Cue “Return of the Mac[k]” by Mark Morrison. The inaugural appearance of the Mac & Cheese Festival in Fort Wayne proved to be a smashing hit last summer. So much so that it will return for a second year.

It’s being held on Saturday in the same location as last year: Parkview Field, home of the Fort Wayne TinCaps.

Presented by Outlier Events Group out of Kalamazoo, Michigan, the festival is an event that travels nationally. It made stops in Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio before reaching Fort Wayne.

The festival doesn’t typically return to the same city two years in a row, but the Fort Wayne community showed up and spoke out.

“We felt the excitement last year, and so we thought, ‘You know, why not?’  We had so many amazing vendors last year, why not try again for year two?” said Bailley Kluisza, Director of Events at Outlier Events Group.

As a sampling event, last year’s festival included over 50 varieties of mac and cheese that attendees can try, and over 150 craft beers.

Kluisza said that the mac and cheese sampling portions are 3 ounces each and are redeemed through tokens included with the different admission purchase options, although additional tokens are available for purchase at the event. Vendors may offer larger portions up to their own discretion.

“Mac and cheese is a food you can get super creative with, so our food vendors are all very creative. We try to push them to create something out of the box, out of the ordinary. But then also, I think it’s a staple in a lot of people’s households, so that draws people in–it’s a food item that people love in their day-to-day lives,” she said.

As far as the beer selection goes, Kluisza said that they will have all the favorites that people might purchase at the grocery store, as well as newer brands that allow attendees to explore fun and unique options they’ve never heard of before.

Despite the availability of alcohol, organizers want to emphasize that this is a family-friendly event. That’s why alcohol is not mentioned in the title as it is in other Outlier Events Group’s travelling festivals such as Donut & Beer, Taco & Tequila, and Tots & Taps.

Like last year, the festival will have live music, a face painter, a character artist, a balloon artist and more to keep it as interactive as possible for kids and adults alike.

Last year’s festival wrapped up with a stunning firework display.

Although many aspects will be kept the same, one notable change for this year’s event involves a trade-off for an increase in space used inside Parkview Field.

“Unfortunately, fireworks are not returning this year, but in exchange for fireworks, we are able to use the entire 360 concourse [of Parkview Field], which is something we weren’t able to do last year. Utilizing the entire space for food and drink vendors was a priority for us this year,” she said.

Additionally, Outlier Events Group partnered with Community Harvest Food Bank to host a food drive alongside the Mac & Cheese Festival last year, through which Kluisza said they were able to donate over 900 pounds of food.

They are bringing the food drive back this year, and each attendee that brings five canned food items will receive one additional food/drink token, per the festival website. Barrels to receive the food items will be located at check-in on the day of the event.

Looking forward, Kluisza sees a potential future with the Mac & Cheese Festival in Fort Wayne.

“If this is something that turns into an annual festival, I don’t think any of us here at Outlier Events would be upset about that,” she said. “If they want more or want something different next year, there’s no doubt in my mind that we could bring something different as well.”

Indiana’s Mac & Cheese Festival: $39 – $65, 3 pm on Saturday, 1301 Ewing Street, macandcheesefestin.com