The first day tickets went on sale for the Downtown Coeur d’Alene Association’s Mac & Cheese Festival, Deborah Kerr of Rathdrum bought two. 

“They sell out fast,” she said. 

Indeed, they did.  

Two thousand were snapped up for Saturday’s event that saw downtown stores packed with people lined up to try about 20 chef variations on a staple of the American diet. 

One of the first stops for Deborah Kerr and husband Bill was All Things Irish, where they sat and sampled a Pepperjack Mac ‘n Cheese Brisket Bowl by Drummin Up BBQ Catering. 

Both loved it. 

“Creamy and delicious,” Deborah Kerr said. 

“Great combination of everything,” Bill Kerr added. 

The Mac ‘n Cheese Brisket Bowl was last year’s People’s Choice winner. 

“I think it might be in line again,” Deborah said. 

Even on a gray and cloudy 35-degree day, the festival in its ninth year continued to prove its popularity as guests traveled from far and near to try comfort food paired with beer.

Cheesehead hats and mac and cheese shirts were common as happy people milled around, eating, drinking and trying dishes prepared by chefs in a good-natured competition for the Golden Noodle Award. 

Ben Drake, owner of Gentleman Sausages on Fourth Street, was pouring beer and chatting with customers who came in for a taste of Syringa Curry Mac made by Syringa Japanese Cafe and Sushi Bar. 

“The Mac and Cheese Festival is wild,” he said. 

Drake is in his third year of hosting a tasting site. He said the food, the people and the spirit make it unique. 

“I didn’t know there was going to be such demand for mac and cheese,” he said. 

Viljo and Autumn Basso, owners of Syringa Japanese Cafe, were busy serving up their dish of macaroni, cheddar cheese, milk curry, potatoes, carrots, caramelized onions and pepper, last year’s winner as selected by judges. 

"It’s really delicious,” Viljo Basso said. 

Coeur d’Alene Sunrise Rotarian Dan Gase was a fan. 

“This is really nice, just a little bit of zing,” he said.  

After hearing about the craze of the Mac & Cheese Festival, the Bassos decided to see what it was about and signed up. 

“It ended up being ridiculously fun,” Viljo Basso said. “We just have fun with it. That’s the whole idea.” 

At Mix It Up Home, owner Beth Rich was wearing one of the macaroni necklaces made by employees Megan Freudenthal and Kimberly Crouse. 

Rich recently returned from a business trip to Dallas and Atlanta, where she talked with retailers from across the country. 

She told them that when she returned home, there would be 2,000 people downtown for a mac and cheese festival. 

“Every single retailer was like, ‘What? What are you talking about?’” Rich said.

She was happy to explain. 

“For a small, independent business, during what is normally a slow time, to be packed from front to back, that warms my heart,” Rich said. 

Freudenthal said they got the idea for mac necklaces from customers wearing them last year. People noticed. 

“We're getting lots of compliments on this,” she said.  

For good reason. 

“Of all the festivals a city can have, macaroni and cheese is by far the best,” Freudenthal said. 

Don and Sharmon Schmitt of Coeur d’Alene agreed. 

This is their fifth year at the festival. They bought the VIP passes. 

“Keeps you out of the long lines,” Don said, smiling. 

Their favorite after about a half-dozen stops was Cougar Gold Mac made by Mangia Catering and served up at Bird and Lily Boutique 

“We buy a lot of Cougar Gold cheese,” Sharmon Schmitt said. 

She said the Mac & Cheese Festival is a perfect pairing with Coeur d’Alene in January. 

“Our downtown has so much character,” she said. 

Robert Erbland, owner of Meltz Grilled Cheese, was serving "El Machego Macario" at Woops!, where the line snaked around the bakery and out the door.

He offered a solid theory explaining the craze that is the Mac & Cheese Festival: "It's comfort food. You can’t get away from that."

    Nick Burns with Drummin Up BBQ Catering sets out a Mac ‘n Cheese Brisket Bowl at All Things Irish during the Mac & Cheese Festival on Saturday.
  

    Meagin Erbland, left, and Chelsea Gentleman with Meltz Grilled Cheese have fun serving customers during the Mac & Cheese Festival on Saturday.
  

    Mix It Up Home owner Beth Rich, center, is joined by Megan Freudenthal, left, and Kimberly Crouse as they wear macaroni necklaces during the Mac & Cheese Festival on Saturday.
  

    Drummin Up BBQ Catering staff pose at All Things Irish during the Mac & Cheese Festival on Saturday. From left, Madison Hyland, Jen Laster, Marissa Hyland, Jen Hyland, Kim Kibby and Nick Burns.