OFFICIAL DATES FOR EPCOTS 2021 INTERNATIONAL FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL
Typically, most guests associate the Food and Wine Festival with the fall season (the official first day of fall is Sept 22). Pre-Covid this festival would run from end of August-end of November. Well, brace yourselves, just like last year, Disney Parks Blog announced this year’s festival will run from July 15th, 2021 to November 20, 2021. This means there are only two weeks between Flower and Garden (runs from March 3, 2021 through July 5, 2021)! Essentially, if you LOVE festivals this is your time to shine because you have more festival time than ever before!
FUN FACT: This is the first festival since 2020 that has dropped the ‘taste of’ part of the festival title. Last year it was called Taste of Food and Wine, which was a modified version of the festival due to new limitations of the festival because of Covid (i.e no informative culinary and beverage demonstrations, no eat to the beat, adding virtual queues, etc.).
Let’s dive into what you can expect this year!
TLDR JUMPS/ Table of Contents
Global Marketplaces
Have you ever wanted to take a tour around the world just tasting and savoring some of the best authentic global cuisine and beverages? Prepare your taste buds for a culinary adventure as you stroll across SIX continents and so much more! Marketplaces include returning favorites like Canada, Greece, Germany, and Appleseed Orchard. Chefs from all over the world bring their most innovative cooking techniques and cultural flavors all for your palette. A full food guide is soon to come with even MORE marketplaces! I’ll be sure to update this site with a foodie guide JUST FOR YOU! Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss out!
Entertainment
When I think of Food & Wine I think of Eat to the Beat. It’s the hot ticket event, and the main reason why I and so many other guests go to this festival every year. There’s always an array of awesome performers that people flock to go see and even get special dining plans so they can be seated front row (I definitely do this every year!). For me its always Hanson! But ever since the pandemic last year (2020) entertainment has been cut short and Disney has not announced any artists coming back thus far. There will be some entertainment, though! So far this is the line up as announced by Disney Parks Blog:
JAMMin’ Chefs (Canada Mill Stage)
This funky drumming crew breaks it down as they drum up fun in the kitchen using pots, pans and other unlikely instruments.
Mariachi Cobre (America Gardens Theatre)
Enjoy an exuberant performance of world-famous, traditional folk music.Voices of Liberty (America Gardens Theatre)
Get swept away by inspiring vocal performances celebrating America’s spirit and beauty.
Fun For All Ages
Emile’s Fromage Montage
SAY CHEESE! This year guests will once again be able to go on a fun cheese crawl. Guests can sample a variety of cheeses served up in some fun ways as part of Emile’s Fromage Montage. After collecting a stamp from five different Global Marketplaces you can earn a prize!
Last year the participating menu items included: Impossible Cottage Pie (Located at Earth Eats), Black Pepper Boursin Souffle (Located at The Cheese Studio), Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese (Located The Alps), Schinkennudein (Located in Germany Marketplace), and Pao de Queijo (in Brazil).
Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak
We all know and love Remy for his knack for fresh ingredients and delicious masterpieces, including his famous dish known as Ratatouille. As you pass the many different pavilions around the world showcase help Remy find all 15 ingredients that go into his famous dish. Maps can typically be purchased at many of the gift shops around EPCOT and have traditionally cost $7.99.
PRO TIP: Disney Vacation Club members or Annual Passholder discounts save guests 20% on maps!
This activity is fun for the whole family! Looking for Remy is one of my favorite things to do while I’m sampling festival food or waiting for Hanson’s set to start. Keep your eyes peeled for hidden statuettes of Remy hidden all over the park!
Merchandise
My FAVORITE part of any trip is SHOPPING! But you already know that, and if you don’t then be sure to check my Instagram stories for my #zswishlistwednesday for all my favorite items from Disney. Right now the festival merchandise collection will feature an all new spirit jersey, baseball cap, and all kinds of keepsakes like tumblers, plates, aprons, etc. I can’t wait for Disney to drop the full preview of what fun things we can expect to purchase!
Don’t worry, there is so much more to come! This is just an appetizer and I can’t WAIT to see what gets added to the full menu. Keep your eyes and ears out for the full menu to come! I’ll be sure to update this page for you and let you know on Instagram!
Will you be trekking over to EPCOT for Food & Wine this season?
