When it’s the season to be jolly and joyous, Epcot is the perfect holiday setting! You can read an overview of all of the seasonal fun throughout the year in our Epcot festivals guide. Let’s take a closer look at the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays and what you can expect at this annual event.
Festival of the Holidays: What is Epcot Like at Christmas?
Walt Disney World’s second theme park is known for its unique celebration of culture in World Showcase and the exciting promise of imagination, technology and the future in its other attractions. Epcot now has a festival every season with Epcot Festival of the Arts, Flower and Garden Festival, Food and Wine Festival and Festival of the Holidays.
The Epcot International Festival of the Holidays follows the usual Epcot festival formula of additional small plate food offerings by way of grab and go kiosks and added entertainment inspired by the theme. Epcot is filled with holiday decorations, themed and seasonal entertainment and a variety of savory bites and sweet treats to please everyone.
In addition to the following topics we go over thoroughly, you should also know about the Holiday Cookie Stroll, a type of cookie eating challenge, and Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt with hidden Olaf statues to find throughout World Showcase. The Living with the Land slow boat ride attraction has a holiday light overlay as well.
For trip planning purposes, you may want to allocate more than one day for this park if you want to experience all the festival has to offer along with standard attractions and day time fun. There’s just that much to do! And, of course, you’ll find all of the information you need to have the best time in the festival passport. This is a complimentary guide book available at any of the holiday kitchens and around the park.
Tip: You may want to bring a pen to circle snacks you want in your passport or check off ones you’ve enjoyed.
When is the Epcot Holiday Festival?
The Epcot holiday event usually starts soon after Thanksgiving and runs through December 30th. This is because New Year’s Eve has its own special celebration in the park.
Back in 2021, the event was from November 26th through December 30th.
In 2022, the dates were November 25th through December 30th.
In 2023, the Epcot holiday festival went from November 24th to December 30th.
The 2024 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays dates have not been announced yet. Details of holiday offerings at Disney World are typically released in the summer.
If the Epcot holiday festival dates follow the years prior, it would run November 29th through December 30th in 2024.
Holiday Kitchens at Epcot
Epcot food festivals seem to take over as World Showcase is turned into a themed, small plate dining experience each season. For the holidays, the food booths at Epcot are called Holiday Kitchens and serve up cultural and seasonal favorites. Think of rich, classic flavors like a turkey dinner plate, gingerbread man cookies, schnitzel, peppermint bark, latkes, and more! There are also special and unique twists on favorites like a gingerbread milkshake and turkey poutine.
In 2021, Epcot debuted the Chestnuts and Good Cheer Holiday Kitchen with freshly roasted chestnuts on the grille! Chestnuts are actually less like nuts and more like a starchy vegetable in texture. What a neat experience to get to try this little treat that’s famously remembered in the popular holiday number The Christmas Song. Not all booths and treats come back every year so try what you’re interested in while you can.
Epcot Holiday Storytellers and Entertainment
You can absolutely make a full day out of enjoying all of these short outdoor shows. You’ll learn how people celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah and more around the world. There is a traditional Christmas presence at this festival but in true Epcot fashion more of the world’s celebrations are included and in entertaining ways. All of it is fun and heartwarming. Prepare for some classic Disney edutainment.
You can find showtimes for the Epcot Holiday Storytellers and other entertainment in the My Disney Experience app.
Here’s a list of the live holiday entertainment in years past.
What is the Epcot holiday entertainment?
Joyful! A Celebration of the Season | World Showcase Plaza between the two shops
An energetic display of gospel music with incredibly talented singers on a beautifully decorated stage.
Canadian Holiday Voyageurs | Canada on The Mill Stage
Take a musical journey with this rockin’ band that introduces you to Canadian holiday customs.
Father Christmas | United Kingdom
Father Christmas shares traditions and classic songs from around the United Kingdom.
Pere Noel | France
The good spirit of the season delivers the magic of Christmas through a child’s letter.
Hanukkah Storyteller | Between France and Morocco
This singing musician tells the story of Hanukkah and how people celebrate it around the world.
Daruma Storyteller | Japan
A telling of the New Year customs of Japan.
Santa Claus | America
Enjoy a distanced yet personal outdoor visit and photo with Santa!
La Befana | Italy
A holiday tale of the friendly witch.
Chinese Lion Dancer | China
Celebrate the Lunar New Year with this traditional performance.
A Mischievous Magical Barn Santa | Norway
Two performers share a Norway Christmas tale with humor.
Las Posadas Celebration | Mexico
Join the celebrated band Mariachi Cobre and dancers for a colorful, cultural experience.
Candlelight Processional Narrators
The Epcot International Festival of the Holidays has the most sentimental and traditional Christmas show at Walt Disney World. Large choirs, including one made up of cast members, professional singers, a live orchestra and a celebrity narrator tell the story of Christmas through word and song. Here is an example line up, though the celebrities change each year.
Auli’i Cravalho | November 26 through November 28
Chita Rivera | November 29 through December 1
Jodi Benson | December 2 through December 4
Alton Fitzgerald White | December 5 through December 7
Bart Millard | December 8 through December 10
Lisa Ling | December 11 through December 13
Andy Garcia | December 14 through December 16
Ana Gasteyer | December 17 through December 19
Courtney B. Vance | December 20 through December 22
Steven Curtis Chapman | December 23 through December 25
Blair Underwood | December 26 through December 28
Pat Sajak | December 29 through December 30
Dining packages that include reserved seating are available for this experience.
Spaceship Earth Holiday Light Show
Spaceship Earth brings all new seasonal cheer to the front of the park. For the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Celebration this landmark attraction got a special lighting makeover as it became one of the Beacons of Magic. The entire geodesic sphere exterior of Spaceship Earth is now lined with lights in between its many triangular panels. This is not a projection show like we see on other structures like Cinderella Castle or Tower of Terror. The Spaceship Earth Beacon of Magic addition is something different and so incredible to see in person. Light sequences dance around the ball, fade into gradient color palettes and twinkle in view all around the park. Now imagine a holiday version because that’s totally what happens.
Spaceship Earth lights up as soon as the sun sets and dances intermittently throughout the night. There is a short soundtrack that accompanies each sequence. Red and white stripes have danced down the icon, bringing cheer to guests.
Epcot Holiday Festival Merchandise
With every Disney festival comes the merchandise. The Epcot International Festival of the Holidays 2021 merchandise was themed to Olaf’s Frozen Adventure. The collection featured the happy snowman and his reindeer friend Sven. Every year you can expect items like Spirit Jerseys, mugs, pins with characters, beanie hats and more. You can find it all at Port of Entry, Creations Shop and at different kiosk locations around World Showcase with the best selection usually across from the Bavaria Holiday Kitchen in Germany.
Are there Epcot holiday fireworks?
Epcot has fireworks nightly, even during festivals. The same fireworks are shown every night. The current show is Luminous – The Story of Us.
Discover where to watch fireworks at Epcot in our guide on the topic.
Disney Vacation Club Resorts Near Epcot
There are a few Disney Vacation Club resorts near Epcot. The closest resort to Epcot is Disney’s Beach Club Villas. Guests of Beach Club can access Epcot via a quick walk to the International Gateway. The International Gateway is the entrance in the back of the park in World Showcase between the France and United Kingdom pavilions. This DVC resort is located on a small body of water that connects to World Showcase Lagoon and also offers boat transport to the back of the park near the International Gateway.
On the same body of water is the neighboring Disney Vacation Club resort Disney’s Boardwalk Villas. Guests can also easily walk to Epcot from Disney’s Boardwalk and the same boat transportation service is available here too. DVC resort Riviera is just one pretty Skyliner ride away from Epcot’s International Gateway entrance.
For more information on becoming a DVC member by purchasing resale DVC points contact DVC Resale Experts today.
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