A Grand Celebration of Flavor: Saturday at the 2026 Ocala Food & Wine Festival  – Clone

From unlimited tastings and live chef demonstrations to the excitement of elite show jumping, Saturday celebrated exceptional cuisine, premium beverages and equestrian sport at World Equestrian Center – Ocala.

Ocala, FL – The Ocala Food & Wine Festival continued Saturday, November 7, at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC) with its largest celebration of the weekend, the Grand Tasting. WEC Exposition Center 1 transformed into a bustling culinary showcase, with more than 100 participating vendors presenting chef-prepared cuisine, premium wines, beer and spirits, and specialty retail offerings. Guests enjoyed an afternoon of culinary and beverage tastings alongside live demonstrations and interactive entertainment.

An Afternoon of Culinary Discovery

Towering ice sculptures greeted guests with glasses of bubbly, setting a celebratory tone before they reached the tasting floor. Nearby, an elaborate display of Emma’s Patisserie bonbons and macarons and a generous charcuterie spread sponsored by Boar’s Head offered the first tastes of the afternoon. From there, guests explored a wide range of tasting stations featuring signature dishes, specialty beverages and unexpected culinary creations.

Among the afternoon’s memorable bites were The Polo Pony’s Chicken Pot Pie Croquettes, a bite-sized interpretation of the classic comfort dish, and a Certified Angus Beef® Million-Dollar Corn Dog. Guests also gravitated toward familiar favorites, including Genievieve’s Duck Agnolotti, The White Willow’s Kimchi Fried Rice and an unexpected Bourbon Bacon Milkshake from Ralph’s Burger & Sandwich Shop. Brick City Southern Kitchen drew guests with Pulled Pork Sliders and Pimento Cheese, while Duomo Gelato samples and an assortment of handcrafted sweets offered plenty for those with a sweet tooth.

Emma’s Patisserie continued to delight guests with an impressive variety of sweet creations including a raspberry and cream croissant tower and a chocolate-covered strawberry station featuring chocolate sourced from Ecuador.

Guests also explored premium wines, craft cocktails and spirits from participating beverage partners. Four Roses invited guests to customize their own Old Fashioneds, while Tequila Dobel showcased its range of expressions, including blanco, reposado, añejo, Diamante and extra añejo. Whiskey enthusiasts sampled selections from High West, WhistlePig and The Macallan, whose vibrant display invited guests to explore its premium Scotch whisky offerings.

Guests also received an early introduction to Harry & Henry’s, an upcoming wine and cigar destination at The Shoppes Off 80th. The pop-up featured WEC-branded Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, wines from festival partners and premium cigars from Rocky Patel Cigars, offering a first look at the concept’s specialty selections ahead of its opening at the resort.

For Five-Star Festival Package guests, the Bubble Lounge offered an exclusive Champagne experience featuring Champagne Taittinger. Stilt walkers served Champagne beneath a suspended installation of sparkling glassware, while plush lounge seating provided a retreat from the energy of the tasting floor.

Beyond the tastings, interactive experiences added to the afternoon’s festivities. Guests could try their hand at a sip-and-solve crossword, paint a mural or visit the beer garden, where beverage carts and putting greens offered a playful change of pace between culinary discoveries.

Culinary Expertise Takes Center Stage

Throughout the afternoon, live demonstrations gave guests a closer look at the techniques, traditions and expertise behind the festival’s featured cuisine and beverages.

Four Roses National Brand Ambassador Tucker Carper opened the stage programming with a bourbon cocktail demonstration, sharing the techniques and traditions behind the classic Old Fashioned.

The White Willow Sushi Chef de Cuisine Karl Reinhart followed with a demonstration of sukibiki, showcasing the precision of removing fish scales with a knife before expertly filleting a 30-pound winter yellowtail.

Woodinville Whiskey Co. representative Josh Prete introduced guests to the distillery’s single-barrel program, including WEC’s exclusive barrel selection. Certified Angus Beef® Brand Chef Josh Ennis later demonstrated the preparation of a three-bone beef short rib during his Beef Butchery Masterclass, giving guests an inside look at the techniques behind premium beef cuts.

Resort Executive Pastry Chef Yohann Le Bescond drew an enthusiastic crowd as he transformed delicate cream puffs into a towering croquembouche. Sharing the story behind the French centerpiece often served in place of wedding cakes in France, Chef Yohann challenged himself to assemble the intricate pastry display against the clock.

Culinary Competition With a Greater Purpose

The Grand Tasting built toward the highly anticipated Mystery Basket Competition, where local culinary students faced off in a lively challenge that tested their creativity and technical skills. Under the mentorship of The Polo Pony Chef de Cuisine Roland LaCroix and Senior Multi-Unit Chef Jonathan Nicho, both student teams showcased their culinary abilities, with Team Jonathan ultimately earning top honors.

The Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore and FOX 35 Good Day Orlando’s David Martin served as emcees, bringing additional energy to the competition as students demonstrated their growing culinary expertise.

Beyond the excitement onstage, the competition reflected an important part of the festival’s mission. Proceeds from the Ocala Food & Wine Festival benefit the Public Education Foundation of Marion County’s ProStart Program, supporting culinary education and career development for local students.

Building on Friday’s school visits by WEC chefs to Marion County schools, Saturday’s competition and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities connected aspiring culinary professionals with experienced chefs, offering firsthand insight into the skills, teamwork and preparation behind a large-scale hospitality event.

A Grand Prix Evening Under the Lights

The celebration continued with the Grand Prix Dining Experience: Ocala Food & Wine Festival Edition, where elegant terrace dining met the excitement of elite equestrian sport.

Overlooking the Grand Outdoor Arena, guests enjoyed an al fresco reception followed by a chef-curated dinner featuring Certified Angus Beef®, complemented by selections from Palm Bay International’s premium portfolio.

As guests dined, horse-and-rider combinations competed in the $75,000 Wheels Up National Grand Prix, bringing world-class show jumping to the evening, with Richard Spooner and Lyjanair earning the victory.

The combination of distinguished cuisine, premium wines and thrilling competition brought the second day of the Ocala Food & Wine Festival to a memorable close.

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