The 24th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, happening daily through November 23, brings a culinary mashup of global cultures and gourmet innovation will bring irresistible bites, sips, entertainment and family fun to the park.
With new favorite festival offerings and dates than ever, let’s take a look at everything you can experience at this year’s Epcot International Food and Wine Festival!
Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Marketplaces
Epcot guests can taste their way around the park with 30 festive global food and wine marketplaces that extend from Future World to encircle the World Showcase promenade.
New marketplaces include the Appleseed Orchard Marketplace, where guests can pair apple-inspired beers, ciders and cocktails like the Apple Blossom Sky while nibbling on Charcuterie and Cheese. Brews, ciders and wines will be offered individually or as flights, and kids of all ages can enjoy a deliciously sweet Frozen Apple Pie drink.
More new sweet and savory treats can be found at The Alps Marketplace, a tasty new spot where guests can conjure a snow-capped setting while dipping into a dish of Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese with Baby Potatoes, Cornichons, and Baguette, or Venison Stew with Crushed Potatoes paired with refreshing Frozen Rosé.
The Doughnut Box is debuting in Future World on October 1st with sweet eats and refreshing sips. Disney chefs have harnessed their creative energies for a festival spin on the donut craze, producing irresistible marketplace goodies that include a Black and White Coffee Cocktail garnished with a fresh yeast donut sprinkled with chocolate espresso bean crumbles, a Sweet Corn Fritter with Fresno and red pepper jelly, Strawberry-dusted Yeast Donut Holes. Also on the menu is a Strawberry Smoothie made with Blue Diamond Breeze Almondmilk and an exclusive festival beer called Boston Cream Donut Ale from Central 28 Beer Company, located in DeBary, Florida.
Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Fun for Families
Back by popular demand, the Disney du Jour Dance Party in Future World will expand to seven days a week. Sundays through Thursdays, a DJ will lead the interactive fun. While on Fridays and Saturdays, Radio Disney stars will pump up the mix with live performances.
The celebrity lineup includes:
- September 27-28 – Isabella Nicole (“Headphones”)
- October 4-5 – Avenue Beat (“Delight”)
- October 11-12 Sky Katz (“Like This,” Disney Channel’s “Raven’s Home”)
- October 18-19 JAGMAC (“Like a Band”)
- November 1-2 – AJ Mitchell (“All My Friends”)
- November 8-9 – Kylie Cantrall (“That’s What I’m Talkin’ Bout”)
- November 15-16 – Erin Bowman (“Keep Me Warm”)
- November 22-23 –Tegan Marie (“Horses”)
Other family activities include Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak scavenger hunt where you use your map to locate statuettes of Remy hidden throughout World Showcase and the Global Marketplaces for a fun surprise, compliments of Chef Remy!
The popular Candy Sushi interactive experience returns to Sunshine Seasons in the Land Pavilion inviting kids of all ages to create sushi rolls using gummies, fun strips, and crisped rice to create a fun-to-eat treat!
Families can also enjoy the all-new Emile’s Fromage Montage,where they can sample a variety of delicious cheeses served in inventive ways. Guests can purchase any five cheese dishes from the official Global Marketplaces listed in the Festival Passport and collect a stamp for each cheese dish purchased. Once guests collect all five stamps, they can take the stamped Festival Passport to Shimmering Sips for a complimentary specialty cheesecake unique to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.
Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Eat to the Beat Concert Series
Three times nightly, the Eat to the Beat Concert Series will rev up fans and rock the America Gardens Theatre stage through November 19 with the biggest musical menu of top talent in the festival’s history, including new acts Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Kris Allen (pop, alt-rock), Boyce Avenue (rock, pop), and D.
Returning festival favorites spanning a broad range of eras and genres include Sugar Ray, Hanson, Sheila E. and Boyz II Men. Showtimes Sundays through Thursdays will be 5:30, 6:45 and 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday shows are slated for 6:30, 7:45 and 9 p.m.
Eat to the Beat Dining Packages are also available to let guests choose their favorite restaurant for a delicious breakfast, lunch or dinner, plus guaranteed concert seating that evening.
Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Premium Festival Events
The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival offers a wide variety of Premium Festival Events such as Party for the Senses, Sunday Brunch with the Chef, Cheese Seminars and other special wine and culinary programs to take your experience to the next level.
The back-by-demand Sunday Brunch with the Chef series in World Showplace Events Pavilion will kick off Sept. 1 with Chef Jamie Deen and continue on select Sundays through November 17. The chef lineup includes Cat Cora, Carla Hall, Fabio Viviani, Andrew Zimmern, Buddy Valastro, Richard Blais, Robert Irvine, David Burtka, Graham Elliot and Aarti Sequeira.
Tailgate Tasting hosted by ESPN’s Monday Night Football will be available select Sundays through November 17. The 45-minute program will pair gridiron grub with a beverage tasting inspired by the cities of pro teams playing each Monday night. Guests will also learn how to prepare the dishes for their next tailgate party.
The grandest of the festival’s hot-ticket tasting events, Party for the Senses at World Showplace Events Pavilion, will welcome acclaimed chefs and vintners September 21, October 5, 12 and October 19 (All Disney Chef Night!). This event showcases creative bites and palate-pleasing sips with sensational live entertainment featuring Femmes of Rock, who wowed guests last year with their blistering solos and innovative arrangements. (Note: The November 9 event is sold out.)
“Mix It, Make It, Celebrate It!” hands-on workshops on select Mondays and Thursdays through November 14 will offer new opportunities for guests to work side-by-side with visiting chefs, bakers, mixologists and other pros.
Popular TV chefs and other culinary icons will entertain guests and inspire their palates on select dates at festival seminars and other events. Big names on tap include Bryan Voltaggio, Kenny Gilbert, Jet Tila, Shaun O’Neale, Keegan Gerhard, Dan Pashman and Rock Harper.
Book & Bottle Signings by some of the world’s top vintners and chefs will return on select dates this year, in addition to the popular The Chocolate Experience: From Bean to the Bar, hosted by Ghirardelli, offering guests samples.
Culinary Demonstrations (available through November 16) and Beverage Seminars (available through November 17) will offer learning and tasting sessions select days throughout the festival.
Reservations and separate event admission are required for these premium festival events and can be made by calling (407) WDW-FEST or on TasteEpcot.com.
Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Merchandise
While you are in the park, don’t forget about the exciting new merchandise to commemorate the festival!
Chef Minnie and Chef Mickeyare bringing an extra “sprinkle” of fun in a new merchandise line depicts those true originals busily making cupcakes and other delectable desserts with ingredients that include rose-gold accents and a little sparkle.
Guests can also celebrate the festival with returning favorites including the Taste Your Way Around the World, Brews, Figment, and Remy collections.
During the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Eat to the Beat concerts through November 19, Disney du Jour Dance Party, Festival Passport, and all attractions and park entertainment are included with regular Epcot admission.
You can find more information about special events like these and theme park news by following @onthegoinmco on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
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