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May 15, 2008

Watonga Cheese Festival returns in October

By Kasey Fowler Staff Writer

Watonga Cheese Festival will be held again this year, after missing 2007 following a devastating storm that heavily damaged the town’s cheese factory.

The 32nd annual Cheese Festival will resume 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 10-11.

Watonga Cheese Factory owner Casey Cowan has said previously he plans to rebuild in a different location in town.

The festival is sponsored by Watonga Cheese Festival Committe and Watonga Chamber of Commerce, with assistance from Red Carpet Country.

In 1976, Watonga Chamber of Commerce’s president was advised to have a festival promoting a local food product. Since Watonga has the oldest cheese factory in Oklahoma, Watonga Cheese Festival was born.

The first festival included a food contest, a poster contest and an art show. The festival now is a two-day event that attracts approximately 15,000 people.

This year’s festival will include a quilt show, art show, parade, rat race, tasting tour, three craft shows, a Made In Oklahoma tent, carnival rides, concession stands and a cheese food contest.

The food contest includes six categories: main dishes, snacks, desserts, breads, salads and dressings and vegetables. The art show catergories are acrylics, watercolors, pastels, graphics, pottery-sculpture and photography. Both will include cash prizes for winners.

Entertainment will be provided by Oklahoma country band City Moon, which will perform Oct. 10 at Liberty Theater.

Other entertainment lined up for the festival includes The Wallenders, Christi Brewer, Cindy Nicholai, Danny Gilliland, David Green, Sam and Kelly Waggoner, Vernon Brickman and John Diamond, Shauna Rupp, Melinda Barbee, Melinda Miles, Terry McGraw, Elrisa Scheffler, Phil Wray, Carla Schultz, Union Baptist Choir, Ruth Kennedy and Dana Bessinger and Mazie Grant.

There also will be street performances by clowns, magicians, tumblers and the TLC Dance Group.

All activities will take place in downtown Watonga. Admission for adults is $5 for one or two days. Children 12 and younger are admitted for free. Group incentives are available.

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