Current Events
Willimantic Downtown Country Fair
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Cheese Madness at the Co-op was a huge success! From the moment the event kicked off, the community showed up in full force, ready to taste, compare, and crown the very best. With an incredible lineup of cheeses to sample, participants put their taste buds to the test and cast their votes through every round.
Thanks to your enthusiasm, your brackets, and your willingness to try it all, we’re excited to announce our Cheese Champion of 2026: Rebel Herb Fromage (yes, a vegan cheese!) This standout surprised and delighted tasters, proving that bold flavor knows no boundaries.
If you haven’t tried it yet, now’s your chance. Stop by the Co-op, pick some up, and see what made it a champion. You might just wow your own taste buds.
A big thank you to everyone who participated, submitted brackets, and made this event so much fun. We couldn’t have done it without you!
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What is Cheese Madness? It’s the fiercest fromage the Co-op has ever seen! From March 16 – April 3, 16 cheeses will battle it out every Monday, Wednesday & Friday for your votes, but only one will be named Cheese Champion! Fill out and submit your brackets for the chance to win the winning cheese plus some cheese board goodies! Brackets are due March 14!
Enter to win by filling out the Cheese Madness bracket above to win some of the Cheese Champion plus some cheese board goodies! Fill your bracket out by March 14. You can pick up a bracket in store or download it here. Submit your guesses in store at the ballot box or email it. Be sure to fill out your contact information so we can get in touch with the bracket winners!
How to Play
Step 1
Bracket sheets will be available online and in the Cheese Department through March 14. Take a look at all 16 cheeses and make your best predictions about which ones shoppers will love most during our March tastings. Continue choosing your winners for each pairing, round by round, until you’ve selected your ultimate cheese champion.
No purchase is required. Each matchup on your bracket must include a chosen winner to qualify.
Step 2
Submit your completed bracket by 8:00 pm on March 14, 2026. Drop it in the ballot box at the front of the store or email it. Note* Keep a copy or a picture of your completed bracket for yourself to follow along the rounds.
Step 3
Visit the Cheese Department on Monday’s, Wednesday’s and Friday’s throughout March to taste the contenders of the week. Sample both cheeses in the matchup and cast your vote for your favorite.
Step 4
Keep up with the tournament in-store and on our social channels as cheeses advance through each round. See how closely your bracket matches the crowd’s picks!
The Cheese Champion will be announced on April 3, 2026.
Prize
The Cheese Champion of 2026 and a curated basket of tasty pairings to enjoy with it.
Willimantic Downtown Country Fair
Check out our 2024 DTCF sustainability report here.
Thank you all for a great fair!
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ON JILLSON SQUARE
SATURDAY September 25th, 2021 11am-4pmWe missed you at the Fair last year! And we sure are happy to be getting ready for this year’s event! There will be music, food, and local craft vendors …all in the middle of our beautiful Town Green.
