EPCOT International Festival of the Arts – Everything You Need to Know
The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is the shortest Festival that is held annually. It usually begins in January and runs for about 5 weeks. This festival is full of activities and entertainment that celebrate the arts. Find out more about the EPCOT Festival of the ARTS in this post.
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This festival celebrates art in all forms: visual arts, culinary arts, music and so much more! There are plenty of opportunities throughout the park to entertain guests of all ages. Though this festival is shorter is is packed with fun activities and experiences.
Booths throughout the festival featuring art galleries, items to purchase. You will even have the opportunity to meet them in person. As with any EPCOT Festival, there are delicious Food Studios featuring creative and colorful foods.
I was able to attend the EPCOT Festival of the Arts again this year and (despite the cold weather) I had a great time. I was traveling with a friend this year so I was able to really take my time and explore everything the Festival of the Arts has to offer. I hope you find this article helpful!
What is the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts?
The Epcot International Festival of the Arts is the newest festival in the park that began in 2017. The Festival of the Arts is held annually between mid-January and mid-Febraury (for about 4 to 5 weeks). The theme of the festival is to celebrate the culinary, visual, and performing arts.
The EPCOT International Festival of the ARts Passport
Be sure to grab your Festival Passport at the entrance of EPCOT beside the park maps, at the International Gateway entrance or, at most Food Studios during the Festival.
This little booklet is your guide to every activity, food studio, and entertainment option at the festival! Don’t forget that in the back of the book, you’ll find the instructions and tracker for the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine.
Art Galleries and Booths
As you might expect for a festival about the arts, the International Festival of the Arts has artists and their work everywhere! There are dozens of incredibly talented artists sharing their work each year. You will see unique pieces of art that include, Disney characters, films, TV shows, and different park attractions.
You can watch them create new art, ask them questions about their art, and even have them sign an art piece that you’ve purchased.
Interactive Festival Mural
One of the highlights of Epcot’s International Festival of the Arts is its encouragement to get park guests involved in creating collaborative art. Guests are encouraged to participate in their paint-by-number mural, and when you are done painting you will receive a photo of the completed project.
Drawing on Inspiration
This is an often overlooked feature of the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, so I wanted to be sure to share it at the beginning of this post.
4 Disney Artists were invited to create a piece of art from a single prompt, Paint Figment. I love seeing the variety of art styles used to create 4 very different images of Figment.
If you have children, this is a great opportunity to show them that people typically see things differently and each of us has our own unique and creative ideas and they are all beautiful in their own way.
Chalk Full of Character Scavenger Hunt
This is one of my favorite festival scavenger hunts. As you walk throughout World Showcase be on the lookout for hidden chalk drawings. See if you can find them!
Expression Section: An interactive Paint-by-Number Mural
Festival of the Arts Photo Opportunities
Throughout the park you will find several fun photo opportunities. One of my favorites was the Step-in Art Frames. You and your family can literally step into a piece of art for a fun photo.
You can find these on the bridge by World Showcase. There is another in World Showcase at the American Adventure Pavilion.
Chalk Art by talented artists
I look forward to seeing the amazing chalk art done at this festival. Talented guest artists creating incredible chalk art on the World Showcase Bridge. The final products are truly impressive!
Kids’ Chalk art Area
If you have kids with you they will love leaving their mark on Epcot by drawing in the kids’ chalk art section.
Food Studios at the Festival of the Arts
One of the highlights of these EPCOT festivals is the variety of exclusive foods offered. At this festival, the food booths are called Food Studios, a nod to artists’ studios. You’ll find that foods are presented with an emphasis on art with colorful ingredients and beautiful presentations. There are nearly 20 food studios to try at this festival.
You can find out all about the Food Studios at the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts in this post.
Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine
The Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine is a great way to get a prize for tasting some of the special dishes from the food studios. Look inside your festival passport for the dishes that are included and try at least five of the seven dishes listed. Make sure to collect the stickers for your passport.
Once you have 5 stickers, head on over to the specified location and collect your exclusive festival treat. (This year it was at Deco Delights.)
*NEW* 30 Years of Disney on Broadway Exhibit
This year Disney World finally put the CommuniCore Hall to good use! In this exhibit, you can see costumes and props from Disney Broadway production over the years. I really enjoyed exploring this exhibit and I think it was. great addition to the festival.
Figment’s Brush with the Master Scavenger Hunt
As part of Epcot’s International Festival of the Arts, there is a scavenger hunt with Figment, the mascot of imagination. Figment has re-imagined what famous pieces of art might look like if he was included. There is one piece of Figment art located in each country for you to find.
If you want to “officially” participate in the scavenger hunt you will need to purchase a map for $9.99, and you can collect a prize when you find all of them. You can also just search for him on your own, no map is required.
Animation Academy
Guests are also encouraged to attend the Animation Academy at the American Gardens theater to work on their drawing skills! You can find the times in your festival passport.
Disney on Broadway Concert Series
The Disney on Broadway Concert series is your chance to see Broadway performers singing some of your favorite Disney songs. There are three concerts each evening of the festival at 5:30, 6:45, and 8:00 pm each evening.
These performances are from Broadway stars who voice the Disney characters in shows on Broadway, and most performances feature at least two singers. Concert attendance is included in admission, but seating is first come first serve.
Broadway Concert Series Dining Packages
During most EPCOT Festivals Disney offers special Dining Packages that allow you to reserve your seat for a concert. It’s a great way to make sure you are guaranteed a seat at these popular concerts.
If you would like a front-row seat to the Broadway concert you can have a meal at one of several of the park’s participating restaurants to reserve a seat. The meal can be for breakfast, lunch, or dinner but it has to be for the concert on the same day. You will need a meal reservation for each member of your party who would like a reserved seat.
Live Performances
The nightly concerts are not the only performances you will find as part of the International Festival of the Arts. There are also performances throughout the park all day long.
These performers include painters, acrobats, musicians, and more! You can find their scheduled performance times located near their stages or performance areas and on the My Disney Experience App. You can usually find musical performances on the stage at CommuniCore Plaza. This is also the area that the live Art in Performance shows take place.
The Art in Performance Shows feature an artist live-painting a piece with fun music and commentary. I missed the performance by 5 minutes this year but I was able to see some of the pieces that have been created during these shows and I’m always impressed with the gorgeous artwork the artists create in just a few minutes!
Souvenirs and Merchandise at the Epcot Festival of the Arts
If you are attending a festival at EPCOT you know there are plenty of fun souvenir options available. This year I saw plenty of new shirts, drink tumblers, and some really nice new bags from LUG. I was disappointed that I forgot to pick up the Annual Passholder Festival of the Arts Pin before I left!
Are you Headed to the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts this Year?
Epcot’s International Festival of the Arts may be their newest and shortest festival but they are expanding it every year. Have you attended the Festival of the Arts before or do you plan to attend in the future? If you have attended, what was your favorite part?
EPCOT International Festival of the Arts FAQ’s
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: When is Epcot’s Festival of the Arts in 2025?
A: The 2025 Festival of the Arts is running from January 17 to February 24, 2025.
Q: When is a good time to attend the Festival of the Arts?
A: If you are trying to minimize crowds at the Festival of the Arts I suggest visiting during the 2nd or 3rd week of the Festival during the week; Monday – Thursday are usually slower. Arrive when the park opens and take advantage of rides and attractions while you wait for the festival to begin at 11:00 am.
Q: Do you need tickets for the EPCOT Festival of the Arts (2024)?
A: There is no additional charge to attend Epcot’s Festival of the Arts, admission is included with your park ticket.
Q: What time does the EPCOT Festival of the Arts Start?
A: The festival begins at 11:00 am daily. Art exhibits, food booths, and activities may not be available earlier than 11:00 am, so it’s best to plan your Festival Day after that time.
Q: How late does the EPCOT Festival of the Arts go?
A: EPCOT usually closes the park around___ each day. Food Studios and Art Booths may close earlier. The Paint-by-Number Mural usually closes around 5:00 pm each day. Food Studios often close when the park closes, however, some booths closing times may vary.
Q: What Characters Can You Meet at the EPCOT Festival of the Arts?
A: There are no special meet-and-greet opportunities at the EPCOT Festival of the Arts, however, EPCOT’s typical characters should still be around and available during specific times for meet-and-greets, autographs, and photo opportunities. I highly recommend heading to the Imagination Station and getting a photo with this festival’s host, FIGMENT!
Q: Is there a map for the EPCOT Festival of the Arts?
A: You can find a map of the Festival of the Arts in the My Disney Experience App. From the homepage scroll down until you see “EPCOT Festival of the Arts”>tap on “GUIDE”. Next, scroll down until you see “Event Map”
Q: What Allergy-Friendly Foods is available at the EPCOT Festival of the Arts?
A: Disney is great about allergies and always offers an allergy-friendly menu that you can find on their website. You can find the allergy-free menu for the Festival of the Arts here.
