Chetumal Prepares for Sixth Cheese Ball Fair with Record 100 Exhibitors

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — Chetumal will host the sixth edition of its Cheese Ball Fair this weekend, featuring a record 100 exhibitors and free family activities. The event, which originated in the city in 2021, has grown into the Yucatan Peninsula’s most significant gastronomic festival dedicated to the iconic cheese ball.

The fair will take place at Paseo Héroes on February 21 and 22, coinciding with the venue’s fourth anniversary as part of local economic and cultural revitalization efforts. Delmar Deur Briceño, president of the Yucatan Peninsula Gastronomic Circuit (Cigapey), highlighted that no previous edition has attracted this many participants.

“We can proudly say this is a peninsula-wide festival with roots in Chetumal,” Briceño said. “This location has the highest participation of entrepreneurs.”

He noted that previous fairs in Mérida drew 40 exhibitors and Cancún had 50, positioning Chetumal as the leading gathering point for this culinary celebration. The event supports local economies by integrating producers and entrepreneurs from municipalities including Bacalar and Felipe Carrillo Puerto.

Rossana Ayala, director of the Municipal Institute of Social Economy (IMES), emphasized the fair’s local origins. “It’s important to note that the Cheese Ball Fair was born in Chetumal and later became a peninsula-wide event, but its origins are in this capital city,” she stated.

Ayala also announced that the project was recognized as a finalist for the 2025 Municipal Excellence Award from the Association of Mexican Capital Cities, based on high scores among municipal projects nationwide. The award will be presented on February 27 in Mexico City.

Culinary offerings will showcase cheese ball in various presentations: marquesitas, sandwiches, hot dogs, gorditas de nata, ice cream, frappés, cupcakes, mini pancakes, and cakes, among other dishes. The variety reflects local creativity and the product’s cultural significance.

“Cheese ball is part of our identity in Chetumal,” Ayala commented. “Who here hasn’t grown up eating something with cheese ball?” She invited families to enjoy the festival.

New this year is a family zone with themed games including cheese ball bingo, an adapted memory game, and a special version of snakes and ladders called “Marquesitas and Mice.” The fair will also feature mascots and a photo booth for attendees to share their experiences on social media.

Admission is free. Exhibitors were asked to pay a 400-peso recovery fee and donate toys for the municipal DIF system, maintaining the event’s social component.