Behold the Power of the Festival of Cheese [Photo Gallery]

The American Cheese Society is having its annual convention at the end of August, right here in Seattle; Michael Pollan will be keynoting. They're mixing things up a little by inviting the public to their awards ceremony and Festival of Cheese, held at Benaroya Hall on Saturday, August 28, 5:30 to 9 p.m.

To publicize the cheesemonger Main Event, Beecher's owner Kurt Dammeier invited an assortment of foodies, bloggers, and media to the Pike Place store for a preview, and regaled us with stories and cheeses: "I'm Kurt Dammeier, and I'm the founder and owner of Beecher's Handmade Cheese. Middle name, Beecher, hence the name of the store."

Dammeier has been involved with the Cheese Society for five years, and is the board treasurer. "We now have over a thousand members," he said proudly. "Nearly every American cheesemaker of note will be attending this event." About 320 difference cheesemakers have entered their products into the competition.

As co-chair, Dammeier shares most of the responsibility for how this Benaroya Hall festival goes. Normally the awards ceremony is an industry event, on a separate night. But Dammeier thinks it'll be a bit of a thrill to see which cheeses win, and then have the chance to go meet the cheesemakers and taste the award-winners:

Immediately following the Ceremony, guests will exit into the main halls--and directly into the Festival of Cheese. Not only will all cheeses be on display, but we have invited Seattle's best restaurants to serve bites of their favorite dishes. To all this will be added a selection of Washington's best wineries pouring their award-winning wines.

"Festival" here means over 1,400 cheeses, 23 restaurants (Andaluca, Crush, Palace Kitchen, Rover's, Taste), eight wineries and four breweries. Your $85 ticket also includes tastings of artisanal foods from bakeries, cracker makers, and fig growers, to name a few.