National Cheddar Day

National Cheddar Day History

National Cheddar Day celebrates one of the most famous cheese types in the United States. Cheddar cheese is a hard, sharp-tasting, natural cheese that carries a pungent flavor. What separates it from other cheeses is how it is handled after the heating process. A process called cheddaring is used that involves stacking cheese curds on top of one another and squeezing out extra whey. The result is a denser, crumbly texture. It is believed that cheddar cheese originated in the 12th century in Somerset, England. Today, more than a third of all the cheese sold in the United States is cheddar.

National Cheddar Day was created in 2019 by cheese manufacturer Tillamook. It is observed annually on February 13th.

Top 8 Facts for National Cheddar Day in 2026

• The observance was established in 2019 by the Tillamook County Creamery Association to commemorate their 110th anniversary and the legacy of Peter McIntosh, a master cheesemaker known as the “Cheese King of the Coast” who brought his expertise to Oregon in 1894.
• While the cheese is a global staple today, its name is derived from the village of Cheddar in Somerset, England, where 12th-century cheddaring—the unique process of stacking and turning curd slabs—was perfected in the local limestone caves.
• History records that Queen Victoria was gifted a massive wheel of cheddar weighing over 1,000 pounds for her wedding, a tradition of "mammoth cheeses" mirrored by the 1,235-pound wheel sent to Thomas Jefferson, which inspired the children's book A Big Cheese for the White House.
• Fans of pop-culture marketing may recognize the cheese's presence in limited-time events like the Arby’s Cheddarthon, which previously featured the Keys to the Cheese promotion involving exclusive sauce-cup keychains.
• Author Gordon Edgar explores the deep cultural and political significance of the dairy product in his non-fiction work Cheddar: A Journey to the Heart of America’s Most Iconic Cheese.
• The 2026 calendar year coincides with significant competitive recognition for the variety, following the recent gold medal win for Farmer's Collection Hickory Smoked Extra Sharp White Cheddar at the prestigious World Cheese Awards.
• Large-scale marketing efforts have solidified the cheese's status as a symbol of comfort, notably through the Cathedral City campaign Our Make it Better Cheddar, which highlights the artisanal dedication required for large-scale production.
• In the United States, cheddar remains the second most consumed cheese variety, though it holds the top spot in the United Kingdom where it accounts for more than half of all cheese sales.

In the News and Trending for National Cheddar Day

Top things to do for National Cheddar Day

• Enjoy cheese paired with your favorite wine. According to cabotcheese, intense flavored cheeses pair well with Pinot noir or Cabernet while milder cheeses pair well with Merlot or Chardonnay.
• Visit a cheese shop and browse their selections.
• Host a cheese and wine night for friends and family. Have everyone bring their favorite win and cheese.