Fermentation Fest 2010–23

Fermentation is transformation

Fermentation Fest began in 2011, inspired by Wormfarm’s hosting of the Smithsonian’s Key Ingredients: America by Food exhibition the year before at our Woolen Mill Gallery in downtown Reedsburg. That collaboration sparked a celebration of food, farming, and the arts, with workshops and demonstrations on everything from dance to yoghurt, poetry to sauerkraut—always asserting that the arts are a “key ingredient” to thriving rural communities.

In its early years, Fermentation Fest ran alongside the Farm/Art DTour, blending large-scale rural art installations with classes, tastings, and performances. As both events grew, they were separated in 2016, with Fermentation Fest evolving into a stand-alone, weekend-long gathering every other year—first in Reedsburg’s City Park, later at the historic Witwen Park. The festival brought together farmers, artists, dancers, picklers, writers, composters, chefs, historians, and more in a true live culture convergence.