The Ultimate Guide to the 2026 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival

By:  Victoria Carter, a Marvelous Mouse Travels agent

If you’re planning a Disneyland trip this spring, this is one of BEST experiences you can have inside the parkss - the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival.

Running March 6 through April 27, 2026, this festival transforms Disney California Adventure into a foodie paradise filled with limited-time bites, drinks, entertainment, and experiences you won’t find any other time of year.

And yes… it’s 100% worth planning your trip around!

What is the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival?

The Food & Wine Festival is a seasonal event inside Disney California Adventure Park where you can “eat your way” around the park with small, tasting-style dishes inspired by California flavors.

• Try multiple small plates from different festival marketplaces
• Sip on specialty drinks, wines, and cocktails
• Experience live cooking demos and entertainment
• Additional paid experiences like informative tasting seminars

It’s basically the best experience to snack + stroll, and it completely changes your park day in the best way.

Festival Dates & Hours

• Dates: March 6 – April 27, 2026
• Booth Hours: Typically open around 11:00 AM through 9:00pm
• Entertainment & experiences: Offered throughout the day (times vary)

 Pro tip: Weekdays = shorter lines + better booth hopping experience

How the Festival Booths Work

Throughout the park, you’ll find festival marketplaces (aka booths), each one offering a curated menu of themed food and drinks.

Here’s what to expect:

• Menus are short and focused (easy ordering!)
• Portions are tasting-size plates
• You can visit booths in any order
• Order from any marketplace for any marketplace 
• Mobile order is NOT typically used (order at the booth or kiosks)

Popular booth themes you’ll see:

• California Craft Brews
• Garlic Kissed
• LA Style
• Mercardo De Antojos
• Uncork California
• Cluck-A-Doodle Moo
• Golden Dreams
• Peppers Cali-ente

Sip & Savor Pass: The BEST Way to Do the Festival 

If you want to maximize your experience (and your budget), the Sip & Savor Pass is a MUST.

What is it?

A prepaid pass that lets you redeem a set number of items at festival booths and select dining locations. Includes the cutest little tray to take home as a souvenir! 

Your options:

• 4-item pass ($34)
• 8-item pass ($64)

Each tab = 1 food item or non-alcoholic beverage

Pro tips to maximize the Sip and Savor Pass:

• Best value when used on higher-priced dishes. (Most festival items run about $7–$10 each)
• Perfect for trying MORE without overspending (Share or split items with your group!)
• You don’t have to use it all in one day!
• Make a “must-try list” before you go.

What Kind of Food Can You Expect? 

This is NOT your typical theme park food!

You’ll find:

• Savory dishes (steak, wings, fried rice, mac & cheese)
• California-inspired cuisine
• Plant Based Options
• Desserts & sweets
• Specialty cocktails, wine, and craft beer

Everything is designed to be unique, shareable, and delicious!

Our Top 5 Must-Try Items

We tried a LOT (strictly for research purposes only), and these were the standouts:

Chicharrón Nachos — The Overall Winner

Crunchy, flavorful, and LOADED. This was the unanimous favorite and one of the BEST values for a Sip & Savor tab.  If you only try one thing… this is it.

Sirloin Mac & Cheese — Comfort Food Done Right

Rich, cheesy, and super satisfying. A total crowd-pleaser and perfect “safe but amazing” option.

Asa’DOS — Flavor + Value Combo

Steak AND chicken with bold flavors and a solid portion size. One of the best bang-for-your-buck dishes.

Torta Ahogada — Bold & Flavorful

Messy, saucy, and packed with flavor. If you love bold dishes, you’ll LOVE this.

Tajín Habanero Wings — For Spice Lovers

Sweet, spicy, and unique. These bring the heat in the best way

Final Thoughts

The Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival isn’t just about eating, it’s about experiencing Disneyland in a completely different way.  From sharing bites with your group, to discovering new favorites, to walking around with your Sip & Savor Pass like a pro… it just hits different. 

If you’ve been thinking about planning a Disneyland trip, this is hands-down one of the BEST times to go. And if you want help planning it all, park strategy, dining, must-do’s, and making sure you don’t miss the BEST bites, we’ve got you! Reach out to Marvelous Mouse Travels when you’re ready to start planning.