Jenna SaxtonEPCOT has become well known for its annual festivals that occur throughout the year in Walt Disney World and it’s no wonder why! With hundreds of unique food and drink offerings, limited-time activities, and concerts that bring some of the biggest celebrities to the park, EPCOT festivals offer guests a fun family-friendly way to experience EPCOT at its best.
But, what exactly are the EPCOT festivals? When do they take place? And, what is there to do? We’ve got a complete list of all the festivals coming to EPCOT in 2024 with details on what you can expect!
EPCOT Festivals Overview
The EPCOT festivals offer a unique opportunity to experience different cuisines, musical performances, and cultural exhibits all in one location on top of all that the park already has to offer. Currently, four rotating festivals occur annually including the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, and the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.
While all of the festivals are similar in that they feature several food booths around World Showcase with menus full of small bites and drinks in addition to other activities and special events, each one is completely different from the other in theming, offerings, merchandise, and even the type of food booths available.
And, the best part about visiting during one of the EPCOT festivals? It’s completely free! All of the festival offerings are included in the price of park admission (which starts at $109 per person, per day in 2024). Just keep in mind that food, drink, merchandise, and some activities are an additional cost.
2024 EPCOT Festivals Schedule
If you’re planning a trip to Walt Disney World in 2024, you’re in for a treat! All four of the EPCOT festivals will be coming back to the park throughout the year. Here’s the confirmed EPCOT festival schedule for 2024:
- EPCOT International Festival of the Arts – January 12th to February 19th, 2024
- EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival – February 28th to May 27th, 2024
- EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival – August 29th to November 23rd, 2024
- EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays – TBD
Note that Disney releases the official festival dates 3-5 months in advance, so we expect more details on the remaining 2024 festivals to be released in the coming months. Stay tuned for updates!
EPCOT International Festival of the Arts
The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is a celebration of all things visual, culinary, and performing arts. This festival features live performances, drawing workshops, interactive art displays, and artist booths where you can purchase Disney artwork for your home. Of course, there’s also plenty of food and drink to enjoy at select Food Studios in World Showcase with menus that highlight the culinary arts and are equally fun to look at as they are to eat.
Dates
The 2024 EPCOT Festival of the Arts will be held from January 12th through February 19th, 2024. The festival runs for just a little over five weeks, giving you just over a month to experience this art-filled fest. The park hours for EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts vary, so be sure to check the schedule before planning your visit.
Highlights
The festival offers a wide range of attractions and activities for visitors of all ages. Some of the highlights of the festival include:
- Food Studios that feature menus filled with food and drink that focus on the culinary arts.
- A food stroll called The Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine which entails ordering five pre-selected dishes to receive a complimentary treat upon completion.
- Nightly live performances from Disney on Broadway stars during the Disney on Broadway Concert Series
- Animation Academy where you can learn to draw your favorite Disney characters from animators.
- Art installations and galleries showcasing works by talented artists from around the globe.
EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival
The EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival showcases beautiful gardens, Disney character topiaries, and nature-focused exhibits transforming the park into a beautiful garden for the spring. You’ll also be able to enjoy several Outdoor Kitchens throughout World Showcase that offer fresh, seasonal eats and drinks.
Dates
The dates for the 2024 EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival will take place from February 28th to May 27th, 2024. The festival runs for three whole months, giving you lots of time to experience this flower-filled fest. The park hours for EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival vary, so be sure to check the schedule before planning your visit.
Highlights
There are a lot of reasons that Disney fans love visiting EPCOT for the Flower & Garden Festival. Here are just a few of the highlights that keep guests coming back year after year:
- Outdoor Kitchens that serve small bites and drinks featuring garden-fresh ingredients.
- The Garden Graze food stroll which entails purchasing five pre-selected plant-based dishes to receive a complementary treat upon completion.
- Life-size topiaries of popular Disney characters (entirely made out of plants) are set up around the entire park.
- Nightly live concerts from world-renowned bands during the Garden Rocks Concert Series.
- Spike The Bee-themed scavenger hunt around World Showcase. Receive a free prize at the end!
- Complimentary self-guided or guided English Tea Garden Tour in the UK Pavilion.
EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival
The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is the festival that started it all and is often considered a favorite among park-goers. The focus of this festival is – you guessed it – food and wine from all across the globe. Featuring the largest number of food booths of any EPCOT festival, the Food & Wine Festival is a must-do for anyone who loves trying new eats and drinks. There are also plenty of other activities to attend between bites including culinary demonstrations, a scavenger hunt, and a concert series.
Dates
The dates for the 2024 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival were just released. This year, the festival will take place August 29th to November 23rd, 2024. This is much shorter than the 2023 Food & Wine Festival which began on July 27th and ran through November 18th, 2023 giving guests four months to try all of the global menus.
Highlights
The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is known for its delicious food and beverage offerings, but there is much more to the festival than just that. Here are some of the must-dos at the festival:
- Over 20 Global Marketplaces, each offering unique food and beverage items from different regions of the world.
- Emile’s Fromage Montage cheese stroll which entails purchasing five pre-selected cheesy dishes to earn a complimentary treat upon completion.
- Nightly live concerts from popular artists in various genres during the Eat to the Beat Concert Series.
- Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak scavenger hunt takes you around World Showcase to find Remy in each pavilion to receive a free souvenir upon completion.
- Seminars and demonstrations that cover topics such as wine tasting, mixology, and cooking. These events are led by industry professionals and are a fun way to learn something new.
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
The International Festival of the Holidays is how EPCOT celebrates the holidays every year. This festival celebrates the traditions and cultures of the holiday season around the globe and features holiday-themed entertainment, holiday ride overlays, a special retelling of the Christmas story by celebrity narrators, and – of course – tons of holiday food and drink at Holiday Kitchens around World Showcase.
Dates
The dates for the 2024 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays have not yet been released. However, it usually takes place between late November through December. For reference, the 2023 Festival of the Holidays began on November 24th and ran through December 30th, 2023 giving guests a little over a month to celebrate the season.
Highlights
The EPCOT Festival of the Holidays is one of the best ways to celebrate the winter holidays in Disney World. Here are a few of the festival highlights you don’t want to miss:
- Several Holiday Kitchens around World Showcase offer menus full of small bites and sips that are inspired by holiday traditions from around the world.
- A cookie stroll that requires you to purchase five pre-selected holiday cookies from select Holiday Kitchens to receive a complimentary treat upon completion.
- Nightly retellings of the story of Christmas during the Candlelight Processional featuring celebrity narrators, a 50-piece orchestra, and a full choir. This is one of EPCOT’s most popular live events of the year!
- Holiday Storytellers retell holiday stories and legends from celebrations across the globe in select World Showcase pavilions.
- Meet Santa Claus in the American Adventure pavilion.
- Special holiday overlays at select rides in the park including Living With The Land.
EPCOT Festival Tips
If you’re planning to visit EPCOT during one of its festivals, there are a few tips that can help you make the most of your experience. Here are some things to keep in mind:
Time your visit to avoid crowds
The festivals at EPCOT are extremely popular, so it’s important to plan your visit carefully. Generally speaking, the best times to visit are during the weekdays, when crowds are smaller. If you can, try to avoid visiting during the weekends or holidays. This is when the park is likely to be more crowded.
Don’t make any dining reservations
The food booths are the highlight of every EPCOT festival and you don’t want to risk filling up at a table service restaurant! Instead of opting for a sit-down meal, eat and drink your way around World Showcase throughout the day so that you can try as many dishes as possible.
Have a budget and stick to it
With so much food and drink to enjoy, the cost of your trip to EPCOT can add up quickly. Plan what budget you’d like to stick to before you get to the park and purchase a gift card when you arrive. Then, use that gift card when you make purchases at the food booths to ensure you stick to your budget.
Dining packages are available for the concert series and Candlelight Processional
You can guarantee yourself a seat at the evening’s live entertainment by purchasing a dining package in advance. These include a meal at a pre-selected restaurant in EPCOT and are an additional cost. However, they may be worth it for you and your family if you don’t want to stress about getting a seat at any of the concert series or the Candlelight Processional.
Look out for specialty merchandise offerings
Each EPCOT festival features its own merchandise that you can find at select stores throughout the park. Disney also releases specialty popcorn buckets and sippers for festivals from time to time and these can be super popular. For example, the Festival of the Arts has recently featured a Figment-themed popcorn bucket that fans went wild for with many waiting several hours in line to get it!
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I purchase tickets for the EPCOT festivals?
All of the EPCOT festivals are included in the price of your park ticket. You can purchase an EPCOT park ticket by visiting Disney’s website or going to a ticketing booth at the park entrance.
Can you list the four annual festivals held at EPCOT?
The four annual festivals at EPCOT include:
- EPCOT International Festival of the Arts
- EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival
- EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival
- EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.
How do the festivals work with the Disney Dining Plan?
Snack credits with the Disney Dining Plan can be used to purchase select eats and drinks at most festival food booths during each EPCOT festival. Note that the Disney Dining Plan cannot be used to purchase alcohol at the booths. To know if a dish qualifies for the Disney Dining Plan, look for the small purple and white checkerboard symbol on the menu.
Which EPCOT festival is the best?
There’s not a “bad” EPCOT festival, but you certainly may enjoy one over the other. It all boils down to what you like to eat and do! For example, if you consider yourself a true Disney foodie and enjoy sampling foods from around the world, the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival will likely be your favorite. However, if you enjoy the holidays at Disney World, the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays will likely win your heart with all of the Christmas decorations, cookies, and entertainment. And, if you have kids, the EPCOT Festival of the Arts may be your favorite because of all the interactive elements available throughout the park.
When deciding when to visit Disney World, consider which EPCOT festival will be running and do your research. And, if you can’t decide, try them all over the years so that you can experience all of the different seasons in Walt Disney World!
Comments
Have you ever been to an EPCOT Festival? Which one is your favorite and why? Let us know in the comments!
