From a facebook post on Watonga Community Events in September 2017:
"Ah, so much has changed in the past three years. The festival has gone back to its original name, Watonga Cheese Festival, and given up the wine competition and removed the word "wine" from all of its marketing and content.
The festival has given up the Art Show and Canton High School art students' exhibits, along with the popular Race the Rail event. There is no admission fee this year, but the children's activities like bounce house and slides and other inflatable activities for children will charge a fee. The cheese tasting line, one of the more popular attractions of the festival, and the food prep contests will continue, as will the Rat Race (which does charge a fee to participate) and the quilt show. Made in Oklahoma and other craft booths, along with fast food vendors will be part of the festival. (Our favorite food vendor is the local Lion's Club onion burger & fries meal-- great food, good value, and benefits a good cause.)
Musical entertainment will be provided by local talent. As additional information is received it will be posted on WATONGA COMMUNITY EVENTS facebook page, the Watonga Chamber of Commerce website, and the blog, watonganews.blogspot.com on the internet."
For many years, the annual Cheese Festival has been planned and held under the purview of the Watonga Chamber of Commerce. In approximately 2022, the Chamber of Commerce disbanded and the Cheese Festival was taken over by the City of Watonga. It is now close to the end of March 2024 and there has been no mention on the City's website or Watonga Chamber facebook page of this year's festival.
