Ocala Food & Wine Festival 2026: Schedule, Tickets and Details
A three-day, 21+ chef-led weekend at World Equestrian Center that benefits the Public Education Foundation of Marion County ProStart Program.
World Equestrian Center (WEC) describes the Ocala Food & Wine Festival as a three-day, chef-led culinary celebration with a culinary competition, beer, wine and spirits tastings and food samples. WEC's July 15, 2026 announcement calls 2026 the festival's sixth year. This page collects the schedule, prices and rules that WEC has published; the schedule, prices and rules below come from WEC's own festival pages, opened Oct. 31, 2026, and the campus address from the site's World Equestrian Center guide.
The festival also has calendar listings on this site: the Ocala Food & Wine Festival listing and the Jazz Brunch listing.
Festival Schedule
WEC lists the following events on its festival page. The Chefs' Dinner is sold only as part of the Five-Star Festival Package, and the Thursday champagne dinner falls the night before the festival weekend.
| Day | Event | Time and price | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu., Nov. 5 | The Art of Champagne: An Evening with Cristal | Six-course dinner with Louis Roederer champagnes; WEC lists limited seats | Reserve through the link on the festival page |
| Fri., Nov. 6 | Chefs' Dinner Presented by The Gallery Off 80th | No start time listed; available exclusively to Five-Star Package guests | The Equestrian Manor, Miss Eloise's Grand Ballroom |
| Sat., Nov. 7 | Grand Tasting | 1-5 p.m.; $150 | WEC Exposition Center 1 |
| Sat., Nov. 7 | Grand Prix Dining Experience: Ocala Food & Wine Festival Edition | 6:30 p.m.; included with the $425 bundle and Five-Star Package | World Equestrian Center |
| Sun., Nov. 8 | Jazz Brunch | 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; $135 | Lallie's Covered Pavilion, The Equestrian Manor |
WEC's event header lists the festival hours as "6:30 PM - 1:00 PM" across Nov. 6-8. WEC's pages give no separate start time for the Friday Chefs' Dinner.
Tickets and Prices
Grand Tasting
$150 per person
Saturday, Nov. 7, 1-5 p.m., WEC Exposition Center 1. Unlimited sampling, with a commemorative tasting glass included.
Jazz Brunch
$135 per person
Sunday, Nov. 8, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Lallie's Covered Pavilion at The Equestrian Manor. Brunch classics, chef-attended action stations, a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar, bubbly and live jazz.
Ticket Bundle
$425 per person
For local guests: the Grand Tasting, the Jazz Brunch and access to the Grand Prix Dining Experience on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 6:30 p.m.
- A $3 online service fee and taxes are additional; WEC says the checkout page itemizes them.
- All festival events are 21+.
- No refund is given within 48 hours of the event, unless World Equestrian Center cancels because of inclement weather.
- The Grand Prix Dining Experience has no separate price on WEC's pages; it is listed as part of the bundle and the Five-Star Package.
- The Five-Star Festival Package, which included two nights at The Equestrian Hotel or The Riding Academy Hotel and access to every signature event, is marked "Packages Sold Out" as of Oct. 31, 2026.
Tickets are sold through the World Equestrian Center festival page.
Grand Tasting Stage Schedule
WEC lists culinary and beverage demonstrations with WEC chefs and industry experts during the Saturday Grand Tasting, plus a beer garden and a wine pull. WEC names Resort Executive Chef Stephan Holland and Resort Executive Pastry Chef Yohann Le Bescond among the festival talent.
| Time | Program |
|---|---|
| 1:10-1:25 p.m. | Bourbon Cocktail Demonstration with Four Roses National Brand Ambassador Tucker Carper |
| 1:40-2 p.m. | Sabaku: The Art of Japanese Fish Butchery |
| 2:15-2:30 p.m. | Exploring Woodinville Whiskey |
| 2:45-3:10 p.m. | From Cream Puffs to a French Showpiece |
| 3:20-3:40 p.m. | Beef Butchery Masterclass |
| 3:55-4:55 p.m. | Mystery Basket Competition: local culinary students, guided by Chef Roland LaCroix and Chef Jonathan Nicho |
Stage times are as published by WEC and may change.
Location, Lodging and Where to Eat
Where it is
World Equestrian Center, 1750 NW 80th Ave., Ocala, FL 34482. The Grand Tasting is in Exposition Center 1 and the Jazz Brunch is at Lallie's Covered Pavilion at The Equestrian Manor. WEC's festival pages list no public parking or dress-code details; valet parking is named only as a Five-Star package perk at The Equestrian Hotel. For the campus layout, see the World Equestrian Center guide.
Where to stay
WEC lists The Equestrian Hotel (248 rooms and suites) and The Riding Academy Hotel (390 studios and suites, pet-friendly) on its festival event page. See the WEC hotel guide for room details.
Eating at WEC
The Five-Star Package included a $50 breakfast credit per room at Stirrups on Saturday morning. See the Stirrups guide and the WEC dining guide for the on-campus restaurants.
More Ocala dining
For restaurants beyond the festival weekend, browse fine dining in Ocala and Ocala restaurants.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Ocala Food & Wine Festival 2026?
The Ocala Food & Wine Festival is Friday, Nov. 6 through Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, at World Equestrian Center, 1750 NW 80th Ave., Ocala, FL 34482. The ticketed Grand Tasting is Saturday, Nov. 7, from 1 to 5 p.m., and the Jazz Brunch is Sunday, Nov. 8, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
How much are Ocala Food & Wine Festival tickets?
World Equestrian Center lists the Grand Tasting at $150 per person and the Jazz Brunch at $135 per person. A ticket bundle for local guests is $425 per person and includes the Grand Tasting, the Jazz Brunch and access to the Grand Prix Dining Experience. A $3 online service fee and taxes are additional.
Is the Ocala Food & Wine Festival 21 and over?
Yes. World Equestrian Center states that the festival events are 21+. Hotel packages also require guests to be 21 or older to book.
What is the Grand Tasting at the Ocala Food & Wine Festival?
The Grand Tasting is an unlimited sampling event on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 1 to 5 p.m. in WEC Exposition Center 1. WEC lists local bites, samples from beverage vendors, curated offerings from its chefs, a beer garden, a wine pull and the annual Mystery Basket Competition between local culinary students. A commemorative tasting glass is included.
Who benefits from the Ocala Food & Wine Festival?
World Equestrian Center says the festival benefits the Public Education Foundation of Marion County ProStart Program. WEC describes the 2026 festival as being in its sixth year and as marketed in partnership with the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.
Can you still book the Five-Star Festival Package?
As of Oct. 31, 2026, World Equestrian Center's festival page marks the Five-Star Festival Package "Packages Sold Out." The package included two nights at The Equestrian Hotel or The Riding Academy Hotel and access to all signature events, including the Friday Chefs' Dinner, which WEC lists as available exclusively to package guests.
Sources
- World Equestrian Center: Ocala Food & Wine Festival event page (opened Oct. 31, 2026)
- World Equestrian Center: festival schedule, tickets and talent page (opened Oct. 31, 2026)
- World Equestrian Center: "Tickets now on sale for the 2026 Ocala Food & Wine Festival at WEC" (July 15, 2026)
Only In Ocala is not affiliated with the festival; confirm details and buy tickets with World Equestrian Center. AI tools helped gather the sources and draft this page; each fact was checked against those sources before publishing. Editorial guidelines.
Ocala Food & Wine Festival 2026 en Ocala
El Ocala Food & Wine Festival se celebra del viernes 6 al domingo 8 de noviembre de 2026 en el World Equestrian Center, 1750 NW 80th Ave., Ocala, FL 34482. La Grand Tasting (degustación) es el sábado 7 de noviembre, de 1 a 5 p.m., y cuesta $150 por persona; el Jazz Brunch es el domingo 8 de noviembre, de 10 a.m. a 1 p.m., y cuesta $135 por persona. Un paquete de boletos para residentes locales cuesta $425 por persona e incluye la Grand Tasting, el Jazz Brunch y el acceso a la cena Grand Prix Dining Experience del sábado a las 6:30 p.m. Se cobra una tarifa en línea de $3 más impuestos, y todos los eventos son solo para mayores de 21 años. El festival beneficia al programa ProStart de la Public Education Foundation of Marion County.