Walt Disney World has announced the dates for the 2024 edition of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. The event will be held daily from Aug. 29 — the Thursday before Labor Day — through Nov. 23.
This marks a return to the pre-pandemic scheduling of Epcot festival. Last year, Food & Wine began in late July, a quick turnaround from the end of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival on July 5. This year’s Flower & Garden, currently underway, ends on Memorial Day, May 27.
The festival calendar became skewed in 2020 as a result of the pandemic and the four-month shutdown of Walt Disney World. When Epcot reopened in July of that year, the park presented a sort of mash-up festival. Since then, Epcot has been close to an all-kiosk/all-the-time operation thanks to the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays in November and December as well as the Epcot International Festival of the Arts in January and February.
The official Disney Parks Blog indicated the return of a handful of food offerings but did not share a full lineup of marketplaces. It also showcased some event merchandise (mugs, salt and pepper shakers, Figment-themed bags and tumblers). The Eat to the Beat concert series will be held nightly, although no performers have been announced.
It will be the first Epcot festival with the new CommuniCore Hall in place. The facility, nestled in the World Celebration neighborhood of the park, opens June 10. “The new space will add exciting fresh elements to the festival,” the blog post said. The building will serve as a festival hub as well as a new character greeting area. A previously announced, limited-time sing-along based on “Encanto” will be held at the nearby CommuniCore Plaza stage from June 10 through Sept. 6.
Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters.
