🧐 Frequently Asked Questions 🧐

Calgary Mac & Cheese Festival is an annual 2 week long comfort food festival that warms us to our core in the dead of Canadian winter! ❄️🥰

This epic festival brings together the top restaurants across the city in a heated competition for the ultimate title: THE BEST MAC & CHEESE IN THE CITY 🏆

⏰ Calgary Mac & Cheese Festival is Thursday January 15 to Saturday Jan 31, 2026 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada at participating restaurants. 

Calgary Mac & Cheese Festival is a creative project from the brains behind YYC Sociables (cough cough, mainly Sarah Sociables) (I say as I write this in pretend 3rd person.) Anyway, I, Sarah, thought this up, mostly because January is a SAD and BORING month and I personally felt that it's lacking in events compared to the rest of the year in Calgary. And I thought to myself, how can I make January less crappy? And more warm and food-filled? And after debating some options, hmmmm Garlic fest? Ramen fest? Cheese fest? Mac & Cheese fest was settled on as the ultimate cozy Canadian food because it has so many tasty spin-offs we know we'll never get bored! Pulled pork mac & cheese? Lobster mac & cheese? 10 Cheese baked mac & cheese? Put me in coach, I'll try them all! 🧀

The other reason I chose January is because this is the SLOWEST month for local restaurants. 😥 It is notoriously difficult to get people out of their houses in -30 weather. So let's give Calgarians a festival they can't refuse! Let's support local restaurants with this fun, cozy, cheesy festival that is guaranteed to warm our bellies and our neighbourly hearts. ❤️

Restaurants are revealed after they sign up and send in their dish information.  The full list will be available on the first day of the festival.

That said, we will be revealing early restaurant registrants ahead of the festival start date as fun teasers to get you excited for the festival!  If it's listed, you can make a reservation during the festival time period. 

p.s. If you're a restaurant this means the sooner you sign up the more positive exposure you get! Chop chop! We can't wait to hear from you! 😏

There is no admission cost for the festival. 🚫 You just make a reservation (or just pop by) at the competing restaurant of your choice! (And pay for what you order obviously).  I recommend heading to multiple restaurants to try all the mac & cheese's you can!  Put this in your calendar now as the festival flies by fast!

No, the recommended drink pairing is additional 🍺 But these drinks have been hand-picked as the most complimentarily to your dish, so give them a try for best mac & cheese results!

This decision is up to the discretion of individual restaurants.  If you look within the descriptions of each dish it is noted if a gluten-free or plant-based version is available. 

Fill out the online form linked on our website to cast your vote!  ✔️ (It's fast!)

You can vote each time you order a mac & cheese. Voting opens the first day of the festival and closes the last day.  Votes are tallied and the winning restaurants are announced in early February.

BONUS: Every voter is entered into a draw for a $100 gift card to Springbank Cheese as a thank-you for taking a minute to vote!  🙏  

p.s. Did you know kids can vote too? We believe kids are the real connoisseurs of mac & cheese and we'd love to hear their expert opinions! In fact, this year we'll be doing a "Best Mac & Cheese as voted by Kids" award category. 🏆

You betcha! Every festival attendee who makes an IG post (photo or reel) during the festival using our hashtag #yycmaccheesefest2025 and tagging us @yyc.macandcheesefest is entered to win a $100 flight voucher to the airline of their choice.  A random draw will be done after festival's close.

Me too! 😄 Following the announcement of the top restaurants you are encouraged to visit to try their winning dish post-festival. 🏆 It is up to the individual restaurants how long they decide to keep the Mac & Cheese dish on their menu. (We will try to announce it on our socials though)!

You'll be the first to find out if you're following the festival on instagram @yyc.macandcheesefest and/or subscribed to the YYC Sociables newsletter.