Mac & Cheese Festival

Start: Saturday, May 10, 2025 4:00PM
End: Saturday, May 10, 2025 8:00PM

The cheesiest showdown of the year is back! The 3rd Annual Mac & Cheese Festival, presented by Dakota Community Bank & Trust, returns Saturday, May 10, from 4-8 PM in the newly renovated Downtown Bismarck Depot parking lot. This year’s festival will once again feature eight of Bismarck-Mandan’s top chefs, restaurants, and food trucks, all competing for a cash prize, championship trophy, and ultimate bragging rights. Attendees will have the power to vote for their favorite mac & cheese vendor, helping crown the 2025 People’s Choice Winner. 2023 champion, Laughing Sun Brewing Co., is already confirmed to compete, with more vendors to be announced soon. The festival also features live music, interactive games and activities for all ages, and a variety of drink and dessert options, including beer, seltzers, and ready-to-drink cocktails. Funatix Events is partnering with Heaven’s Helpers Soup Café to ensure no mac & cheese goes to waste, donating leftovers to those in need. Heaven’s Helpers will also be on-site to share more about their impactful work in the community. Limited Tickets Available – Buy in Advance! With over 1,200 attendees in the past two years and this year’s Bismarck Depot venue limited to just 1,500 tickets, a sellout is expected. Walk-up tickets ($15) are not guaranteed and will only be available if tickets remain. Mac & cheese tokens can be purchased on-site. To guarantee entry and get the best value, purchasing in advance is highly recommended. All-Inclusive, Pre-Event Ticket Options: Lil’ Mac Ticket – 30-minute early entry, four mac samples, and a drink voucher. Big Cheese Ticket – Early entry at 3:00 PM, eight mac samples, and three drink vouchers. Mac Daddy VIP Ticket – Includes a brand-new Fast Pass to skip the line, private VIP entrance, and exclusive patio seating (limited to only 500 tickets). All advance tickets come with a commemorative spork. Be the first to get tickets and event updates by joining the “First to the Cheese” Priority List at funatixevents.com/mcfest