One of Winchester’s biggest summer weekends is here, as festivities for the ninth annual Beer Cheese Festival begin. 

The festival opens tonight with Cheesy Movie Night, which will be a screening of “The Neverending Story” in front of the Clark County Courthouse on Main Street. The movie, about a boy who reads a fantasy novel about a young warrior trying to prevent a dark storm from overwhelming a fantasy world, begins at dark. 

Across town, the Distinguished Young Woman scholarship competition will have its 40th annual contest at George Rogers Clark High School. This year, seven Clark County students will vie for the local title by completing mock interviews and competitions for fitness, poise, talent and scholastics. 

As this year’s event is a milestone anniversary, there will be a reception for the past winners as well. The program begins at 7 p.m. today.

Saturday is going to be packed, especially downtown. The Winchester-Clark County Farmers’ Market will be open from 8 a.m. to noon on Depot Street with its usual fare of locally-grown produce and related products. 

At the same time, The Path Home 5K will kick off at 3421 Combs Ferry Road. The annual road race is a fundraiser for the Clark County Homeless Coalition and its shelter on Wainscott Avenue. Participants are welcome to run or walk.

Those needing a break from the whirlwind of activity can take a moment to center themselves during an hour-long yoga session on the lawn in front of the Clark County Public Library. The free event begins at 9 a.m. and offers free instruction and mats from the OM place.

Yoga wraps just in time for the Beer Cheese Festival to open at 10 a.m. in downtown Winchester. The festival celebrates Winchester’s claim as the birthplace of beer cheese. This year, 11 professional cheese-makers will offer samples to anyone who buys a $5 wristband. The wristband also carries one vote for the people’s choice award for the favorite beer cheese. Judges will also be choosing winners for first, second and third places, which includes cash and other prizes.

An amateur beer cheese contest will be in Winchester City Hall beginning at 11 a.m.

Throughout downtown, there will be booths for local non-profit organizations, food trucks, local businesses and title sponsor Shop Local Kentucky, which will offer its Kentucky, Winchester and beer cheese-themed apparel and other items.