One of the most popular festivals at California Adventure is the Food and Wine Festival. This festival includes food booths and various other food offerings around the park as well as entertainment, experiences, special attractions, and more. This year, the Food and Wine Festival will be happening from February 28 through April 21, 2025. So let’s get into what you can expect from this festival in DCA.
***This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using these links, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you! ***
How to experience it
The Food and Wine Festival is included in your theme park admission and is not a separate cost, but you do need to make your theme park reservations for California Adventure, or you can also experience it with a park hopper ticket. Disneyland park does not have any offerings for the Food and Wine festival. You do not need to pay extra or book anything extra to enjoy most of the experiences that the festival includes.
What does it include
Food & Wine Festival Marketplaces
Like many with many other festivals like the Festival of Holidays or Lunar New Year, the Food & Wine Festival brings a number of food booths to the marketplace that guests can enjoy. These booths are located throughout California Adventure and each food booth can be enjoyed at guests own leisure but going up and ordering directly from the individual food booth, or there is also the option to purchase a Sip and Savor Pass.
If you are not familiar with the Sip and Savor passes, this is an optional purchase that is one bulk amount up front for four or eight “tabs” to use at the food booths. Guests will take their scannable sip and savor pass to the booth they would like to redeem for select bites and non alcoholic beverages at participating locations like the festival marketplace food booths and select dining locations around the park.
All of your Sip and Savor tabs do not have to be used at once and can be used throughout the duration of the Food and Wine Festival which ends April 21, 2025. If you are wanting to try several items in the same day, you have the option to order all of your sip and savor items at one food booth and then just take your receipt to the participating food booth to pick up you food without needing to wait in line to order! This is a great way to try lots of different items from the food booths without having to wait in multiple line. Purchasing a sip and savor pass is completely optional and you do not need one to enjoy the food at the food booths, but if you would like to get one, you can purchase sip and savor passes at the following locations:
Food & Wine Festival Sip and Savor Pass Locations
• Elias & Co.
• Festival Gifts
• Festive Food Marketplace
• Julius Katz & Sons
• Seaside Souveniers
•Sip and Savor Cart
Now that we’ve covered how to enjoy the food booths at the Food and Wine Festival, let’s get into all the yummy options that you can enjoy! You can find special food offerings at all 8 of the marketplace food booths as well as several dining locations throughout DCA, the Pixar Place Hotel, and a few options in Downtown Disney. And to make it easier to keep track of them all, I have created a FREE printable foodie guide that you can print off and take with you to keep track of everything the festival has to offer as well as what items you have tried! Find that printable list below:
Bookable Festival Experiences
The DCA Food and Wine Festival does have some optional experiences that you can book to add to your festival experience. Some of these experiences take place inside DCA and you will need a theme park reservation for while others happen at the Grand Californian and do not require theme park admission, so make sure you check where each event is happening before you book your experience so you can make sure you have a theme park ticket if needed. Here are the extra, bookable festival experiences you can choose from:
Beverage Education & Tasting Seminars– This experience offers seminars dedicated to beer, cider, and wine tasting and takes place at Sonoma Terrace that is located inside DCA, so theme park admission is required. This even does accept reservations, so head to the Disneyland website to check what classes are being offered and what dates/times to book your time.
Carthay Circle Receptions– This experience allows you to join winemaking experts in special tastings and pairings. You will get to enjoy a 4-course appetizer menu paired with tastings while you listen to the wine maker or brewmaster talk about how they made each glass. This experience takes place at the Carthay Circle Restaurant located inside DCA so theme park admission is required. This event is very limited and does accept reservations, so check out the Disneyland website to see which dates it is offered and book your time.
Culinary Demonstrations– This experiences gives you the chance to learn tips and tricks from the some of the most celebrated chefs during the festival’s demonstration series. These demonstrations take place in Hollywood Land so you will need a theme park reservation to enjoy this offering.
A Walk on the Silverado Trail- Located at the Mariposa Pool Deck in Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa delights guests with specialty wine and cuisine pairings. This is located outside of the park so you do not need a theme park reservation for this experience, but reservations are required.
Dinner and Scotch Event– This event takes place at the Hearthstone Lounge at the Grand Californian Hotel and features tray-passed hors d’oeuvres, live music, and exceptional scotches paired with an intimate, four-course dinner experience while you listen to educational presentations. This event does not require theme park admissions, but does require a reservation.
Mixology Class at Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar– This event teaches you how to make a tiki inspired cocktail, while also getting to indulge in tray-passed hors d’oeuvres while relaxing at the outdoor fireplace. You will also get to take home a Trader Sam’s fan favorite mug as a souvenir. This event takes place at the Disneyland Hotel so not theme park admission is required, but reservations are required.
Soarin’ Over California Returns
For a limited time, Soarin’ Around the World will be changed back to the original Soarin’ Over California for the durations of the Food and Wine Festival. Don’t miss your chance to smell those orange groves once again but remember, this will only be available from February 28 to April 21!
Paradise Gardens Entertainment
Head to the Paradise Gardens park for live music at the Palisades Stage and Paradise Garden Bandstand. You can also find the Jammin’ Chefs and watch as they combine pots, pans and different beats , and you may even see Clarabelle Cow, Daisy Duck and Chip ‘n’ Dale as they join in on the fun. Kids can also do some fun crafts like decorating their own chef hat.
Confection Purrfection with the SuperKitties
This event is for kids ages 3-11 where they can decorate their own cupcake with a special visit from the SuperKitties. This event happens Saturday through Wednesday every week for the duration of the Food and Wine Festival. You can find this experience at the Hollywood Backlot Stage in Hollywood Land. Space is limited, and guests can start to sign up to participate 45 minutes before showtime, so make sure you check the Disneyland app or website for that days showtimes.
Meet Chef Goofy
While you’re in the Hollywood Backlot area, make sure you stop by and meet Chef Goofy, who’s all dressed up just for the Food and Wine Festival!
Merchandise Events
Throughout the duration of the festival, several artists will be showcased and on those days, those artists will sign any artwork made by them that is purchased that day during the showcase. (Limit of 2 signed items per guest) These artists include Thomas Kinkade Studios, Dave Avanzino, Noah Elias, and Scooter. Check the Disneyland website for which artists will be showcased on which dates.
There will also be merchandise spotlights including Pandora Jewelry, a Girls Crew- Jewelry Trunk Show, a pin trading event, and a CRISLU Jewelry Trunk Show. Check out the Disneyland website for dates for each of these spotlights.
Book your trip today!
If you are wanting to experience the DCA Food & Wine Festival for yourself, make sure you book your trip between February 28 and April 21, 2025! You can click here to book your trip with my travel partners Get Away Today and make sure you use code RAMBLING10 to receive a discount off of your 2+ ticket/2+ night hotel stay package or if you aren’t sure where to start, give them a call at 855-GET-AWAY and tell them The Rambling Introvert sent you to receive the best deals and receive the help of an expert travel agent to book your trip!
[…] • The Food and Wine Festival kicks off on February 28th in DCA. This event is included with your theme park admission, and if you’re a fan of the original Soarin’ Over California, it will be returning for the duration of the festival. To learn more about the Food and Wine Festival and get a FREE printable foodie guide, head over here. […]