18th Sartori Big Cheese Drop

Plymouth, Wisconsin – The annual Sartori Big Cheese Drop is nationally lauded as one of the country’s quirkiest New Year’s Eve traditions. This year marks our 18th annual event as we celebrate Plymouth, WI, the official Cheese Capital of the World. Over the past 17 years, the event has drawn thousands of visitors as the community comes together to welcome the new year. The highlight of the event is marked by a countdown and the lowering of a giant wedge of Sartori’s world award-winning BellaVitano® Gold Cheese at 10pm. The event is sponsored by the Sartori Company.

The festivities begin at 7:30pm in the PAC Greatroom with live music by the String Along Band. There will be a cheese tasting table and a cash bar. Enjoy complimentary hot cocoa and warm up at the bonfire from 8:30 to 10pm. As this is a family-friendly event, the Big Cheese Drop will be held at 10 PM. Bring your party noisemakers and cheese hats! Gift bags of Sartori Cheese will be distributed to the first 250 families in attendance. After the Big Cheese Drop, music and dancing will continue through 10:30pm.

Executive Director Donna Hahn said, “the Plymouth Arts Center initiated this popular New Year’s Eve event back in 2007 to pay tribute to Plymouth’s cheese heritage and its thriving industry that still exists today. We greatly appreciate the Sartori Company’s generous sponsorship of this event and our organization. We also thank the Plymouth Fire Department for their continued gracious assistance. Special thanks to Greg and Deborah Heberlein for their assistance. The Plymouth Arts Center sends its best wishes to all for very Healthy and Happy New Year!”

About the Sartori Company: Sartori, a fourth-generation family-owned company, has proudly produced award-winning, artisan cheese for customers worldwide since 1939. Rooted in Plymouth, Wisconsin, Sartori’s emphasis on a high-quality and handcrafted approach to cheesemaking is a timeless family tradition.

The String Along Band plays music to soothe the savage soul! Covering music by Johnny Cash, Willy Nelson, Patsy Cline, John Denver, Elvis, Roy Orbison, Various Rock N’ Roll, Blue Grass, Country and classics from days gone by and more! Band members include Steve Karthauser, Brian Karthauser, John Higgins, Steve Vogt, Zach Karthauser, David Morrissey. Great folks playing some great music!

About the Cheese Capital: The national respect for Plymouth was planted in the fact that the price of cheese in the USA was designated at the Wisconsin Cheese Exchange in downtown Plymouth, beginning in 1918. The Cheese Exchange pricing and standards were the platform for cheese pricing until 1956. During these decades Plymouth became known as Cheeseville because of the cheese storage facilities, the processing of cheese and shipping of product throughout the country. Today Plymouth is simply the Cheese Capital of the World with over 15% of the cheese consumed in the US going through the city.

About the Plymouth Arts Center: Established in 1993 as a 501c3 non-profit arts organization, the Plymouth Arts Center is Western Sheboygan County’s leading arts destination. Its celebrated Gallery 110 North showcases Wisconsin fine artists in changing exhibits. The Gift Shop features original art created by PAC members. The PAC offers an ongoing and vibrant schedule of live musical and theatrical performances, art classes for all ages, and special annual events, such as, the Cheese Capital Jazz & Blues Crawl Fundraiser, Northern Moraine Spring Art Tour, Paint the Towns in Fall Color competition and gala, and the nationally acclaimed, “Sartori Big Cheese Drop!” The PAC also serves as a unique backdrop for private parties, meetings and special events. Tour/School groups welcome. Gallery admission is always free.

The Plymouth Arts Center is located at 520 East Mill Street, downtown, (at the intersection of Eastern, Mill & North.) For more information or to request more information about New Year’s Eve or for a schedule of events, please call (920) 892-8409 or visit the PAC website at: www.plymoutharts.org