The 67th-annual Ohio Swiss Festival kicked off Wednesday and continues through Saturday in downtown Sugarcreek. (Ohio Swiss Festival)

SUGARCREEK (WJER) - Ohio’s Little Switzerland is celebrating its dairy-heritage again. 

The 2019 Swiss Festival kicked off Wednesday with rides and concessions and continues through Saturday. Festival Committee President Scott Gerber calls it the best week in Sugarcreek, featuring traditional Swiss competitions, live entertainment, multiple parades and lots of cheese. 

“We’re still making cheese today, and I think if you look back in the archives a couple of years, our cheesemakers in our area have won national titles, so we are still very proud of that fact,” he says.

Thursday includes the cheese-eating contest, the crowning of the grand champion cheesemaker and the cheese auction. Men and women will test their strength Friday during the traditional Steinstossen contest. 

“Ironically, you’d think it would be brute strength, which never hurts, but we have certainly seen the technique being very important and using leverage, maybe your chest more than your arms, and then certainly getting it elevated above your head and getting your arms locked underneath it,” Gerber says. 

There will also be Swiss wrestling demonstrations on Saturday. A full lineup and contest registration information can be found at www.ohioswissfestival.com.

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