18th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

The 18th Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival will return to Walt Disney World this fall with exciting new flavors and entertainment options. This year your culinary trip around the world will include tastes from the Scotland marketplace and a return trip to Brazil as part of more than 25 total marketplaces around the world showcase. Five new acts have also been added to the Eat to the Beat Concerts.

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18th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Sept. 27-Nov. 11 Early Details Announced

Posted on May 20, 2013 by John Frost

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The 18th Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival will return to Walt Disney World this fall with exciting new flavors and entertainment options. This year your culinary trip around the world will include tastes from the Scotland marketplace and a return trip to Brazil as part of more than 25 total marketplaces around the world showcase. Five new acts have also been added to the Eat to the Beat Concerts.

Fresh for 2013:

• New marketplace debuts; favorites return – Traditional flavors with a twist will pair with beers, meads and Scotch at the new Scotland Marketplace designed by Walt Disney Imagineering. Scottish officials were so impressed with the hit Disney film, “Brave,” that they contacted festival planners about participating in this year’s festival. The Brazil Marketplace returns by popular demand with an exciting new menu following a one-year hiatus. Hawai’i is back with its flavorful Kalua Pork Slider, and Terra, which debuted last year, returns with vegan favorite Trick’n Chicken Curry.
• Fan favorites rock the house at Eat to the Beat! Concerts – “We Got the Beat” with the Go-Go’s (Sept. 30-Oct. 1) and four other musical acts are set to make first appearances at Eat to the Beat nightly concerts. Also new to the festival stage: Edwin McCain (Oct. 10-11), The Manhattan Transfer (Oct. 12-13), Spin Doctors (Oct. 31-Nov. 1), and Christopher Cross (Nov. 2-3) Nineteen bands are slated, with STARSHIP starring Mickey Thomas kicking off the concert series Sept. 27-29. Returning fan favorites include The Pointer Sisters, Smash Mouth, Boyz II Men, Sister Hazel, Air Supply, Hanson and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.
• Celebrity chefs cook and dish – Renowned chefs like Warren Brown, Paula DaSilva, Gale Gand, Jamie Deen, Robert Irvine, Dean Max, Rock Harper, Jeff Henderson, Art Smith, Buddy Valastro, Allen Susser, “Cake Boy” Eric Lanlard, Duskie Estes and John Stewart, Donald Link, Bryan Voltaggio and Emily Ellyn share their talents during culinary demos and premium events.
• Festival Welcome Center buzzes with activities – Guests can make the most of complimentary Authentic Taste seminars. Culinary demonstrations and wine seminars feature new tastes and sips for a nominal fee.
• Reserved culinary events draw foodies — Special culinary programs showcase a lineup of renowned winemakers, guest chefs and speakers like Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson as they participate in elegant dinners, luncheons, seminars and wine schools.

Other festival highlights include:

• More than 270 chefs including Disney chefs and culinary stars from across the country
• A complimentary Marketplace Discovery Passport to be stamped at each international marketplace visited for the perfect scrapbook souvenir.
• Party for the Senses grand tasting events Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26, and Nov. 2 featuring tempting bites from eminent chefs, more than 50 wines and beers and live entertainment.
• Premium events including “3D” Disney’s Dessert Discovery on select Fridays, Cheese Seminars on Saturdays and Sweet Sundays on Sundays.

Here’s the (near) complete line up for Eat to the Beat concerts:

Sep 27-29: Starship starring Mickey Thomas
Sep 30-Oct 1: The Go-Go’s
Oct 2-4: Air Supply
Oct 5-6; Sister Hazel
Oct 7-9: Sugar Ray
Oct 10-11: Edwin McCain
Oct 12-13: The Manhattan Transfer
Oct 14-15: TBA
Oct 16-17: The Pointer Sisters
Oct 18-20: Night Ranger
Oct 21-23: Boyz II Men
Oct 24-25: Survivor
Oct 26-27: .38 Special
Oct 28-30: Smash Mouth
Oct 31-Nov 1: Spin Doctors
Nov 2-3: Christopher Cross
Nov 4-5: Hanson
Nov 6-8: Dennis DeYoung
Nov 9-11: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

What’s New for the 17th Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

This just in: the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival was named by the Travel Channel as one of the country’s top food and wine festivals. Chefs are cooking up fantastic new experiences for this year’s fest, which open September 28 and runs for a record 46 days through November 12.

There’s no better setting for noshing, sipping and wandering than Epcot’s World Showcase, with a one-of-a-kind backdrop of architectural icons from around the globe.

Fresh for 2012:

• Two new festival marketplaces: TERRA Marketplace offers vegan menu items, including Trick’n Chick’n Curry with Basmati Rice and Chili Colorado with House-Made Chips and Cashew Cheese. The FLORIDA Marketplace introduces fresh twists on regional flavors. There are more than 25 ethnic and regional marketplaces in all.
• Feel like a VIP with Marketplace Chef Tours. Each Wednesday, festival chefs host a walking-and-tasting tour around World Showcase with stops at several international marketplaces. You get to taste five marketplace dishes and five beverage items, like beer, wine and cocktails – and learn a few culinary secrets.


• More kid-friendly tastes. Kids of all ages can try inventive new sips during the family’s marketplace dine-around. Pair with yummy bites like beef empanadas and cheese fondue (new this year).
• Don’t miss (free) Eat to the Beat! Check out pop acts like Smash Mouth (October 11-12) and Javier Colon, winner of “The Voice” (October 13-14). With 18 different bands, look for Blues Traveler (November 5-6) and Dennis DeYoung, original member of STYX (November 7-8). Night Ranger kicks off the concert series September 28-30, and other returning fan favorites include Boyz II Men, The Pointer Sisters, Sister Hazel and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.
• Back for an encore: look for HGTV designers, celeb chefs, culinary demos and wine seminars, and special culinary programs – more than 270 chefs are showing off for the festival. And, yes, the fab Party for the Senses returns October 6, 13, 20, 27 and November 3.

The Party for the Senses grand tasting events and other special wine and culinary programs require reservations and separate event admission. Guests can call 407/WDW-FEST (939-3378) for information; August 14 is the date you can start booking. Festival details are available at www.disneyworld.com/foodandwine.

S P E C I A L F E S T I VA L E X P E R I E N C E S

 Festival Welcome Center
OPEN DAILY 9 A.M. TO 9 P.M.
     Marketplace Discovery Passport
SPONSORED BY DI SNEY VACATI ON CLuB®
.
Pick up your Festival Marketplace Discovery Passport at the Festival
Welcome Center or at any  Disney Vacation Club®
Information Center
throughout the Park. Then, use it to travel the world and fully experience
the delicious delights available at all 27 International Marketplaces
around World Showcase. Be sure to get your passport stamped at each
Marketplace, each with their own unique design.  Let the journey begin!
Culinary Demonstrations
$ 9 & $ 13 PER PERSON, TAX INCLUDED.
EPCOT®
 ADMISSION REQUIRED.
Learn from the pros at these 45-minute culinary sessions. Meet the featured chef
and wine presenter, pick up a few tips, and, best of all, taste the demonstrated
dish and wine pairing!
DAILY: 1 P.M. , 3 P.M. , 5 P.M.
Wine/Beverage Seminars
$ 8 & $ 12 PER PERSON, TAX INCLUDED.
EPCOT®
 ADMISSION REQUIRED.
A 45-minute seminar allows you to meet the featured winery principal or
beverage expert, learn a few tips, and sample the selected wines/beverages.
Cheers!
DAILY: NOON, 2 P. M. , 4 P. M. , 6 P. M.
S P E C I A L F E S T I VA L
E X P E R I E N C E S
New!4
Authors without Borders
EPCOT®
 ADMISSION REQUIRED.
Listen to renowned authors from the food and beverage industries speak about
popular topics in these 30-minute conversations.
FRIDAY – SUNDAYS AT 12:15 P. M. AND 4 P. M.
Authentic Taste Seminars
EPCOT®
 ADMISSION REQUIRED.
Each of these 30-minute seminars celebrates the origins, properties, and
history of pure ingredients in a lively and informative presentation by subject
authorities.
FRIDAY – SUNDAYS AT 2 P.M. AND 6 P.M.
Book Signings and Meet & Greets
EPCOT®
 ADMISSION REQUIRED.
Don’t miss the occasion to chat with a celebrated author and/or personality!
Be sure to have your purchased book/merchandise autographed. Please check
the daily schedules for featured authors and personalities or visit the Festival
Information Desk.
Bottle Signings
EPCOT®
 ADMISSION REQUIRED.
Meet the winemaker and have your purchased bottle of wine autographed
for a great souvenir or that special occasion! Please check the daily
schedules for topics and presenters or visit the Festival Information Desk.
Seasons of the Vine
EPCOT®
 ADMISSION REQUIRED.
This seven-minute journey provides a “behind-thescenes introduction” to wine growing. This film
runs continuous shows throughout the day.5
Intermissions Café
 FEATURING WINE, CHEESE, AND LIGHT SNACKS
 A special way to start your day or wind down in the evening! Featuring the
following wines: Caposaldo Prosecco, Caposaldo Pinot Grigio, Benziger
Family Sauvignon Blanc, Maison Louis Jadot Chardonnay, Maison Louis
Jadot Beaujolais-Villages, Wild Rock Pinot Noir, St. Francis RED, Abadía
Retuerta Selección Especial, Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon,  Fonseca
Bin 27, St. Francis Chardonnay, and St. Francis Old Vines Zinfandel.
The Stockpot Shop
Find commemorative items such as the event poster, Festival cookbook and
a great selection of cooking and entertaining products.
The Cellar
The wine shop boasts a selection of over 300 wines from the cellars of the
prestigious wineries showcased throughout the Festival.
Tasteful Chapters
Visit our book shop and look for the official book-signing location for
celebrity chefs and authors.