2024 Ocala Food & Wine Festival

Ocala Food & Wine Festival
Presented by Lugano Diamonds
November 1-3, 2024 | *21+ Event*

About the Event
The Ocala Food & Wine Festival is back! The fourth annual Ocala Food & Wine Festival presented by Lugano Diamonds returns to World Equestrian Center – Ocala November 1-3. The 2024 event is a celebrity-chef-led celebration featuring three days of culinary competition, beer, wine and spirits education and samples of extraordinary cuisine. Event proceeds benefit the Public Education Foundation of Marion County ProStart Program. 

2024 Featured Talent:

Chef Lorena Garcia
Pitmaster Rashad Jones
Chef Marc Murphy
Chef Esther Choi
Junior Chef Michael Seegobin, Master Chef Junior
Pastry Chef Yohann Le Bescond 
Master Sommelier and Beverage Director Roland Micu

TICKETS

Tickets available in packages or as individual event tickets. 

To purchase, select the event date on the calendar and click the dropdown to choose the desired ticket level. Then click “Get Tickets'' and add your selection to your cart. Limited availability. Additional taxes and fees apply. 

Ticket Packages (see schedule below) 

• Five-Star Experience | $595 per person  - SOLD OUT!!
  A $860 value! You save: $265!
  

Friday:  Flavors of the Fire Welcome Event, Grand Plaza and Tiki Afterparty, Poolside at The Equestrian Hotel 

Saturday: Grand Tasting with access to Bubble Lounge, Exposition Center 1
Lugano Rose Garden Lounge Exclusive Pre-Dinner Cocktail Hour, The Equestrian Hotel Rose Garden
Celebrity Chef Dinner, Stirrups Restaurant and Outdoor Terrace

Sunday: Champagne Jazz Brunch, Stirrups Restaurant and Outdoor Terrace

• Four-Star Experience | $345 per person   - SOLD OUT!!
  A $385 value! You save: $40 

Friday: Flavors of the Fire Welcome Event, Grand Plaza
Saturday:  Grand Tasting, Exposition Center 1
Sunday:  Champagne Jazz Brunch, Stirrups Restaurant and Outdoor Terrace

Individual Event Tickets  (See schedule below)

• Friday:  Flavors of the Fire | $125 per person 
  ONLINE TICKET SALES END AT 2PM ON 11/1/24.  Walk-up tickets will be available for this event!

• Saturday:  Grand Tasting | $125 per person
  ONLINE TICKET SALES END AT 10AM ON 11/2/24.  Walk-up tickets will be available for this event!

• Sunday:  Champagne Jazz Brunch | $135 per person
  ONLINE TICKET SALES END AT 8AM ON 11/3/24.  Walk-up tickets will be available for this event!

EVENT SCHEDULE 

Friday, November 1

• 5:30pm-8:30pm | Flavors of the Fire Welcome Event Presented by Certified Angus Beef brand and Sysco, WEC Grand Plaza
  Things heat up for Friday’s kickoff event, Flavors of the Fire. Join us under the stars for a welcome event featuring live-fire cuisine from around the world. Try small plates of internationally celebrated favorites, like Korean barbecue, Yakitori chicken and Achiote shrimp, along with samples of global spirits, including Saki, Pisco, Aperol and worldly wines, live music and more. 

• 8pm-10pm | Tiki Afterparty, Poolside at The Equestrian Hotel
   Exclusive to Five-Star Experience Ticket Holders: Five-star ticket holders can keep the party going at The Equestrian Hotel’s swanky poolside bar, Horse to Water Bar & Grill. 

Saturday, November 2 

• 1pm-5pm | Grand Tasting, WEC Exposition Center 1
  Gather for the main event! Our grand tasting features celebrity-chef-led demonstrations, educational seminars with masters of the industry, and samples of cuisine, wine, beer and spirits. The Junior Chef Mystery Basket Competition will return on the main stage. 

Beer Garden | Tequila Tent | Bourbon Lounge | Entertainment | Vendors

Bubble Lounge |  Exclusive to Five-Star Experience Ticket Holders

Hourly | Educational Seminars
Runs on the hour featuring beverage experts.  Schedule TBD!

Hourly | Stage Demonstrations
Runs on the hour featuring celebrity-chef cooking demonstrations and the Junior Chef Mystery Basket Competition, a live cooking competition with youth from community-wide local culinary programs. 

• 5:30pm -7:15pm | Lugano Rose Garden Lounge Exclusive Pre-Dinner Cocktail Hour, The Equestrian Hotel Rose Garden
   Exclusive to Five-Star Experience Ticket Holders: This elegant pre-dinner cocktail hour offers exclusive access to the Lugano lounge and the hotel rose garden.
  
  


• 7pm | Celebrity Chef Dinner, Stirrups Restaurant 
   Exclusive to Five-Star Experience Ticket Holders:  Indulge in an exquisite, multicourse dinner from a team of celebrity chefs. Each course is artfully prepared and thoughtfully paired by a different culinary master or industry expert. Learn from the celebrity chefs as they present each course. 

Sunday, November 3 

• 10am-1pm | Jazz Brunch, The Equestrian Hotel Terrace
  Raise a glass to the end of the weekend with this elegant Champagne brunch on The Equestrian Hotel terrace featuring live jazz music. 
  
  

Make It a Weekend 

Enjoy a special packaged rate when you bundle your tickets and stay at The Equestrian Hotel or The Riding Academy Hotel during the Ocala Food & Wine Festival weekend. 

• Five-Star Stay Package at The Equestrian Hotel
  Includes: Five-Star Ticket Package and an elegant two-night stay in the room or suite of your choice. 

Book online at https://reservations.travelclick.com/116142?ProdID=745524&LanguageID=1

• Four-Star Stay Package at The Riding Academy Hotel
  Includes: Four-Star Ticket Package and a two-night stay in the studio or suite of your choice. 

Book online at https://reservations.travelclick.com/116143?ProdID=745477&LanguageID=1

Please Note:

• EVENT IS 21+


• No refund will be given within 48 hours of the event, unless the event is canceled by World Equestrian Center – Ocala due to inclement weather


• Tickets are limited.


• Additional taxes will apply. Service fees additional.


• Please refer to ocalafoodandwinefest.com for additional event information, including bios for talent and full event schedule 

If you have questions regarding this event, please reach out to:
Kim Kent, Special Events Manager
1390 NW 80th Ave Ocala, FL 34482
Office: 352-414-7855
Email:  kimberly.kent@wec.net