Which Eat to the Beat Concert Appeals to You?

 by Ray Keating

Theme Park Life

DisneyBizJournal.com

July 6, 2024

 

“Dinner and a show” has long held great appeal for me, and that includes the annual Eat to the Beat Concert Series as part of the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. Interesting food, wine and other drinks, and some good music? Once more, Disney World has grabbed my attention.

The Food & Wine Festival will run from August 29 to November 24 this year, and Disney announced the concert lineup just a few days ago. Here’s the list from Disney Parks Blog:

 

Aug. 30-31 – The Fray

Sept. 1-2 – Sugar Ray

Sept. 6-7 – Hoobastank

Sept. 8-9 – Yellowcard (NEW)

Sept. 13-14 – Tiffany

Sept. 15-16 – MercyMe

Sept. 20-21 – Sheila E.

Sept. 22-23 – The Wanted (NEW)

Sept. 27 – Luis Figueroa

Sept. 28-29 – Mau Y Ricky (NEW)

Sept. 30 – Jesse & Joy (NEW)

Oct. 4-5 – Aloe Blacc (NEW)

Oct. 6-7 – Joey Fatone & Friends

Oct. 11-12 – We The Kings

Oct. 13-14 – Switchfoot

Oct. 18-19 – David Archuleta (NEW)

Oct. 20-21 – Billy Ocean

Oct. 25-28 – Hanson

Nov. 1-2 – Haley Reinhart featuring Emily Estefan, Casey Abrams and Janel Parrish  (NEW)

Nov. 3-4 – Boyz II Men

Nov. 8-9 – Magic! (NEW)

Nov. 10-11 – Parmalee (NEW)

Nov. 15-16 – Smash Mouth

Nov. 17-18 – 98 Degrees

 

Are there any “must see” acts on the list for you coming to the America Gardens Theatre stage? I’d like to see Sheila E, Switchfoot, Billy Ocean and Smash Mouth.

 

As Disney notes, “Beginning July 9, you can secure your spot at the show by reserving an Eat to the Beat Dining Package available Friday-Monday.” Get more information here.

 

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Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com; and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, the Alliance of Saint Michael novels, and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

The Disney Planner: The TO DO List Solution combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement and fun for Disney fans, including those who love Mickey, Marvel, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar, princesses and more.

 

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Various books by Ray Keating…

 

• The Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries. There are 19 books in the series now.

 

• The Alliance of Saint Michael novels – Cathedral and Subversion – are at Amazon. 

 

• Order The Weekly Economist III: Another 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist, The Weekly Economist II: 52 More Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist, and The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist at Amazon.com.

 

• Signed editions of Ray’s books are at www.raykeatingbooksandmore.com. 

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

2023 Performers for “Eat To The Beat Concert Series” Announced

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

May 12, 2023

 

If the food is the star of the annual EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, the “Eat to the Beat” concerts certainly boost the atmosphere.  The concerts feature a wide variety of performers and musical genres, and offer up concerts in the open air America Gardens Theatre at 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 8 p.m. on select evenings during the festival.  This year’s International Food & Wine Festival runs from July 27th to November 18th, 2023.

This year’s announced performers include at least eight newcomers to the lineup, in addition to many returning fan favorites.  (Here at our house, we are inordinately excited about the arrival of The Bacon Brothers, and we try not to miss an appearance by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy!)

  
Here’s a look at the full schedule for the 2023 Eat to the Beat Concert Series:

 

• Orianthi – NEW (July 28 and 29)
• For King & Country – NEW (July 30 and 31)
• Southern Avenue (August 4 and 5)
• Tiffany (August 6 and 7)
• Ruben Studdard with Haley Reinhart  (August 11 and 12)
• The Bacon Brothers – NEW (August 13 and 14)
• Joey Fatone & Friends (August 18 through 21)
• Ayron Jones – NEW (August 25 and 26)
• Phillip Phillips – NEW (August 27 and 28)
• Baha Men (September 1 and 2)
• MercyMe (September 3 and 4)
• Ray Parker Jr. (September 8 and 9)
• Tobymac (September 10 and 11)
• Celebrity Latin Talent – To Be Announced (September 15 and 16)
• Raul Acosta & Oro Solido – NEW (September 17 and 18)
• Los Amigos Invisibles (September 22 and 23)
• 98° (September 24 and 25)
• Boyz II Men (September 29 and 30 and October 1 and 2)
• Mark Wills (October 6 and 7)
• Sugar Ray (October 8 and 9)
• Hoobastank (October 13 and 14)
• Air Supply (October 15 and 16)
• Taylor Dayne (October 20 and 21)
• Billy Ocean (October 22 and 23)
• Hanson (October 27 through 30)
• We the Kings – NEW (November 3 and 4)
• Shelia E. (November 5 and 6)
• Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (November 10 and 11)
• 38 Special (November 12 and 13)

 

Eat to the Beat concerts are free (with regular admission to EPCOT) and seating is on a first come-first seated basis, but if you don’t want to wait in the regular standby line, you can also guarantee yourself a seat by purchasing an “Eat to the Beat Dining Package.”  Disney has said the dining packages will once again be returning, and information on the packages and included restaurants will follow at a later date. Packages go on sale starting on July 6th, 2023.

  
You can also keep an eye on the Food & Wine Festival info at TasteEPCOT.com. 

  

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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

 

Disney Serves Up Dates for 2023 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

April 15, 2023

 

If you’ve been waiting to book your fall Disney World vacation until the dates for the 2023 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival dropped, wait no longer. Disney has shared the schedule for the 2023 food fest, and it starts a bit later than last year.  This year’s culinary celebration runs July 27 through November 18, 2023.

There will be more than 25 Global Marketplaces (known to the rest of us as food booths), including last year’s big draws, The Fry Basket and Flavors from Fire. And, as was the case in the past, several Global Marketplaces will debut in the latter part of the festival, offering new dining opportunities later in the season to keep things fresh. 

Returning fan favorite activities include Emile’s Fromage Montage, a fun cheese crawl around the Global Marketplaces that earns you a chance to redeem a sweet treat at the end of your 5 plate cheese-eating-binge.

   
If your family enjoys scavenger hunts, there are two to choose from this year. Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak will be back, and guests can search high and low throughout the World Showcase pavilions for that Lil’ Chef, Remy.  If you are there during the Halloween season (September 29 through October 31), you can also hunt for special Disney-themed pumpkins during Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit. 

And though we don’t have the line-up of artists yet, the Eat to the Beat Concert Series will also be bringing the energy to the festival’s nights.

 
If you don’t want to miss any of the upcoming details, or if you are planning ahead for your dining adventures, you can check in at TasteEPCOT.com for future foodie updates from Disney. We’ll also let you know when the full list of Marketplace booths and performer schedules arrive!

 

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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

Starter List of Performers for 2022 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival Announced

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

May 20, 2022

 

The 2022 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival runs July 14 through November 19 this year, and today, Disney announced an early list of scheduled performers for the Eat to the Beat Concert Series at the America Gardens Theatre during the Festival. 

Concerts take place at 5:30 pm, 6:45 pm and 8:00 pm.  The bigger name performers will be showcased Friday through Monday, while some excellent local musicians perform Tuesday to Thursday to fill out the week.  

 

A number of slots are still to be filled, but the announced performers so far are:

 

• July 14-15 – Baha Men
• July 16-18 – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
• July 29-30 – Taylor Dayne
• July 31-Aug. 1 – Tiffany
• Aug. 5-8 – Joey Fatone & Friends
• Aug. 12-13 – The Devon Allman Project
• Aug. 14-15 – Christopher Cross
• Aug. 19-20 – Journey former Lead Vocalist Steve Augeri
• Aug. 21-22 – Air Supply
• Sept. 2-3 – Southern Avenue
• Sept. 4-5 – Kris Allen & David Cook
• Sept. 9-10 – Hoobastank (NEW)
• Sept. 16-17 – Los Amigos Invisibles (NEW)
• Sept. 23-24 – BBMak
• Sept. 30-Oct. 1 – Stokley (NEW)
• Oct. 2-3 – Sheila E.
• Oct. 7-8 – Mark Wills
• Oct. 9-10 – 38 Special
• Oct. 23-24 – Billy Ocean
• Oct. 28-31 – Hanson
• Nov. 4-7 – Boyz II Men

 

Eat to the Beat Dining Packages will be available Friday-Monday, and packages will go on sale beginning May 24. Each dining package includes an appetizer, entrée and dessert or one (1) full buffet (where applicable), along with a non-alcoholic beverage. Participating restaurants include the Biergarten (Germany Pavilion); Coral Reef Restaurant (Living Seas); Garden Grill (Land Pavilion); and Le Cellier (Canada Pavilion). Prices range from $57.00-$79.00, depending on the restaurant.  Same day dining packages will be available at Regal Eagle Smokehouse ($34.00, American Adventure) and Spice Road Table ($44.00, Morocco Pavilion) for a limited number of concert passes.  

 

EPCOT admission is not included in the price of the dining packages, and guests must have a separate ticket and park reservation for EPCOT.

Dining packages guarantee park-goers a seat in the America Gardens Theatre, while concert-goers without a dining package will need to wait in the stand-by line. More details on the dining packages are available at TasteEPCOT.com. 

 

There will also be 25 Global Marketplaces (food booths) set up around World Showcase during the Festival, providing a wide range of foods and flavors from around the world.

 

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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

 

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