The Festival of the Arts at EPCOT welcomes artists, food designers, and Broadway performers to Walt Disney World for 38 days every winter. With so much to do, see, eat, and hear it’s important to have a plan. If you haven’t yet had a chance to visit, here are 7 Festival of the Arts Must Dos you can do to make the most of it!
If you’ve been wondering what is the Festival of the Arts at Epcot, Walt Disney World, consider this your quick guide. We’re going to break down some Must-do’s so you can get the most out of the festival. As THE festival happens in winter at Walt Disney World, you can look forward to better weather, lower crowds, and an easier experience than you would find in the busiest times at Walt Disney World. The Disney World Festival of the Arts happens from mid-January to late February every year and it’s the perfect excuse to escape to Florida for the winter months.
What is the Festival of the Arts at EPCOT Walt Disney World?
The Epcot International Festival of the Arts is an arts festival featuring culinary, visual, and performing artists. Festival of the Arts can be done in one day since it’s a smaller festival, but we’d recommend spreading it over 2 days to really experience all the things offered. If you’ve never been to the festival before, here’s everything that should be included in your itinerary. Check out our Festival of the Arts Beginners Guide to look at everything there is to do at this Disney World winter festival.
- Artists and Galleries
- Food Studios; Open 11am- 9pm
- The Broadway Concert Series
- Complimentary Seminars & Workshops
- The Figment Scavenger Hunt Game
- Special Event Merchandise
- Unique Photo Ops
Contents
See the Art
One of the most important Festival of the Arts Must Dos is seeing all the art! The Epcot International Festival of the Arts includes artists of all kinds! From fine art in the gallery spaces to chalk drawings on the sidewalks, you are sure to see something that inspires you. This festival combines art from the culinary arts, the visual arts, and the performing arts. Seeing a gold sculpture come to life, or dancers in the midway are part of the everyday experiences during this festival.
Try the Food
Get ready to feast your eyes on the most beautiful culinary creations. From painted pop tarts to crystal mooncakes these pieces of edible art take a little bit longer to create than your regular Disney snacks. The festival includes Food Studios in the World Showcase. Some studios are specific to each country while others are found throughout Epcot. No matter what your tastes you’re sure to find something delicious and beautiful. Check out the Festival of the Arts Menus.
Listen to the Music
In addition to the performers that will be out and about in the World Showcase, you can also head over to the American Gardens Theater to see the Broadway Concert Series. This concert series is offered daily at 5:30 pm, 6:45 pm, and 8 pm. Sing along to songs from Tarzan, Beauty and the Beast, Lion King, and more. See the festival site for a full lineup of performers. For an extra special night out you can grab the Broadway Concert Series Dining package, ensuring you’ll have the best seats in the house.
Take a Class
Want to be an artist or just nurture your inner Disney animator? If you’re ready to get creative, you can attend a complimentary seminar or sign up for a workshop. These extra special classes run daily and are worth a look. Reservations are available the day of at the Odyssey Festival Showplace.
Find Figment
Our favorite mascot of imagination, Figment the dragon, is hidden in artworks of all kinds around the World Showcase. Some are easy to find, and some are not. Figment’s Brush with the Master’s scavenger hunt includes a game board, stickers, and when you complete the game, a prize! We love all the Epcot festival scavenger hunts and always make sure to take time to play. It’s a great way to have some fun and get a budget-friendly souvenir. This is one of our favorite games to play if you’re visiting the Festival of the Arts with Kids.
Check out the Merchandise
Every year Disney reveals special themed merchandise, made specifically for the festival, with many items only available in the parks. We always spend some time browsing the shops and festival kiosks to see all the new items made specifically for the event. You can get themed gift cards, pins, apparel, accessories, and more. See all the Festival of the Arts merchandise from past years.
Take an Artistic Photo
Are you ready to become part of an art piece? With fun photo ops that put you inside the art, the backdrops at the festival are sure to be hit for your next Instagram post or family photo. You can find these unique backdrops throughout the World Showcase for the Festival of the Arts Photo Ops during the festival.
Disney World Festival of the Arts
If you’re looking for a great way to take advantage of Florida’s mild winter months, visiting Walt Disney World in January or February should be part of your travel plans. The Walt Disney World Parks during the early part of the year have lower crowds, better weather, and amazing events like the International Festival of the Arts to help keep everyone entertained. It’s a perfect event for couples, families, kids, everyone! We hope you enjoy these Festival of the Arts Must Dos as much as we do. Read more in our Epcot Festival of the Arts Beginners Guide for tips and details.
Rochelle Mariah is a writer, designer and photographer with an MLIS in Information Science and a B.S. in Arch and Design. Determined to make Planning a DIY Disney Vacation easier she makes lots of lists and drinks lots of coffee. When not designing apparel at Polka Dot Pixie Shop, she's watching old movies and planning the holidays. She has been traveling to Disney destinations since 2010.
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