Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning Theme Park Bites gets a commission if you decide to make a purchase through our links, at no cost to you. Please read our disclosure for more information.
Updated: January 31, 2026
As the thrill-seekers and foodies among us know, theme parks are not just about rides and attractions anymore. Across the USA, a wave of vibrant theme park festivals has been sweeping through, offering families not just excitement, but a full-blown sensory experience.
This guide will dive into the spirit of these festivals, region by region, but first we’ll start with some of the top festivals in the country (in alphabetical order).
Notice: All dates subject to change without notice.
Recommended: Your Straightforward Guide to Theme Park Food and Wine Festivals
Top 5 Must-Visit Theme Park Food Festivals in 2026 (& Their Limited Edition Treats)
Outside of Halloween and Christmas festivities, there are year-round festivals at theme parks all around the United States. From Food and Wine to Mardi Gras to Harvest festivals, there’s a little bit of somethin’ for everyone.
In the past, I was only adding in events that were labeled specifically as a festival or running for longer than 3+ weeks, but I changed my mind on this. The thought behind this was that these events are more likely to have limited edition treats (which is usually accurate). I feel like if a theme park has it up, then I shouldn’t discriminate, so they’ve slowly been getting aded into this guide as I see them.
So, if you see something missing from here, please don’t hesitate to throw me a comment down below or if you’re a theme park sending me an email with more information. Alright, let’s hop into the top theme park festivals around the US, shall we?
Disneyland (Anaheim, California)
The Walt Disney Company is no stranger to doing things bigger and better than most theme parks in the nation; they are after all the blueprint for large operators across the continents. Of course they have a lot of festivals going on outside of Halloween and Christmas-time.
Their most popular is their Food and Wine Festival, which has delicious limited-time additions such as the Impossible Al Pastor Taco, Smoked Honey-Habañero Chicken Wings, Elote Paleta, and Smoked Cherry Mezcal-iki Cocktail.
They have had other festivals in the past like their popular Star Wars Season of the Force event and their newer events revolving around Coco–Plaza de la Familia!
Dollywood (Pigeon Forge, Tennessee)
As I have personally not been to Dollywood, I didn’t know that this park did festivals outside of end-of-the-year activities, but why would I think that? I have no clue! They’re literally considered one of the best theme parks in the nation for crying out loud!
Aside from their famous Smoky Mountain Christmas, they also run two other popular festivals – Flower & Food and Harvest Festival.
Their festivals typically don’t have their menu out to the public until a week or so before the festival’s opening, however, they do offer a tasting pass for five tastings. And since I suspect you’re a bit of a foodie like me, I’d say you should grab one!
2025’s pricing was $39.99 plus tax, per person, with passholders getting $3 off that price.
Knott’s Berry Farm (Buena Park, California)
With Knott’s’ Boysenberry Festival, Knott’s Berry Farm cements itself as one of the more unique festivals drawing in obscenely large crowds. This festival is their own Food & Wine festival and oh how they delight with the creativity!
From waffles, to beef tips, pizzas, drinks, and more, it is boysenberry heaven. I’m not kidding! Boysenberry Meatball Pizza, Jamabalay with Boysenberry Sausage, Chicken, & Shrimp, Boysenberry Mango Lemonade – the list goes on! And the best part?
They have tasting cards! In 2025 the cards are going for $55 for six tastings, which is a nice money-saver considering how expensive food at theme parks can be, and if you’re a passholder they’re $10 off at $45.
Universal Studios Orlando (Orlando, Florida)
When Universal Studios isn’t hosting their extremely popular HHN (Hollywood Horror Nights), it’s hosting Mardi Gras International Flavors of Carnaval, a two-month-long parade of all things Fat Tuesday.
Past stalls included Germany, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Puerto Rico, Spain, Thailand, Philippines, Italy, Mexico, China, Belgium, a Bloody Mary Bar, New Orleans, and of course the effervescent spirit of the French Quarter. Some of these stalls have come back in 2025, no worries.
Universal offers a discounted food and beverage card of $65 for $75 worth of food (and if you’re a passholder – $120 for $150 worth of food). And to my passholders, it’s stackable with your pass, which means whatever discounts you already get with your pass (especially as a Premiere passholder) you’ll save even more money.
Walt Disney World (Orlando, Florida)
A giant like Disney wasn’t going to let anyone withhold money for eight months of the year now did you? As, what may very well be, the largest Food & Wine Festival in the country, Disney goes big with everything they do. Obviously.
They do also host Flower & Garden and the Festival of the Arts (all located at EPCOT) throughout the year, too and while all other festivals do have special menus, I’ll solely talk about Food & Wine.
During 2023’s offerings they had countries such as Australia, Belgium, Hawai’i (a US state), India, Ireland, and Kenya. In 2024, I was hoping to see some influence from Caribbean islands, Central American countries, and other African nations that are not Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa, but they unfortunately didn’t deliver.
No matter what festival occurs though, Disney innovates. During their 2025 season of Festival of the Arts they expanded into new booths and dishes that served Crab Sliders, Charred Octopus, and Caprese Poutine. Try out every festival if you’re able to.
The Complete List of Theme Park Festivals by Regions
If you haven’t gotten a chance to see our other festival guides – Halloween and Holiday – check them out! This list is only for festivals situated inside of the United States outside of the regular holiday season.
This list will come with omissions and mistakes, if you see something that isn’t here that should be, please leave me a comment below or if you are a theme park please send me an email with more information.
Midwest • Northeast • Southeast • Southwest • West Coast
Check out our Events and Festivals hub for a full calendar of events
Midwest Theme Park Festivals
Cedar Point, OH
↳ Boardwalk Nights, TBD
Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, IN
↳ Friday Night Live!, Fridays, August 21 – October 30
→ Holidays in the Sky, evenings of June 20 – August 3
→ Summer Wine’d Down Culinary Festival, August 4 – September 13
Kings Island, OH
↳ Grand Carnivale, TBD
→ Food & Wine Festival, Fridays to Sunday, TBD
Silver Dollar City, MO
↳ America’s 250th Birthday Celebration, All Season Long
→ Spring Exposition, April 2 – May 4
→ Bluegrass & BBQ, May 7 – 25
→ Summer Celebration, June 6 – August 2
→ Southern Gospel Picnic, August 27 – September 7
→ Harvest Festival, September 11 – October 31
Six Flags St. Louis, MO
↳ Coasters, Brews & BBQ, TBD
→ Summerbration, TBD
- KidZfest, TBD
Six Flags Great America, IL
→ Great American Nights, TBD
→ Oktoberfest, TBD
→ ¡Viva la Fiesta!, TBD
Northeast Theme Park Festivals
Diggerland USA, NJ
↳ Diggerfest Fall Festival, Saturdays and Sundays, September 26 – November 15
Kennywood, PA
↳ Spring Event, Select dates in April & May, 2026 (NEW FOR 2026!)
→ All-American Summer, TBD
- Fireworks, July 4 & 5
- Drone Shows, July 11 – 19
→ Bites and Pints Festival, Fridays to Sundays, May 22 – June 28, & Memorial Day, May 25
→ Fall Fantasy Parades, August 1 – 16
Idlewild & SoakZone, PA
↳ Kids Fest, Saturdays and Sundays, August 8 – 30
→ Neighbor Days, TBD
Legoland New York Resort, NY
↳ LEGO® Festival, TBD
→ Red, White & BOOM!, July 4
Sesame Place Philadelphia, PA
↳ St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, March 14 & 15
→ Furry Friends Weekend, March 21 & 22
→ Elmo’s Eggstravaganza, March 28 – April 6
→ Elmo’s Springtacular, April 1 – June 14
→ Summer Splash, June 20 – September 7
Six Flags New England, MA
↳ Food & Brew Festival, Saturdays & Sundays, TBD
→ Oktoberfest, Saturdays & Sundays, TBD
Splish Splash, NY
↳ KidsFest, Saturdays & Sundays in June
→ Neon Nights, Fridays & Saturdays, July 4 – August 15
Southeast Theme Park Festivals
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, FL
↳ Sunset on the Serengeti, January 17 – March 8
→ Kids’ Weekends, Saturdays & Sundays, January 24 to February 8
→ Mardi Gras, Fridays to Sundays, January 24 – March 1
→ Food & Wine Festival, Saturdays and Sundays, March 6 – May 10
→ Cinco de Mayo, May 3 – 5
→ Summer Nights, May 22 – August 9
→ Bier Fest Brews & BBQ, July 24 – August 30
Busch Gardens Williamsburg, VA
↳ Mardi Gras, Fridays to Saturdays & President’s Day, January 3 – March 8
→ St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, March 12 – 17
→ Kids’ Weekends, Fridays to Sundays, March 21 – April 19
→ Food & Wine Festival, Thursdays through Sundays, April 23 – June 21
- Bonus Event: Food & Wine Festival 5K, May 3
→ Summer of Wonder, June 26 – July 30
→ Bier Fest Brews & BBQ, Fridays to Sundays & Labor Day, July 31 – September 7
Carowinds, NC
↳ Oktoberfest, Saturdays & Sundays, TBD
→ Star-Spangled Nights, TBD
→ Viva La Fiesta, TBD
Dollywood, TN
↳ I Will Always Love You Music Festival, March 13 – April 12
→ Flower & Food Festival, April 18 – June 7
→ Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration, June 15 – August 2
→ Harvest Festival, September 14 – October 31
Kings Dominion, VA
↳ A Golden Summerbration, TBD
→ Star-Spangled Nights, TBD
→ Oktoberfest, TBD
Legoland Florida Resort, FL
↳ Lego Ninjago Weekends, January 17 – February 15
→ LEGO® Festival, Weekends, TBD
→ Red, White & BOOM, TBD
SeaWorld Orlando, FL
↳ Seven Seas Food Festival, January 30 – May 17
- Mardi Gras, February 12 – 22
- St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, March 5 – 17
→ Cinco de Mayo, April 23 – May 5
→ Summer Spectacular, May 23 – September 1
- Viva La Música, May 9 – 17
- Bands, Brew & BBQ, Weekends, July 4 – August 23
→ Electric Ocean, May 22 – August 30 (NEW FOR 2026!)
Six Flags Over Georgia, GA
↳ Oktoberfest, TBD
Universal Studios Orlando, FL
↳ Universal Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval, February 7 – April 4
Check out our 2025 Food Guide to Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras Festival for budget and food tips.
Walt Disney World, FL
↳ EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, January 16 – February 23
→ EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, March 4 – June 1
→ Flavors of Florida at Disney Springs, TBD
→ EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, TBD
Check out of our 2025 Food Guide to EPCOT’s International Festival of the Arts for budget and food tips.
Wild Adventures, GA
↳ Wild Food Weekends: Tater Takeover, TBD
→ Great Pumpkin LumiNights, TBD
→ Splash Island Nights, TBD
→ Celebrate America Festival, TBD
Southwest Theme Park Festivals
SeaWorld San Antonio, TX
↳ Mardi Gras, January 31 – February 15
→ Just for Kids Weekend, February 21 – March 1
→ Seven Seas Food Festival, March 26 – May 17
→ Electric Ocean, Select Dates, June to August
→ Red, White & BBQ, August 7 – September 7
Six Flags Fiesta Texas, TX
↳ Mardi Gras Festival, February 7 – March 15
→ ¡Viva La Fiesta!, April 4 – April 26
→ Star-Spangled Nights, July 3 – 4
→ Oktoberfest, TBD
Six Flags Frontier City, OK
↳ Star-Spangled Nights, TBD
→ Food and Brew, Weekends, TBD
Six Flags Over Texas, TX
↳ ¡Viva La Fiesta!, TBD
→ Summerbration, TBD
→ Star-Spangled Nights, TBD
→ Oktoberfest Food Festival, TBD
West Coast Theme Park Festivals
Disneyland, CA
↳ California Adventure’s Food and Wine Festival, March 6 – April 27
→ Lunar New Year, January 23 – February 22
→ Plaza de la Familia, August 21 – November 2
Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park, CA
↳ Voyage to the Islands, May 2026 (NEW FOR 2026!)
→ Cherry Jubilee, June 5 – July 5
→ Carnival Nights, Fridays, August 15 – September 7
Knott’s Berry Farm, CA
↳ Knott’s PEANUTS Celebration, January 31 – February 22 + President’s Day, February 16
→ Knott’s Boysenberry Festival, March 13 – April 12
→ Knott’s Summer Nights, June 12 – August 30
SeaWorld San Diego, CA
↳ Mardi Gras, January 24 – February 22
→ Lunar New Year, January 31 – February 16
→ Seven Seas Food Festival, February 27 – April 26
→ Viva La Música, May 1 – 17
→ Summer Spectacular, May 22 – September 7
- Bayside Brews & BBQ, August 14 – September 7
→ Dia de los Muertos, November 1
Sesame Place San Diego, CA
↳ Elmo’s Furry Fun Fest, Weekends, TBD
→ Mardi Gras Spectacular, TBD
→ Elmo’s Eggstravaganza, TBD
→ Elmo’s Springtacular, TBD
→ Sesame Summer Splash, TBD
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, CA
↳ ¡Viva La Fiesta!, TBD
→ Star-Spangled Nights, July 3 – 4
→ Oktoberfest, Saturdays and Sundays, September 19 – Novemebr 1
Six Flags Magic Mountain, CA
↳ DC Heroes & Villains Fest, Fridays and Saturdays, June 19 – July 25
→ Star-Spangled Night, July 4
→ Oktoberfest Food Festival, Fridays to Sundays, September 25 – November 1
Pro-Tips for a Smooth Theme Park Festival Season
If you’ve never gone to a theme park festival, it’s important to brush up on a few pro-tips before heading wherever you’re going. The nice thing is that these tips apply to a general day at any theme park, but they’re especially true during festivals as they can be more crowded than normal.
Alright, let’s do this!
1 – Purchase tickets in advance to avoid long lines. If there happen to be packages, look into those deals as they are money-savers.
We’re affiliate partners with Undercover Tourist, the leading discount theme park ticket broker. They not only help you save money on tickets into the park for regular park days, but if you’re going to a Disney or Universal-sponsored event they have discounted tickets for their hard-ticket events that’ll help ease the pain of parting with your hard-earned cash. There’s also options to save on hotels, cars, and a whole lot more, too.
2 – Arrive early to make the most of your day in the parks and arrive early for any parades or special events happening in the park. For parades that can mean being as early as an hour or two to get ideal viewing spots.
3 – Plan your visit on weekdays for a more relaxed experience, and don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes (I highly advise against wearing brand new shoes as you’ll wish you broke them in before – promise). Also, if you’re planning to spend an entire day at a park (e.g., EPCOT at Walt Disney World) I suggest you buy moleskin to help with chafing on softer parts of your feet.
4 – If you have young children in your group, please rent (or bring your own) strollers for them. They will not want to walk the average of 7-10 miles you can do a day at a theme park nor should they suffer and be forced to do so. You will have reasonably miserable children if you don’t.
5 – Check out the map for the park before heading into it and discuss what parts of the festival you’ll hit up (if there’s a festival map, otherwise, check out their generic map to get an idea of where things are generally). Then download the app for quick access to the map or download the digital version to your phone so you’re not on your phone all day.
I mention this as some parks have completely done away with paper maps (recently Knott’s Berry Farm has done this as of 2024) and you don’t want to be S.O.L trying to figure out where things are.
In addition to downloading the app for the map, it’s great for real-time ride queuing, too.
6 – If the festival has a food pass – get it. Most times they are a money-saver. At some parks, like Dollywood and Universal, they offer food passes, but Disney won’t. Check out our food guides beforehand, if we have them, or call the theme park to make sure you have accurate information regarding this and get the cost upfront so you can factor it into your budget.
7 – Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly, and don’t forget to stay hydrated in the heat.
8 – Bearing that in mind, please bring a reusable water bottle into the park, it can save you so much money like you wouldn’t believe. At many parks, asking for a cup of ice water is acceptable, and you can easily fill up your water bottle that way. PLEASE, I can’t stress enough the cost-savings here.
I’ve seen water bottles going for $5 a piece and if you’re constantly having to buy a bottle or two every few hours for a family of four that can be upwards of $50 solely on water. That’s 5 cases of water at home, no thanks!
9 – Engage with locals to learn about hidden gems within the festival and surrounding areas. Check out forums such as DISboards or Reddit for information.
That’s It!
Alrighty, as I wrap up our whirlwind tour of theme park festivals across the USA, one thing becomes clear – these events are more than just attractions; they’re experiences that leave lasting impressions.
Whether you find yourself on the East or West Coast, Midwest, or in the heart of the South, theme park festivals are offering a unique opportunity for families to make conscious choices in how they spend their time together outside of the every day “let’s head to a theme park today!” deal.
I hope that this guide was helpful and you find magic along the way. Enjoy!
And if you haven’t as of yet, please follow us on our other social media channels (YouTube, Instagram & Tik Tok – @themeparkbites) once I’m movin’ and groovin’. Thank you for allowing me to be your tasty theme park companion!