The Big Cheese Serves Another Year of Charitable Fun

The Big Cheese featured multiple businesses and charities serving up cheesy delights for a good cause.

By Amber Battillo March 29, 2026 11:05 am

A man makes grilled cheese on a small burner while a person behind him prepared a carrier for the food. — 352todayAmber Battillo/352todayBusinesses and charities made grilled cheese on the spot for guests at The Big Cheese on March 28, 2026.

OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The Business Leaders of Ocala hosted their 2nd annual The Big Cheese mac and cheese and grilled cheese competition on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Businesses and charities from the Marion County area gathered at Midtown Station serving up plenty of cheesy delights to guests. Proceeds of the event benefit five charities in the county including Arnette House, Champions for Champions, Isaiah 117, The Ora Clubhouse and Voices of Change Animal League (VOCAL).

Some of the participating cooks for the day were Infinite Ale Works, Life Care Center of Ocala, Dillon Media Group, Anderson Outdoor Living, Sun State Power LLC, VOCAL, Arnette House and Isaiah 117. Ferrentino & Son Construction returned for another year of The Big Cheese, sponsoring the event along with South Land Home Inspection, Momentum Realty, Edward Jones and Reputable Plumbing. Festivities at the event featured the delectable samplings from each of the businesses and organizations with mac and cheese and grilled cheese, live music performed by Kaity Kane and children’s activities including cornhole.

A woman with black gloves scoops mac and cheese into a clear cup.

A group of people walk past vendors in a parking lot.

A woman wearing blue gloves grabs a grilled cheese sandwich off of a cutting board.

A woman holds a dog in her arms behind a table under a canopy. On the table are items sponsoring a charity called, "VOCAL."

A line of raffle items in baskets sit on a white table with small, white boxes in front of them that read, "The Big Cheese." In the background, a group of people sit at tables and greet guests to an event.

A man stands in front of a truck with large text that reads, "Reputable Team Plumbing Division.

Toward the end of the event, winds picked up and began knocking supplies off tables and blowing canopies around. However, guests and businesses stayed until the very end to hear the final announcement for The Big Cheese winners.

The Judges’ Choice winners for mac and cheese winners were Dillon Media Group in first place, Anderson Outdoor Living in second place and Infinite Ale Works in third place with Dillon Media Group also winning people’s choice. The Judges’ Choice winners for grilled cheese were Southern Side Chicks in first place and Arnette House in second place with Arnette House also winning people’s choice.