EPCOT Festivals (2024-2025 Guide & Calendar)

If you’re like us, then checking out the EPCOT Festivals is a definite priority and keeping a EPCOT festival calendar handy makes it a lot easier when we’re selecting our future trip dates.

So to help all of you, we’ve put together a handy guide with all the festivals and their dates (including our best guesses for future festivals), plus an overview of what each one entails.

Ready to dive in? Let’s get to it!

EPCOT Festival Calendar

The majority of you are probably most interested in finding out which festival at EPCOT is happening when, so let’s start off with that:

2024 (Confirmed Dates)

All of the festival dates for 2024 have been confirmed:

• January 1-11: No festival
• January 12-February 19: International Festival of the Arts
• February 20-27: No festival
• February 28-May 27: International Flower & Garden Festival
• May 28-August 28: No festival
• August 29-November 23: International Food & Wine Festival
• November 24-28: No festival
• November 29-December 30: International Festival of the Holidays
• December 31: No festival

2025 (Confirmed and Estimated Dates)

Even though we don’t have all of the confirmed dates for 2025 yet, we can make some assumptions as to what might happen when for the dates we don’t yet know.

Keep in mind some of these are officially TBD, but if you’re trying to plan for one of the festivals, these can help you get started with that:

• January 1-16: No festival
• January 16-February 24: International Festival of the Arts
• February 25-March 4: No festival (ESTIMATED DATES)
• March 5-May 26: International Flower & Garden Festival (ESTIMATED DATES)
• May 27-August 27: No festival (ESTIMATED DATES)
• August 28-November 22: International Food & Wine Festival (ESTIMATED DATES)
• November 23-27: No festival (ESTIMATED DATES)
• November 28-December 30: International Festival of the Holidays (ESTIMATED DATES)
• December 31: No festival (ESTIMATED DATES)

What takes place at an EPCOT Festival?

Several times throughout the year, EPCOT hosts a festival that incorporates food, merchandise, and entertainment all centered around a different theme:

• International Festival of the Arts
• International Flower & Garden Festival
• International Food & Wine Festival
• International Festival of the Holidays

We’ll go into more detail on each down below, but all of the festivals have a few things in common:

Special Food and Beverage Booths

At every festival, EPCOT will have a variety of themed food and beverage booths and kiosks around the park, especially in the World Showcase.

These booths have festival-specific menus offering both food and drinks that are inspired by the festival’s theme. These are typically things that you may not see the rest of the year and if you are Drinking Around the World, these are a great option since they offer smaller portion sizes (making it easier to try more things).

For each festival, they give the booths a slightly different name, but just know they are all the same thing. The booths are large and easy to find with lots of signage and since most are now permanent, they are in the same place from festival to festival:

• International Festival of the Arts = Food Studios
• International Flower & Garden Festival = Outdoor Kitchens
• International Food & Wine Festival = Global Marketplaces
• International Festival of the Holidays = Holiday Kitchens

Don’t miss our complete EPCOT for Adults guide for insider tips and ideas on how to make the most of your adults-only day at the park.

Decorations

EPCOT gets dressed up a little for each festival with awesome decorations and themed elements.

For example, for the Flower and Garden Festival there are dozens and dozens of gorgeous topiaries and for the Festival of the Holidays, you’ll find trees and holiday decor.

Whatever the festival, the decor is going to match that vibe and theme.

Live Entertainment

Live entertainment is a huge part of the festivals, too. Typically you’ll find the main entertainment happening at the American Gardens Theatre (in the American Adventure Pavilion) but during some festivals, other smaller performances will be taking place in World Celebration (at the front of the park) near CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza.

Here’s the main entertainment for each festival:

• International Festival of the Arts
  • Disney on Broadway Concert Series: Featuring Broadway stars performing songs from Disney musicals.

• International Flower & Garden Festival
  • Garden Rocks Concert Series: Showcasing popular bands and artists performing rock music from various decades.

• International Food & Wine Festival
  • Eat to the Beat Concert Series: Featuring performances by popular musicians and bands, covering a range of genres.

• International Festival of the Holidays
  • Candlelight Processional: A beloved holiday tradition with a celebrity narrator, a 50-piece orchestra, and a mass choir telling the story of Christmas.

Spaceship Earth

In addition to the concerts, Spaceship Earth also gets a themed music and light show that will happen throughout the night after the sun goes down. For example, in the past we’ve seen Rainbow Connection for Festival of the Arts and Be Our Guest for the Food and Wine Festival.

Exclusive Merchandise

Disney has been leaning heavily into Festival merchandise the past few years. Typically, each festival will have 1-4 different “lines” of merchandise for each festival. There are always things like t-shirts, pins, and hats. But then each festival will also have things that fit that theme.

For example, during the International Flower and Garden Festival, you may find Flower and Garden Festival themed gardening tools and at the Food and Wine Festival you can get themed wine glasses.

Festival Passports

Every festival will have a free paper passport that you can snag around the park. There will be kiosks of them at both the front and at the International Gateway, plus you’ll also see them at nearly every cash register.

These are handy to keep on hand because they’ll have info on every festival booth and all the entertainment options, too.

Special Activities for Kids

EPCOT isn’t just for adults – and every festival will have special activities just for kids to get involved. So if you’re traveling with younger EPCOT fans, keep an eye out for those.

In the past, there have been things like special playgrounds for kids (Flower and Garden Festival) and the opportunity to do sidewalk chalk art (Festival of the Arts).

You’ll find info on what is available in the Festival Passport or in the My Disney Experience app.

Scavenger Hunts

Ok, TECHNICALLY Disney targets kids with these, but even as adults we LOVE the scavenger hunts. In fact, we love to pair them with Drinking Around the World because they get more and more difficult the further into the day we go. Just kidding. Kind of.

Truly – if you are new to EPCOT they are a fun way to explore the World Showcase and if you are an EPCOT veteran, they are a fun little extra that keeps a trip around the World Showcase exciting.

Who doesn’t love to participate in an extra challenge when partaking in adult beverages?!

• International Festival of the Arts = Figment’s Brush with the Masters
• International Flower & Garden Festival = Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration
• International Food & Wine Festival = Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak
• International Festival of the Holidays = Olaf’s Tradition Expedition

Special PhotoPass Photo Ops

For every festival you’ll also have the opportunity to snag specially themed photos and Magic Shots with the PhotoPass photographers. These aren’t included in your admission (you have to pay extra for them) but if you have an Annual Pass or have purchased Memory Maker they can be a fun addition.

EPCOT Festival Overviews

Ok, now let’s get down to the specifics. Here’s an overview of what you can find at each of the festivals:

General Tips for All Epcot Festivals

• Arrive Early: Get to the park early to beat the crowds. We recommend touring and doing the attractions in the first couple of hours, and then after the festival booths open at 11:00 a.m., you can start hitting up the festival specific things.
• Use the My Disney Experience App: You must have the My Disney Experience app if you’ll be in the parks at Walt Disney World. Not only can you use it for park touring and reservations, but you’ll also find festival specific info there, too.
• Plan What You’ll Get: Look at the festival menus ahead of time and make a list of must-try items to avoid wandering aimlessly or even WORSE, missing out on something you REALLY want to try.
• Stay Hydrated: It can get hot walking around EPCOT. Keep hydrated, especially if you’re indulging in alcoholic beverages. Read more Drinking Around the World Tips.
• Wear Comfortable Shoes: You’ll be doing a lot of walking, so comfy footwear is essential.
• Pace Yourself: You know what they always say: Rome wasn’t built in 1 day, and the World Showcase wasn’t conquered in 1 day, either. Don’t try to do everything in one day. Take breaks and spread out your activities.
• Get a Festival Passport: Pick up a festival passport for a handy guide to all the food kiosks, entertainment, and special activities. We also like to use ours to help track what we’ve tried and liked.
• Use Disney Gift Cards: Worried about dumping a ton of cash you don’t have? Load a gift card with your budgeted amount to save your future self from regrets.
• Check the Weather: Nearly everything at an EPCOT festival is outside, so keep an eye on the weather and be prepared with ponchos or sunscreen.
• Plan for Nighttime Entertainment: Some of the best shows and concerts happen in the evening, so plan to stay later. That means don’t go TOO hard too early or else you’ll crash too soon.
• Bring a Portable Charger: If you’re going to be in the park all day, consider brining in a portable charger to keep your phone charged. Fuel Rods are also available for purchase in the parks, too.
• Stay on Property: If it fits in the budget, we recommend staying on property so you don’t ever have to worry about how you’ll get back to your bed when the day is over.

EPCOT Festival FAQs

Have questions about the festivals at EPCOT? We have answers!

What is the best time to visit EPCOT festivals to avoid crowds?

Weekdays, especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays, are typically less crowded. Arriving early in the day or staying later in the evening can also help you avoid the masses.

Do I need a separate ticket to attend EPCOT festivals?

No, Epcot festivals are included with your regular park admission. However, some dining packages may require additional tickets or reservations.

Are there any age restrictions for the festivals?

EPCOT festivals are family-friendly and offer activities for all ages. However, you must be 21 or older to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages. Make sure you understand the ID rules, too (especially if you are an international guest).

Can I use Disney Dining Plan credits at the festival food booths?

Yes, nearly all of the food and non-alcoholic beverages will count as a Snack Credit on the Disney Dining Plan. Anything with alcohol will not, though.

What should I bring with me to an EPCOT Festival?

Bring comfortable shoes, sunscreen, a refillable water bottle, and a portable charger for your devices. You might also want to bring a small backpack to carry festival passports, merchandise, and any other essentials.

Can I purchase festival merchandise online?

Some festival merchandise may be available on the Shop Disney website, but exclusive items are typically only available at the park.

Tell us what you think

And that’s it! Everything you need to know about the four festivals at EPCOT. Which one is your favorite? Do you have a top pick? We value your input, even (or especially) when it differs from ours. Plus, we know other readers appreciate varying perspectives, so please take a second to drop your thoughts in the comments!