EPCOT officially launched its International Food & Wine Festival on Sept. 28, 1996, beginning an event that has since become a major seasonal offering at Walt Disney World.
According to Daps Magic, the festival was conceived by George Kalogridis and first appeared in 1995 as the Walt Disney World Village Wine Festival. The original event was intended to help boost attendance during the off-season.
Its first year featured 30 days of festivities and 25 marketplace booths, where food and drinks generally cost about $1 to $2. Some dishes associated with the early festival remain familiar to visitors, including Canada’s cheddar cheese soup, Poland’s pierogis and Germany’s apple strudel.
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Today, the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival runs for four months and includes offerings such as the Eat to the Beat Concert Series, a substantial expansion from its 30-day start.
