Are you headed to the Disneyland Food and Wine Festival this year? If you’re bringing kids along, this is a must read list of all the family activities at the festival! 

If you love Disneyland and food…..then you know it’s the most wonderful time of the year.  From February 28th to April 21st, it’s the Disney California Food and Wine Festival!  This festival gets better and better every year with more booths, new food options, great activities and fun for the whole family.  Break out your favorite Disneyland outfits, and get ready to celebrate with some California inspired cuisine!

Each year, our family purchases a sip and savor pass (this year they cost $56 or $51 with an Annual Passholder discount)….we visit the Festival a few times and use one or two tabs on each visit to trade for a Marketplace Item or two.  We do a couple of the activities each visit as well.  You could easily do it all in a day if you are visiting from out of town or at a leisurely place if you visit Disneyland and Disney California Adventure often.

Disneyland Food and Wine Festival: Family Friendly Activities at the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival

1. Kid Friendly Food Options at the Marketplace Booths: This year there are 13 booths in the marketplace, and they’ve got food options for everyone….including the kids.  Be sure to grab a Food Festival passport at any kiosk, it has a list of all food items available and even indicates which are kid friendly.  A few of my top suggestions to try with younger kids? The Impossible™ Cheeseburger Mac & Cheese from the Nuts About Cheese Marketplace Booth, the Pepperoni Pizza Egg Rolls from the California Craft Brews Marketplace Booth, and the Strawberry-Rose Lemonade from the Golden Dreams Marketplace Booth.
2. Jammin’ Chefs Show: This short drum show features Chip and Dale, along with some pretty amazing musicians.  It’s great for younger kids, and takes place many times each day in the Paradise Gardens Park (the circular area in front of the Little Mermaid ride and at the entrance to the Pixar Pier).  Check the Disneyland app for showtimes.
3. Junior Chef Show: This is my favorite event to take Lydia to every year during the Disneyland Food and Wine Festival.  On the Hollywood Land Backlot Stage, Chef Goofy along with a few friends leads his favorite Junior Chefs through an important baking lesson.  There is a TON of audience participation and each kid leaves with a cookie.  Pro tip: get to the Backlot Stage area early if you would like your child to participate and ask where to wait.  This one fills up quickly!
4. Craft Area: The Craft Area for kids is in the Hollywood Land Backlot Area (next to the stage) and it’s way bigger than last year.  Kids can decorate chef’s hats, and there’s an adorable new placemat to color and enjoy.  This area has tables with buckets of crayons and umbrellas, it’s a great place to relax and enjoy the festival.
5. Chef Goofy’s Meet and Greet: Breaking news! For the first time every, Chef Goofy is doing meet and greets as a part of the Disneyland Food and Wine Festival.  He’s absolutely adorable, so be sure to check the app for his appearance times!
6. Family Time Cooking Demonstrations: I loved seeing this family friendly cooking demonstration for the first time.  It’s usually at 3:15 on the Hollywood Land Backlot Stage and features Chef Daniella Malfitano sharing her favorite family friendly recipes with a little help from the audience (be sure to check the Disneyland app each day for showtimes).
7. Find Hidden Mickeys: Scavenger hunt time! Four of the Marketplace booths have murals painted on the sides and each of those murals has a hidden Mickey!  The murals are located at I Heart Artichokes, Cluck a Doodle Moo, Uncorked California, and Pepper’s Cali-ente.  Visit them to grab food and let your kids look for the hidden Mickeys while you wait!

Will you be visiting the Disneyland Food and Wine Festival this year? With or without kids?