The Details

Where: The Sturm Avenue Esplanade, 435 Sturm Ave, Indianapolis, IN  46201
(Sturm Ave. between N Arsenal Ave and N State Ave.)
When: July 26, 2025  |  4:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Follow us at our socials: @holywineandcheese

The Fun Stuff

You like wine; you like cheese.  But do you really, REALLY like wine and cheese???  Want to kick it up a notch?  We’ve got you covered.  Up your game and take part in our special events:

Somm Experience

Under the guidance of Sommelier Jan Bugher, of Jampagne All Day, participants will embark on a journey to discover wine in a whole new way. Jan’s expertise and passion for wine make her the ideal guide for this immersive experience. By the end of the event, you will have developed a refined understanding of how to taste, appreciate, and pair wine with complementary foods.

Prepare your palate for an exquisite selection of flavors, as the taste boxes will prominently feature products from Tulip Tree Creamery and Smoking Goose. Known for their artisanal cheeses and charcuterie, these local favorites will bring rich, complex tastes to your wine pairing adventure.

Join us for one of two Somm Experience sessions and elevate your wine tasting to new heights. This is an event not to be missed by anyone looking to deepen their appreciation of wine and gourmet food. Session One is from 4:30 – 5:30 PM and Session Two is from 7:00 – 8:00 PM.

Cheese Wars!

Are you ready to witness the ultimate showdown in cheesy goodness? This year’s battle is the Mac-N-Cheese Throwdown. We’re excited to once again be partnering with ​The Kelly Wensing Community Fund to plan this exciting event focusing on local Indy chefs.

In this grater-than-life competition, our local chefs will pull out all the stops to create the most mouthwatering, gooey, and delicious mac-n-cheese dishes you can imagine. From traditional cheddar classics to innovative, brie-lliant creations, each chef will bring their unique style and flair to the table.

As a special treat, every ticket holder will have the exclusive opportunity to taste each chef’s creation and cast their vote for the best dish. Imagine indulging in a variety of delectable mac-n-cheese dishes, each with its own unique twist, and then having a say in crowning the ultimate champion.

What’s at stake?  The winning chef of the Mac-N-Cheese Throwdown will receive a Golden Ticket to the World Food Championships, where the winner will have the chance to compete among the cream of the crop in the culinary world. This isn’t just a competition; it’s a chance for these chefs to prove they’re the big cheese!

Sampling is from 5:00 – 6:00 PM; all voting must be in by 6:00 PM. Let’s celebrate the art of mac-n-cheese together, because life’s too short for bland food. May the best cheese win!

Musical Acts

Groove to the beats of DysFUNKtion Brass, Beatty & The Bayonets, and DJ Sinclair Williams.

Kid’s Zone

Get ready for the grate-est kid’s zone that will include activities like professional face painting, bounce house adventures, exciting scavenger hunts, and interactive planting activities led by Paramount Schools of Excellence! Don’t miss out on the gouda times! Make sure to get a wristband for every child who wants to participate in these delightful experiences – it’s nacho average wristband!

Sponsorships

If you are interested in supporting our mission through a Business Sponsorship, please check out our Sponsorship Info page.

If you are a resident of the Holy Cross Neighborhood and would like to support our community initiatives through a Resident Sponsorship, please contact: winecheesefest@indyholycross.org

Vendors

Interested in being a vendor at our festival?  Sign up using the Vendor Application form below: