With four seasonal festivals held throughout the year, the odds of visiting EPCOT during one are very good! Which one is best, which one is most popular, which one should you avoid? Let’s take a deeper look at each of the festivals.
International Festival of the Arts
The International Festival of the Arts is the first festival of the year at EPCOT. It’s also one of the shortest, typically running from mid-January through February. If you want to attend a Festival with low crowds, this is your best bet.
This festival is all about visual, performing, and culinary arts. There are art installations throughout the park, fun chalk art displays, live mural paintings, and even a large paint-by-number mural that guests can paint a part of! Guests can also learn how to draw their favorite characters at Animation Academy!
Figment, the lovable purple dragon, is the unofficial mascot for Festival of the Arts and is featured on many of the Festival’s merchandise items. He also has his own scavenger hunt through the park, Figment’s Brush with the Masters. Guests of all ages can participate in this fun activity by purchasing their scavenger hunt map and stickers from a participating merchandise location. Then, visit locations throughout the World Showcase and find the art pieces featuring Figment. Mark them off on the map with the matching sticker as you find them, then return your finished map to the designated location to receive a small prize!
Foodies may be interested in a food stroll to sample colorful dishes. Pick up your Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine passport book at any participating kitchen kiosk. There are seven dishes, one for each color of the rainbow, but you only need to try five to complete your mission. You’ll get a stamp on your passport for each one you purchase and try. Choose from savory dishes or sweet treats. Once you’ve completed your passport, return it to the designated location to pick up your sweet reward!
No EPCOT festival is complete without some musical entertainment. During the International Festival of the Arts, guests can enjoy the Disney on Broadway concert series, featuring stars from Disney’s Broadway productions!
EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival
The International Flower & Garden Festival is the original EPCOT festival, which started back in 1994. It typically runs from early March to late May and is a favorite for nature lovers and photo enthusiasts. The Festival timeframe also has some low-crowd weeks, aside from a few Spring Break weeks.
One of the main attractions of the International Flower & Garden Festival is the incredible topiaries crafted by Disney’s Imagineering and Horticulture teams. There are approximately 100 handcrafted topiaries of characters and favorite movie scenes placed throughout the park.
Guests will find a variety of outdoor kitchens featuring colorful, Spring-produce-filled dishes and garden-inspired snacks. The International Flower & Garden Festival is also the most family-friendly, with outdoor playgrounds and a beloved butterfly house that little ones love to explore.
Orange Bird is the unofficial mascot for the International Flower & Garden Festival, and many of the Festival merchandise items feature the classic character.
Spike the Bee is the International Flower & Garden Festival scavenger hunt mascot. Guests can purchase their scavenger map and stickers at participating merchandise locations. Locate Spike the Bee throughout the gardens and mark each location off with its corresponding sticker to complete the hunt. Return the completed map to the designated location to receive your prize.
Foodies will also find a themed food stroll during the International Flower & Garden Festival. Pick up your Garden Graze passport book, then try five of the ten featured plant-based dishes. After collecting your five stamps, return to the designated location to show your completed passport for a prize.
Guests visiting during the International Flower & Garden Festival are treated to the Garden Rocks concert series. The concert series features international performers as well as local bands. There are three performances nightly in the America Gardens Theatre. If you want a guaranteed seat for the show, dining packages are offered that include a meal at one of the park’s amazing restaurants and guaranteed access to the show.
EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival
Held from late summer until just before Thanksgiving, the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is by far the park’s most popular event. Favored by adventurous eaters and wine connoisseurs, expect crowds during this one, especially on weekends.
The International Food & Wine Festival features the most food kitchens of any festival, with over 35 Global Marketplaces showcasing dishes from around the world.
Everyone’s favorite rat, Remy, is the mascot of the Festival’s scavenger hunt, Remy’s Ratatouille Hide and Squeak Scavenger Hunt. Similar to the others, you can purchase your map and stickers at a participating merchandise location. As you locate Remy and one of the food ingredients around the park, mark them off with stickers. Turn in your completed map to the designated location to receive your prize.
During the fall, there’s a second scavenger hunt you can participate in, Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit. You can purchase your map and stickers to mark off the locations as you find Pluto’s twelve playful pumpkins hidden throughout the park. Return the completed map to pick up your prize.
If you’re a connoisseur of cheeses, don’t miss the food stroll during the International Food & Wine Festival! Pick up your passport for Emile’s Fromage Montage and purchase five of the eight featured cheesy dishes. There are both sweet and savory options. Return your completed passport for a sweet treat!
EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival showcases renowned artists and local bands during the Eat to the Beat concert series. There are three shows nightly in the America Gardens Theatre. Dining packages including a meal at one of the park’s restaurants and guaranteed access to the show can be reserved in advance, so you don’t miss out on the show.
International Festival of the Holidays
The International Festival of the Holidays is a festive time at EPCOT. From the day after Thanksgiving through the end of December, the park is filled with holiday magic from around the world.
During the Festival, you’ll find holiday decor throughout the park. In World Showcase, hear from Holiday Storytellers as they share beloved seasonal traditions from their home countries, and get a taste of the season at Holiday Kitchens, featuring traditional dishes and treats from around the globe.
Enjoy the sounds of the season with JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season at the CommuniCore Plaza stage. This amazing performance celebrates Christmas and Kwanzaa with a mix of gospel, rhythm and blues, and holiday music.
Explore the holiday traditions from around the world even more as you take part in Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition. After purchasing your map and stickers, locate the statues of Olaf around the park, each representing a different tradition. Return your completed map for a prize.
Take your sweet tooth around the World Showcase with the Cookie Stroll. Pick up your passport book, purchase five different holiday cookies to try, and return your completed passport for an additional sweet treat. Don’t worry, the cookies are big enough to share!
The signature event during the International Festival of the Holidays is the Candlelight Processional. Enjoy hearing the retelling of the Christmas story by a celebrity narrator, accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra, choir, and EPCOT’s own Voices of Liberty. There are three showtimes per evening at the America Gardens Theatre, and guests who want guaranteed admission can reserve a dining package that includes a meal at one of the park’s restaurants.
To Festival or Not to Festival
EPCOT seems to always have a festival of some kind happening. These events can add some extra magic to your visit—but can also increase the crowd levels, so you’ll want to plan accordingly. Visiting the park on a weekday can be better than on the weekend.
So, which festival do you prefer to visit EPCOT for? Or do you squeeze in a visit during one of the small windows when there is no festival? Let me know in the comments!
