EPCOT Annual Festivals 101

Whether or not you book your Walt Disney World trip around a particular holiday or event, there’s bound to be something going on outside of your vacation itinerary to pique your interest. It could be an after-hours party in Magic Kingdom, a limited-edition quick service menu item, or a musical performance along the walkways of Disney Springs.

If you and your family thrive on these “impromptu” extras, then it’s certainly worthwhile to take a look at the annual festival calendar at EPCOT.

At almost any point throughout the year, you can swipe your MagicBand at the EPCOT gates and walk right into an immersive festival celebrating food, art, floriculture or holiday spirit. These festivals have swelled in popularity over the years, some even reserving their place as the reason families book a trip. 

Festival dates vary from year to year, but typically stick to the following cadence:

International Festival of the Arts: Mid-January to Late February

International Flower & Garden Festival: Early March to Early July

International Food & Wine Festival: Mid-July to Mid/Late November

International Festival of the Holidays: Late November to Late December

Festival off-days last anywhere from a few days to two weeks, so Disney can turn around the next event. Tickets are not required to experience the festivals, but certain accompanying events or souvenirs have been known to sell out. 

The theme of any EPCOT festival is injected into the feel of the park, from décor to menu items and entertainment. There’s often a character assigned to be the mascot of the festival, too, like Figment and Orange Bird representing this year’s Festival of the Arts and the Flower & Garden Festival, respectively.

Of course, there is also always plenty of branded merchandise to show off that you were in Orlando for the event.

While EPCOT already caters very well to adults, these events have plenty of activities for every member of the family. Let’s take a closer look into each festival to see if you should add it to your itinerary.

International Festival of the Arts

The first festival of the year is dedicated to highlighting visual, performing and culinary arts from around the world.

At festival food kiosks, you’ll find snacks and drinks with an artistic twist. We love tasting our way through the colorful and contemporary small plates, and the playful, often interactive desserts that the whole family can get on board with. 

For this festival, EPCOT has also been known to enlist the help of Disney on Broadway performers to entertain guests with a bit of extra Disney magic throughout the event. 

Other festival highlights we love include dedicated photo spots, artist meet and greets and interactive craft spots. You’ll find live artwork and artist stands throughout the park, honing their craft and selling one-of-a-kind pieces to take home.

International Flower & Garden Festival

Gaining in popularity, the International Flower & Garden Festival is immediately known for the intricate character topiaries that are sprinkled throughout the park. 

All of EPCOT feels like it’s in bloom, and the castmembers do a meticulous job maintaining each and every bud. 

As with other festivals, outdoor kitchens and food kiosks pepper the park, with fresh fare themed for the nearby country or attraction. You can even get festival food “passports” and collect stamps for special prizes.

Interactive scavenger hunts, butterfly walks, honeybee exhibits and outdoor concerts are all on tap for the International Flower & Garden Festival.

International Food & Wine Festival

Easily the most popular, the International Food & Wine Festival draws huge crowds every fall, and often some big-name sponsors. It even aligns with the wildly popular Wine & Dine Half Marathon. 

This festival is suitable for all ages, but is even more attractive to adults looking for some fancy bites and handcrafted drinks. Your festival passport will help you navigate the extensive list of options, from microbrews to lobster specials and truffle-everything. 

Make sure to carve out time for the wine pairings and cooking seminars, as well as demonstrations from a variety of celebrity chefs.

Of course, this event also comes with it’s own concert series, hosted in the American Gardens Theatre. 

While there are definitely options for the kids, like annual scavenger hunts and photo ops, this festival may not be our top choice when it comes to entertaining the whole family for a longer period of time.

International Festival of the Holidays

If you haven’t experienced Walt Disney World at the holidays, you’re missing out on a very special kind of Disney magic.

The Festival of the Holidays is a great way to bridge the gap between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. s Holiday Kitchens boast seasonal menus, including special treats as part of a Holiday Cookie Stroll. 

Of course, we lean in to the sweets-heavy offerings, because who can turn down a perfect gingerbread man or spiced hot cocoa around the holidays?

As with any true EPCOT day, you’ll put in your fair share of steps roaming around the kiosks and decorations, with holiday music piped in all around you. Kids can grab their scavenger hunt cards and mark holiday traditions they find “around the world,” or hear from various holiday storytellers and performers. 

Even if you do nothing else, this festival will make you all warm inside just by walking around the park, sipping cocoa and taking in the baubles and wreaths that adorn every sign, building, lamppost and attraction.

A day in EPCOT is always at the top of our list, but if you stumble upon one of the seasonal festivals, you may be surprised at how quickly it becomes a “must do” on your next trip.