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What are the COVID protocols?

• Due to the rapidly changing nature of COVID mandates, this festival will enforce all government mandates in effect at the time of the event.

• DO NOT ENTER the festival if you are experiencing any of the following:

  • Fever​

  • Cough

  • Shortness of breath

  • Cold or flu-like symptoms

  • Loss of taste or smell

  • Nausea

  • Recent close contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19

• This event is taking place on a 7 acre section of Southside Park and capacity is restricted to allow for significant social distancing. We encourage you to bring chairs/blankets so that you can spread out across the expansive grass areas while you eat your sandwiches.
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​How much are tickets?

• Grilled Cheese Tasting Event (Saturday April 27, 2023):

  • $65 SUPER Early Bird GA (limited tickets available at this price)

  • $70 Early Bird GA (limited tickets available at this price)

  • $75 General Admission

  • $95 VIP

• All-Ages Festival (Sunday April 28, 2023):

  • $10 ($15 at the door - if not sold out).

  • Ages 5 and under get in for free! No ticket needed.

  • Group Rate: Buy 8 or more tickets and they're only $8 each!
    
     

Are there refunds?

• The event is rain or shine. Tickets are fully transferable, so you may gift or sell them to others. While tickets are not-refundable we are happy to help verify tickets to facilitate your transfer if desired.
   

What is included with the ticket price?

• Saturday: Souvenir tasting glass, unlimited tastings (grilled cheese, beer, wine, & desserts), live DJ, cornhole, & more!

• Sunday: Ticket covers admission only, access to music, DJ, adult game zone, free kid's activities (no bounce houses), etc. Souvenirs and food items may be purchased separately.

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What are the hours?

• Saturday - 1pm - 4pm (VIP entry at 12pm)

• Sunday - 11am - 4pm

 

How do I become a vendor?

• Easy! Just fill out a quick form to tell us more about your business and we'll send you the info and paperwork you need to get involved. Click HERE to fill out the form.

• Please note: This event receives a LARGE amount of vendor inquiries and we may not be able to respond to them all. If your vendor category is already full for this year, we will keep your information and reach out to you about next year's event.

 

Does this event benefit a charity?

• Yes! The Sacramento Grilled Cheese Festival is honored to select Shriners Children's Hospital as it's 2024 beneficiary. Click here to find out more about the important work they do.
   

Is the event rain or shine?

• Yes! Nothing will stop us from having a cheesy good time.
   

Is it possible to volunteer at this event?

• Yes! Shriner's is providing more than 70 volunteers for the weekend and I'm sure they would love to have you join in the fun. Just fill out the Volunteer Sign-Up Form and a coordinator will be in touch with you shortly.

• Volunteers who complete at least one full shift will receive complementary admission to the event they are assigned. (restrictions may apply)

• Volunteers for Saturday's tasting event must be age 21 or older. Volunteers on Sunday who are under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

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What's the parking situation?

• Metered and unmetered parking is available in the neighborhood surrounding the festival but it may fill quickly.

• Please consider ride sharing services, walking or biking to the park.

• The city suggests parking around O'Neill Park, which is located at 6th and Broadway, just a few blocks away.

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Can we pay by credit card?

• When purchasing tickets online, credit cards are accepted.

• This festival is cash-only. If you plan to purchase your tickets at the gate, you will need cash, or you can buy online via Eventbrite the day of the event. **NOTE: Tickets may not be available at the gate! This even has sold out in the past and may sell out again. We recommend getting your tickets early.

• ATMs are available inside the festival.

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How much are the sandwiches at the all-ages festival?

• Sandwiches will be served in sample-size portions (approximately quarter sandwich size) so you can try them all! At Sunday's all-ages festival, each sample will be priced around $2-4. Vendors will also have side dishes available at a wide range of prices.

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I'm coming from out of town. What hotel should I stay at?

• We've partnered with the Residence Inn by Marriott in downtown Sacramento to bring you a discounted room rate that is just blocks from festival activities! Click here to get this special rate.

• Guests may also book by calling 1-888-236-2427

Directions: How do we get there?​

• From the Bay Area: Take interstate 80 east. When entering West Sacramento, keep left to stay on US-50 East. Follow signs for Sacramento/South Lake Tahoe.  Take exit 4b for 5th street toward Downtown. Use the left lane to merge onto X street. Turn left on 8th street and proceed toward T street. See above for additional parking details.

• From South Lake Tahoe: Take US-50 west. Exit 4B for "Downtown/10th Street". Merge onto W street and turn right on 8th street. The festival will be on your left at the corner of 8th & T streets.

• From North Lake Tahoe: Take I-80 West. Continue onto I-80 BUS/Capital City Freeway. Follow signs for CA-99 South. Take exit 6A for US-50 East toward Los Angeles/Redding. Keep right at the fork, following signs for San Francisco/US-50 W/I-80. Take exit 4B for "Downtown/10th Street". Merge onto W street and turn right on 8th street. The festival will be on your left at the corner of 8th & T streets.

• The park address is 2115 6th Street. Depending on your ticket and day, there are entrances at 6th and T street and 8th and T street.

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Do I need ID?

• Yes. Security will be checking IDs at all entrances and giving wristbands or stamps to those who are 21+. You MUST have a wristband or stamp to purchase beer inside the event. Please have your ID ready as you enter so we can get everyone in quickly.

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Can I bring my kids to the 21+ tasting event?

• No, sorry. Nobody under the age of 21 will be allowed inside the 21+ tasting event.

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Are there "designated driver" tickets available for the 21+ event?

• No. All tickets include unlimited tastings for both food and beverages. Non-alcoholic beverages will be available as well.

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Can I bring fluffy?

• No, only ADA compliant service dogs will be permitted inside the festival.

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What can I bring inside?

• Cash

• Water bottles

• Cameras/Phones

• Blankets/folding chairs

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Is there anything I can't bring inside?

• Alcohol

• Pets

• Outside food/drink (other than water)

• Glass bottles or aluminum cans

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Is there anything for the kids to do?

• Yes! At Sunday's all-ages festival there will be free kid's activities available. The kids zone will include games, face painting, and more! There will not be bounce houses due to permitting issues.

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Are there gluten free options?

• Gluten Free bread from Pushkins Bakery will be available upon request. Gluten free orders may experience a brief delay since they will likely be made to order (aka: piping hot and fresh!).

• Please note that all sandwiches will be cooked on the same grills so there may be some cross-contamination.

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Food Festival things to know and remember:

• There WILL be lines: We are doing everything we can to minimize them, but if you want fresh, hot, and ooey-gooey grilled cheese sandwiches, there will be lines because the restaurants are preparing the sandwiches fresh so they taste delicious. They will be cooking constantly, all day long, and they're accepting cash only to prevent credit cards from slowing the lines down for you.

  • If hundreds or thousands of people show up at once, they can't have hundreds/thousands of sandwiches ready for you. Right before the gates open, they will start cooking furiously to try to have fresh sandwiches ready and they won't stop all day. Sunday's All -Ages event is open for five hours, so you have plenty of time to relax, eat, and enjoy the day.

• Come prepared to listen to great music, divide and conquer the lines with family and friends, and enjoy the day outside!

• If there's a vendor with a shorter line, try them out! All vendors have great sandwiches. Don't sit in a long line just because it's long!

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