Contestants charge down the mountainside in pursuit of a rolling wheel of cheese

By Karina Palmitesta

Get a whole lot more than your daily dose of calcium at the fifth annual Canadian Cheese Rolling Festival (Aug. 18, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.). This all-ages celebration of Canadian cheese takes place outside at beautiful Whistler Blackcomb.

The main event is a fast and furious downhill race to capture an 11-pound rolling wheel of cheese. Contestants (ages 19 and up) sprint, stumble and slide down the mountainside, decked out in knee pads, helmets and outrageous costumes. It’s worth it to dress up: even if you don’t win the race, you’ll be entered to win a $500 voucher to a Whistler restaurant. Whoever captures the wheel is named Cheese Rolling Champion, but more importantly, they get to take home all 11 pounds of their hard-won cheese.

This festival isn’t just for rough-and-tumble adults ready to duke it out for a chunk of cheddar. There are also tons of activities for the younger set, including less precarious uphill races, face painting and cheese-themed rounds of Twister and bowling. And the more sedate festival-goer can attend fascinating cheese seminars and visit the fully stocked Canadian cheese market.

We’ll spare you the jokes about having a “gouda” time and get right to the point: there’s fame, glory and 11 pounds of cheese on the line here. Don’t miss this fun homage to fromage.