Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
Begins September 25
Ends November 16
Frequency Yearly
Venue Epcot
Location(s) Bay Lake, Florida
Country United States
Inaugurated 1995
Sponsor Chase
Website
Official website

The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival takes place each year in Epcot inside Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida in the fall, typically from late September through mid November.

The activities, themes and corporate sponsors have changed over the years since the festival began in 1995.[1][2] Special kiosks are set up around the World Showcase with food and drinks that reflect various countries.[3][4]

Admission to the basic festival is included with park admission, but guests must purchase the food and drink separately. Activities have included concerts, books signings and demonstrations.[5] Certain special events require a separate admission pass.

History

The miniature train display in the Germany Pavilion was created for the first Epcot International Food and Wine Festival in 1995.[6]

George Kalogridis, president of the Walt Disney World Resort since 2013, conceived the idea for the festival.[7]

2014

The Wonders of Life Pavilion being used as the Festival Center during the 2014 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

The Orlando Sentinel reported that the 2014 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival was to include 100,000 dessert portions, 360,000 beer servings, 300,000 wine pours, 1.5 million tapas-size food samplings and visitors from over 25 nations.[8]

The event ran from September 19 to November 10, a total of 53 days, which was the longest in the festival's 19-year history.[9]

The 2014 booths were Africa, Australia, Belgium, Block & Hans, Brazil, Brewer's Collection, Canada, China, Craft Beers, Desserts & Champagne, Farm Fresh, Fife & Drum, France, Germany, Greece, Hawai'i, Hops & Barley, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Patagonia, Poland, Puerto Rico, Refreshment Port, Scotland, Singapore, South Korea, Terra, and the Refreshment Cool Post.[10]

2014 Eat to the Beat Concert Series

Dennis DeYoung performing during the 2014 Eat to the Beat Concert Series

Eat to the Beat is a series of concerts during the festival at the America Gardens Theater. Performers performed three times during the day, at 5:30 pm, 6:45 pm, and 8:00 pm. The performers for the 2014 series were Jo Dee Messina, The Pointer Sisters, The Commodores, Christopher Cross, Hanson, Air Supply, STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas, Sugar Ray, Fuel, Sister Hazel, Richard Marx, Billy Ocean, Night Ranger, Smash Mouth, Jim Brickman, Los Lonely Boys, Wilson Phillips, Dennis DeYoung (original member of STYX), 38 Special, Boyz II Men, David Cook, and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.[11]

2015

The 2015 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival ran from September 25 through November 16. The 2015 festival saw the additions of new booths including the Cheese Studio, the Wine Studio, Intermissions Café, The Outpost, Chew Lab, and Sustainable Chew, the latter two being inspired by the ABC show The Chew,[12] as well a Dominican Republic booth. Also, the Ocean Spray Cranberry Bog returned for its fourth year after a one-year absence.[13] Two countries did not return from the 2014 lineup, Puerto Rico and Singapore.[14]

2015 Eat to the Beat Concert Series

The lineup included the return of Dennis DeYoung, Starship with Mickey Thomas, Christopher Cross, The Pointer Sisters, 38 Special, and Air Supply, alongside newcomers Tiffany, Maxi Priest, Everclear, and Chaka Khan.[15]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.
  1. ↑ "Walt Disney World Resort World History Digest". Walt Disney World News. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Food & Wine Festival, 2011 Edition". Yesterland. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  3. ↑ Heather McPherson (September 17, 2014). "Epcot chefs set a global buffet of eclectic tastes". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  4. ↑ Jeff Houck (September 27, 2013). "The Sip: Everywhere a food fest, but Epcot worth the trip". Tampa Tribune. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Sneak-Peek-Sunday: Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival". Modern Mouse Radio. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Epcot's Garden Railway Miniature Train". Disney Dispatch. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  7. ↑ Jason Garcia (January 19, 2013). "George Kalogridis: From clearing tables to Disney World chief". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved September 18, 2014. From 1995 to 2000, Kalogridis ran Epcot, Disney World's second-busiest theme park. He conceived and launched the park's International Food and Wine Festival to help generate attendance during a typically slow period in the fall. It is now one of Disney World's largest annual events.
  8. ↑ "Epcot chefs set global buffet of eclectic tastes for Food and Wine Fest". Orlando Sentinel.
  9. ↑ "Get your taste buds ready! Epcot food and wine fest begins Sept. 19". Florida Today.
  10. ↑ "Epcot Food and Wine Festival Map". wdwinfo.com. WDW Info. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  11. ↑ Fickley-Baker, Jennifer. "2014 Eat to the Beat Concert Lineup Announced for Epcot International Food & Wine Festival". disneyparks.disney.go.com/blogs. Disney Parks. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  12. ↑ Brandon, Pam. "20th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Expands for First Time into Future World". disneyparksblog.com. Disney Parks Blog. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  13. ↑ Cruz, Georgina. "Are your taste buds ready for Florida fall food festivals?". orlandosentinel.com. Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  14. ↑ "Global Marketplaces". disneyworld.com. Walt Disney World. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  15. ↑ "Eat to the Beat Concert Series". Dining at Disney. Retrieved May 26, 2015.

See also

External links

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