Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026

Shop, eat, drink and party at Rock the Cheese Block

A block party built around a mac and cheese cookoff

Shopping the block is free. Grab a fork to taste every entry in our mac and cheese competition, browse a market of local vendors, and enjoy drinks, cocktails and a DJ, all in one afternoon at Paragon Star in Lee's Summit.

Date Sat., Oct. 10, 2026
Location Paragon Star, Lee's Summit, MO
Rock the Cheese Block event hero image
Presenting Sponsor
Paragon Star

Lee's Summit's home for sports, entertainment and community, and the proud host site of Rock the Cheese Block.

Visit Paragon Star →
Produced by Team Cocktail and Link 2 Lee's Summit
What's happening

One block, four ways to spend your afternoon

Rock the Cheese Block brings together everything a Lee's Summit block party should have, built around the main event: a mac and cheese cookoff you can actually taste.

🏪

Local vendors

Browse a market of local businesses and makers set up along the block. Free to shop, no ticket required.

🍹

Drinks and cocktails

A beverage tent pouring drinks from Lee's Summit area breweries and bars.

🍝

Mac and cheese competition

Home cooks and local pros compete across up to five categories. Grab a fork to taste every entry.

🎵

Live music

A DJ keeps the block moving from the first bite to the last. Free to enjoy, no ticket required.

The new twist

Five categories. Enter as many as you like.

Cook teams choose which categories to compete in, one or all five, judged on execution, appearance and taste. Attendees taste directly from cook team tents and vote for the People's Choice award.

🥣
Classic mac
Read more
🌶️
Spicy mac
Read more
🍺
Beer cheese mac
Read more
🔥
BBQ mac
Read more
🍰
Dessert mac
Read more

Think your mac and cheese can win?

Pick one category or enter all five, it's up to you. Cook team entry includes your competition spot, sampling supplies and a shot at the title. Space is limited to 20 teams.

Register your cook team
For local businesses

Set up shop on the block

Rock the Cheese Block carries forward the retail market Rock the Block is known for. Reserve your space and put your business in front of the neighborhood.

  • Three booth sizes so you can bring as much or as little as you need
  • Corner spots available on a first-request basis for an added fee
  • Certificate of insurance or signed waiver required before the event
Apply for a booth space
Vendor area at Rock the Block event
Who's behind it

Presented by Paragon Star

Rock the Cheese Block is produced jointly by Team Cocktail and Link 2 Lee's Summit, presented by Paragon Star.

Interested in sponsoring the block?

Category and beverage sponsorships are available, with naming rights and signage at the event.

Contact us
Come hungry

Get your fork

Shopping the vendor market and hanging out with the DJ is free, no ticket required. To taste the mac and cheese competition, grab your fork. It's your pass to sample every cook team's entry across all five categories.

Adult fork
$15
Get your fork →
Kids 12 and under
$7
Get your fork →
Your fork
All 5 mac categories
People's Choice voting
Good to know

Frequently asked questions

More answers get added here as they come in. Don't see yours? Reach out below.

When and where is Rock the Cheese Block? +

Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, at Paragon Star in Lee's Summit, Missouri.

What's the address for Paragon Star? +

1401 NW River Rd, Lee's Summit, MO 64081. Open in maps →

How much are tickets? +

Shopping the vendor market and enjoying the DJ is free. Sampling the mac and cheese competition requires a fork: $15 for adults, $7 for kids 12 and under.

What does my fork get me? +

Your fork is your pass to taste entries from every cook team across all five competition categories and vote for the People's Choice award.

How much does a vendor booth cost? +

Booths start at $175 for a 10x10 space, $325 for 10x20 and $475 for a very limited number of 10x30 spaces. Corner spots are available for an added $35, awarded first-request, first-served.

Do vendors and cook teams need insurance? +

Yes. Vendors and cook teams need to provide a certificate of insurance or sign a hold harmless waiver before the event. Our team will follow up after registration to collect it.

How do I enter the cook team competition? +

Register through the cook team application link above. Space is limited to 20 teams. You choose which categories to enter, one or all five.