COEUR d'ALENE — Who knew macaroni and cheese would be the entree that attracts thousands to downtown Coeur d'Alene?

Once again, the annual Mac & Cheese Festival is sold out, this time five weeks in advance, with the last tickets snapped up in early December.

"It's not every day you can go into town and explore restaurants and businesses and taste macaroni and cheese," said Emily Boyd, executive director of the Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association that puts on the event.

This Saturday's festival has about 20 tasting stations throughout downtown. Each offers a variation prepared by local chefs. 

This is not your boxed macaroni and cheese you buy at the store for 99 cents.

Ingredients include Cougar Gold Cheese, Lobster, tri-tip, brisket and more. Past favorites were Mac & Cheese Tacos, Mac & Cheese waffle cones and Cheesy Gelato. It's mac and cheese gourmet.

"You name it," Boyd said.

Tasters can vote for the favorites. Pow’Waw Food Truck won the Golden Noodle last year, while the People’s Choice winner was Kootenai Health Cafe.

About 2,000 tickets were sold to the seventh annual Mac & Cheese Festival. They ranged from $15 for kids to $25 for the "Mac Pack" to $35 for "Mac and Beer" and $50 for the "VIP Mac and Beer."

 "Mac Daddy" room packages are still available through The Coeur d'Alene Resort and can have you eating mac and cheese on Saturday.

Boyd said she believes the festival is so popular because it's different, people are looking for something fun and affordable to do, and it brightens a gray time of the year.