher payout per sample and continuing to provide them with serving materials such as cups. Our team is carefully curating a list of vendors who are equally committed to providing an exceptional event experience — ensuring they NEVER run out of samples.

More FUN!

Let the good times brie! Immerse yourself in the sounds of live music on the stage, let the kids discover a special fun zone complete with inflatables (because bouncing around like a cheese curd is always fun), and dive into yard games that keep the fun rolling, even when you’re not savoring mac samples.

For a seamless experience, new for 2024, mac and cheese enthusiasts will have the option to select their arrival time when purchasing a ticket. Choose from three arrival times:

• VIP: Early access starting at 3 PM
• Early Session: 4 PM
• Late Session: 5 PM

These designated arrival times ensure ample time for you to revel in the festivities while helping to reduce waiting times and congestion — because nobody likes a traffic jam when there’s cheese to be enjoyed.

More Goodies!

Spork yeah! As a keepsake to cherish the fantastic memories from the event, once your ticket(s) are scanned, we’ll present you with a special wristband adorned with your mac/beer tabs and a reusable plastic spork to savor your samples. Take it home and let it be your companion for all the macaroni and cheese indulgence you desire!

And for our VIP ticket holders, you’ll get to rock a brand-new special edition mac and cheese-themed hat exclusive to 2024. Your friends will undoubtedly be green with envy over your stylish new swag.

How can I get tickets?

Members of the First to the Cheese Priority List have the golden opportunity for early access to 2024 Mac & Cheese Fest tickets, starting on February 16th. VIP tickets were a hot commodity in 2023 and sold out. This year, we’ve got just 100 VIP tickets up for grabs, and trust us, you won’t want to miss out on the VIP cheese-tastic experience.

Public access for tickets opens on Friday, February 23rd. To learn more about ticket prices, discover what’s included with each ticket, and indulge in more cheese-filled details, hop on over to the Tickets page. This is your ticket to a world of mac and cheese dreams – don’t miss out!