Lowville Hosts Global Cream Cheese Festival 2025
World records meet small-town fun in the western Adirondacks.
The center of Lowville is a hive of cream cheese enthusiasm.
There are food festivals, and then there’s Lowville’s Cream Cheese Festival—a North Country original that turns a historic downtown into a block party devoted to the silkiest spread in America. It's a unique charm that you won't find anywhere else.
Mark your calendar for Saturday, September 20, 2025, 11 am to 6 pm, when Main Street fills with music, games, and (yes) actual cheesecake served to the crowd.
The festival hub sits right in the heart of Lewis County, where the village’s dairy roots run deep and the community pride is contagious. You're not just attending a festival, you're becoming part of a community celebration.
Why cream cheese? Why Lowville?
Lowville isn’t just fond of cream cheese—it makes a lot of it. The Kraft Heinz plant located in this town on the western edge of the Adirondacks is widely cited as the largest cream cheese facility in the country, the engine behind the PHILADELPHIA brand you’ve likely got in your fridge.
The annual making of a ginormous cheesecake in Lowville.
That scale isn’t just a fun fact; it’s an anchor of the local economy and a point of pride that inspired the festival in the first place.
A festival with real history—and real records
The Cream Cheese Festival is truly larger-than-life. In 2013, Philadelphia Cream Cheese unveiled the world’s largest cheesecake, weighing in at a remarkable 6,900 pounds. This creation was certified by Guinness World Records.
In 2017, a rival attempt overseas took the title, but in 2024, Lowville reclaimed it in spectacular fashion with an impressive 15,008-pound cheesecake, verified on-site by a Guinness adjudicator. The message for 2025 is clear: this town doesn’t do small when it comes to cream cheese.
What you’ll do (besides eat cheesecake).
Get ready for a delightful day at the Cream Cheese Festival, where the joy of a county fair meets the charm of a vibrant community.
This all-ages street festival is packed with playful energy, quirky surprises, and loads of local flavor that promise to create unforgettable memories.
There’s a lox to love about cream cheese.
As you wander through the lively atmosphere, enjoy a fantastic lineup of live music on two stages, featuring electrifying bands and talented community performers that make every moment a celebration of talent and camaraderie.
Fun for families.
Families, listen up: The Children's Discovery Park is a must-visit destination, featuring a pop-up playground with massive inflatables, an exhilarating rock-climbing wall, thrilling giant slides, challenging obstacle courses, and carnival-style games.
Everything is designed to keep Lil’ ADKers entertained and smiling, with a promise of nap time afterwards.
Admission to this kid's wonderland is modest, while the main festival remains free to enjoy.
Indulge your inner games-person.
For those with a competitive streak, dive into the uniquely themed contests that celebrate New York’s dairy heritage. From Plinko and shuffleboard with a creamy twist to “milk the cow” contests, plus exhilarating sculpture and eating competitions, there’s no shortage of unexpected fun.
Locals gather at sign-up tables, eager for bragging rights and enticing cash prizes that add to the spirited competition.
Enjoy a day brimming with laughter, excitement, and community spirit at the Cream Cheese Festival – a quintessential celebration of local culture you won't want to miss.
Bakers and home cooks: this is your moment. The festival’s beloved Recipe Contest requires entries to feature Kraft Heinz Philadelphia Cream Cheese (naturally), with categories for Dessert and Non-Dessert, and judging that rewards taste, creativity, and presentation.
Don’t miss the big reveal.
One of the day’s signature moments is the unveiling of the cheesecake—an irresistible Instagram-worthy opportunity and the cue that dessert slices are on the way.
In 2024, the schedule placed the unveiling shortly after noon, and the crowd got to taste a record-setting dessert that was both a technical feat and a community celebration. Watch for the 2025 program to drop and plan your lunch hour accordingly.
It’s free, it’s downtown, and it’s “udderly” Lowville.
While some food festivals sprawl across gated fairgrounds, this one spills through the village’s center, with local businesses, civic groups, and farms woven into the experience.
That accessibility—and the backdrop of clapboard storefronts and church steeples—gives the day a neighborly feel that’s hard to fake. And yes, admission to the festival itself is free, which makes it easy to bring the whole crew.
Making cream cheese is an art.
Celebrating living industry.
The Lowville Cream Cheese Festival isn’t nostalgia; it’s a celebration for a plant that continues to transform Central New York milk into a national staple.
You’ll meet employees, see sponsors from across the farm economy, and taste the product that put Lowville on the map. For travelers, it’s a rare opportunity to experience firsthand how agriculture influences culture in the Adirondack foothills—no museum label required.
It’s also a Guinness-grade spectacle. Few festivals can claim a world-record dessert assembled by the hometown factory. Lowville can—and has, twice. If you’re a superlatives collector, it belongs on your “I was there” list.
Practical tips for making the most of the Cream Cheese Festival.
Timing & place: Saturday, September 20, 2025, 11 am to 6 pm. Historic Downtown Lowville. Arrive by late morning to catch the opening ceremonies and secure a good spot near the Main Stage for the midday cheesecake reveal.
Accessibility: Lowville is easily accessible by car, with several parking options available in the downtown area. For those using public transport, Lewis County Public Transportation typically supports event-day logistics, and the “Directions & Parking” page on the festival's website updates as the festival approaches. Please check the website for the most up-to-date information on parking and shuttle services.
Attending with Lil’ ADKers: Budget time (and a few dollars) for the Children’s Discovery Park; lines move steadily, and there’s a wide range of attractions for different ages.
Hungry? Beyond cheesecake, you’ll find street food, local vendors, and booths representing area farms and makers—classic fair flavors with a Tug Hill twist. (Glance at the posted map/schedule when you arrive to plan your grazing route.)
Come for the slice of a legend; stay for the slice of life.
The Cream Cheese Festival is a small town opening its arms to visitors, celebrating the hard work of its dairy community, and throwing a genuinely fun party in the process.
Great cream cheese comes from happy cows.
If you love unusual, only-in-New-York events with heart—and you’re not opposed to a forkful of history—Lowville’s got your number this September.
Editor’s note: Schedules and activities evolve as the festival approaches; check the official site for the latest lineup before you go. creamcheesefestival.com or visit the event Facebook page.
Attempting a cheesecake world record.
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