2025 Festivals at Epcot Complete Guide – Disney World

Epcot, one of Walt Disney World’s most beloved parks, is a haven for foodies, art lovers, and global experience enthusiasts. With its year-round calendar of festivals and events, Epcot offers unique experiences for guests to celebrate global cultures, cuisines, music, and creativity. We absolutely love Epcot, especially the festivals at Epcot, which you may already know if you have either found me on Instagram or read any of my previous Disney World blog posts. 

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This complete guide will give you everything you need to know about the festivals at Epcot to make the most of your visit.

What Are the Festivals at Epcot?

The festivals at Epcot are seasonal events that transform the park into a hub of cultural celebration, artistic expression, and culinary adventure. Each festival features themed activities, specialty food and beverage offerings, live entertainment, and unique merchandise. 

These festivals provide an opportunity for guests to experience the world’s cultures, indulge in creative dishes, and participate in interactive experiences that go beyond the usual park attractions. Whether you’re a foodie, an art enthusiast, or a fan of the holidays, there’s a festival at Epcot for everyone.

Things To Know About Festivals at Epcot

Sample from the Festival Booths. Each festival features themed food booths or marketplace booths located throughout the park. These booths offer a variety of specialty food and drink items inspired by the festival’s theme, providing a global culinary experience. Guests can sample everything from gourmet dishes to creative desserts and specialty beverages, including non-alcoholic options for kids and cocktails, beer or wine for adults.

How Do I Know What Each Booth Offers? You can use the My Disney Experience app to view festival menus and see where booths are located. I also suggest grabbing a map and a festival passport, both of which will be the perfect festival guide to navigating the park and determine what you want to try! 

In addition to the food, festival-exclusive merchandise is a big draw for many visitors. Items often include limited-edition pins, apparel, kitchenware, and artwork reflecting the festival’s unique theme. Seasonal souvenirs such as holiday ornaments during the Festival of the Holidays or gardening tools during the Flower & Garden Festival make great keepsakes. Many festivals also feature collectible cups, plates, and drink ware available at select booths.

What Is a Festival Passport? A festival passport is a complimentary booklet available at Epcot during each festival. It serves as a guide to all the festival offerings, including food and beverage menus, entertainment schedules, and activity details. Guests can use the passport to track which booths they’ve visited and check off items they’ve tried. 

Some booths provide stamps, making it a fun and interactive way to remember your festival journey, and get a specialty treat at the end. Festival passports are a must-have for planning your day and ensuring you don’t miss any must-try experiences.

Do you need one of the dining packages? Many Epcot festivals offer dining packages that combine a meal at select restaurants with reserved seating for popular entertainment offerings. For example, during the Festival of the Holidays, dining packages include reserved seating for the Candlelight Processional. 

Similarly, the Garden Rocks and Eat to the Beat concert series at other festivals often have dining packages available. These packages are a great way to enjoy a delicious meal while guaranteeing a spot at high-demand performances. Reservations are highly recommended and can be made through the My Disney Experience app or the Walt Disney World website.

Can I use the Disney Dining Plan at Festival Booths? Many of the festival booths will have options to use snack credits for their offering, but since you can’t make a full meal at the booths, you won’t be able to use quick service credits. However, there are delicious quick service restaurants all around Epcot! 

Where Are The Concerts, Broadway Performances and the Candlelight Processional? All of the above take place in the American Gardens Theatre in America, which is in the middle of the World Showcase, on the opposite side of the park from Spaceship Earth. 

Grab a Scavenger Hunt. Scavenger hunts are a fun and interactive way to explore the park during festivals. Each hunt is themed to match the festival and involves searching for specific items or characters hidden throughout the park. For example, during the Flower & Garden Festival, guests might look for Spike the Bee in various gardens. At the Festival of the Holidays, the scavenger hunt might involve spotting festive decorations or Olaf statues. Participation usually requires purchasing a scavenger hunt map, which comes with a small prize upon completion. These activities are especially popular with families and kids.

Let’s get into the Epcot festivals! There are four unique festivals throughout the year, each with their own unique theme. 

The Festivals at Epcot

Epcot International Festival of the Arts

Also known as the Epcot Festival of the Arts, or FARTS. We love the arts festival as it’s usually a bit more chill and has fun interactive experiences all over the park. 

When: Mid-January to Late February. This year it’s January 17th – February 24th, 2025
Theme: Art, Music, and Culinary Creations

The Festival of the Arts celebrates creativity in all its forms. Guests can immerse themselves in:

• Visual Arts: Explore galleries featuring Disney-inspired and globally renowned artists. Don’t miss the chance to step into famous artworks for photo ops. 
• Culinary Arts: Sample edible masterpieces at food studios offering beautifully plated dishes that taste as good as they look. One of my favorite dishes is the tomato soup and fried green tomato grilled cheese from the POP booth. It’s usually a bit colder during this festival so the warm soup is DELIGHTFUL! It’s also fun to check off specific treats from the “The Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine” which are speciality, beautiful treats noted in the back of the Festival Passport. When you purchase 5 of the treats on this list, you will get a artsy cookie from the Deco Delights Food Studio. 
• Performing Arts: Enjoy Broadway-style performances during the Disney on Broadway concert series. This is an incredible experience to see live performances of your favorite movies but in a Broadway fashion, especially when the performers are some of the largest names in the industry. 
• Interactive Activities: Participate in paint-by-number murals or take a class to learn drawing techniques from Disney animators as you step into the Animation Academy. 

Pro Tip: Visit early in the day for shorter lines at the food studios and fewer crowds at interactive experiences.

Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

The Epcot Flower & Garden festival is the perfect spring into warmer weather. It’s the first of the Epcot’s festivals we attended and has stole my heart since then. It’s such a beautiful festival with floral displays all over the park, bright and sunshiney merch and all the Orange Bird things. 

When: Early March to Early June. This years festival is March 5th – June 2nd, 2025
Theme: Gardening, Landscaping, and Fresh Flowers AND Fresh Flavors

Spring blooms in full force during this festival. Highlights include:

• Topiaries: Marvel at intricate Disney character topiaries and beautiful gardens scattered throughout the park. Think of your favorite Disney characters and look for them around the park. A few of my favorites are Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Lion King and Beauty and The Beast. 
• Outdoor Kitchens: Savor fresh, garden-inspired dishes and beverages from food kiosks. The food is SO good! I don’t think I can pick a favorite from the booths. 
• Garden Displays: Stroll through themed gardens, including butterfly habitats and fragrant flower beds. Don’t forget to smell the flowers along the path to the Port of Entry. 
• Concerts: Jam out to live music during the Garden Rocks concert series. The musical performances are always amazing. There are a few groups and solo artists who return year and year and new artists added as well. The lineup is usually announced around a month in advance to give guests the opportunity to plan their park days around the artists they want to see. 

Pro Tip: The Flower & Garden Festival is perfect for plant lovers looking for gardening inspiration— and motivation! Don’t forget to check out the festival merchandise!

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

The festival for foodies and those who enjoy amazing craft cocktails, global wine pairings and speciality brews. This is another great festival, where everyone is sure to have the best time sampling different food from each country, singing along to your favorite bands and adding even more excitement to your Walt Disney World vacation. 

When: Late July to Mid-November. Official 2025 Dates TBD, the previous year dates were August 29th – November 23rd, 2024. 
Theme: Global Cuisines and Beverages

The Food & Wine Festival is the most iconic of all the festivals at Epcot, known for:

• Global Marketplaces: Sample cuisines and beverages from around the world at over 25 kiosks. 
• Culinary Demonstrations: Learn from world-class chefs and sommeliers during seminars.
• Special Events: Consider booking unique experiences like wine tastings, pairing dinners, or the participating in the Cheese Crawl in the back of the festival passport.
• Entertainment: Dance along to the Eat to the Beat concert series featuring popular artists. Our favorite concert series at any of the Epcot events. We have had the chance to see some of my all-time favorite bands during Eat to the Beat, from Hanson to Yellowcard, it’s always a great experience. And I have absolutly planned a trip completely around which band is playing when. 

Pro Tip: Purchase a festival gift card to easily sample treats without fumbling for cash or cards at every kiosk. I love the coil keychain cards- easy to put on your arm for quick access! 

Epcot International Festival of the Holidays

This is one of the perfectly timed seasonal festivals to give you a look at holidays around the world. Each country is beautifully decorated, the menus at each booth are curated to holiday tastebuds, and of course the celebrity reader of the candlelight processional is one of the main attractions for many guests. 

When: Late November to Late December, dates TBD for 2025. 
Theme: Holiday Traditions from Around the World

Epcot transforms into a winter wonderland to celebrate seasonal traditions. Guests can enjoy:

• Holiday Kitchens: Indulge in festive dishes and desserts from various cultures. Everything from a full holiday dinner to delectable desserts from various countries, the food is so good, especially when paired with delicious wine menus. 
• Candlelight Processional: A moving retelling of the Christmas story featuring a celebrity narrator, choir, and orchestra. This is an incredible experience if you are able to see it! Depending on who is narrating, be prepared to get in line early or book a dining package. 
• Storytellers: Learn about holiday customs through performances in the World Showcase pavilions. These are really unique experiences all around the park. One of our favorites is in Norway! 
• Decorations: Admire the festive decor, including dazzling lights and the stunning Christmas tree at the port of Entry. 

Pro Tip: As mentioned above, the Candlelight Processional is a must-see, so consider booking a dining package to secure reserved seating.

Planning Tips for Festivals at Epcot

Having the most ideal experience during one of the festivals is possible if you keep a few things in mind! These are my best tips to plan your Epcot day in advance during your Walt Disney World trip. 

1. Check the Dates: Plan your visit around your preferred festival dates to make the most of themed experiences. Dates are usually announced ~2 months in advance. 
2. Check The Menus: The festivals change their menus from time to time so be sure to check back as menus are released! 
3. Use Multi-Pass If Attractions Are Important: Maximize your time by skipping the lines for popular attractions. Read more about using Multi-Pass at Epcot in this post. 
4. Budget Accordingly: While many festival activities are included with park admission, food, drinks, and special events can add up quickly. I highly recommend a Disney Visa if you are interested in a credit card. We put all of our Disney purchases on it and end up with rewards for merch, food, or even a deposit on our next trip. I would love if you used my referral link if you are interested! 
5. Stay Hydrated: Florida weather can be unpredictable, so bring water and dress appropriately.
6. Pick Up a Festival Passport: These complimentary booklets list all activities, menus, and entertainment schedules. 

The festivals at Epcot provide endless opportunities to explore cultures, cuisines, and creativity. Whether you’re sampling global dishes at the Food & Wine Festival or marveling at Disney-inspired topiaries during the Flower & Garden Festival, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Make your visit unforgettable by embracing the magic of these world-class events!