EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays – Entertainment

EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays runs from the end of November through the end of December every year.

Festival of the Holidays 2021

Each festival is filled with food, entertainment, merchandise, and unique cultural experiences as each country around World Showcase shares how they celebrate the holidays.

Where can I find the special holiday entertainment?

Holiday Cookie Stroll

Back in 2018, the Festival of the Holidays started offering a Cookie Stroll. This tasty survey of Holiday Kitchens’ cookies culminates in a celebratory final cookie!

Cookie Stroll

The 2024 Cookie Stroll included:

    • Spaceship Earth Tile Gingerbread Triangle from Experimental Prototype Cookies of Tomorrow
    • Hazelnut Linzer Cookie at Bavaria Holiday Kitchen
    • SNICKERS-Doodle Cookie at American Holiday Table
    • Black and White Cookie at L’Chaim! Holiday Kitchen
    • Peppermint Pinwheel Cookie at Yukon Holiday Kitchen
    • Coffee Mocha Cookie at Mele Kalikimaka Holiday Kitchen
    • Cinnamon-Spiced Chocolate Crinkle Cookie at Nochebuena Cocina
    • Holiday Sugar Cookie at Connections Cafe
    • Peanut Butter Cookie with Festive Red & Green M&M’s Milk Chocolate Minis at Sunshine Seasons

Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt

Find Olaf hidden in each pavilion of the World Showcase! Purchase a map and stickers from select locations in EPCOT (Creations Shop, Port of Entry, and World Traveler) for $9.99. Redeem your map (completed or not) for a special prize.

Olaf Scavenger Hunt

Candlelight Processional

Enjoy a retelling of the Christmas story by a celebrity narrator, a 50-piece orchestra, and a massed choir.

Candlelight Processional 

The 2024 Narrators included:

    • 11/29 – 11/30 Josh Gad
    • 12/1 – 12/2 Nico Santos (NEW)
    • 12/3-12/5 Chrissy Metz
    • 12/6 – 12/7 Whoopi Goldberg
    • 12/8 – 12/10 Tituss Burgess (NEW)
    • 12/11 – 12/12 Brendan Fraser
    • 12/13 – 12/14 Ralph Macchio (NEW)
    • 12/15 – 12/16 Gary Sinise
    • 12/17 – 12/18 Neil Patrick Harris
    • 12/19 – 12/21 Pat Sajak
    • 12/22 – 12/23 Gloria Estefan
    • 12/24 – 12/26 Edward James Olmos
    • 12/27 – 12/28 Sterling K Brown
    • 12/29 – 12/30 Jodi Benson

World Showcase Storytellers

World Showcase Plaza

  • JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season: Experience the joy of Christmas and Kwanzaa with the uplifting Gospel, R&B, and holiday songs of the JOYFUL! ensemble.
  • Performances begin at 2:40PM, 3:45PM, 4:50PM, and 6:10PM daily.

Mexico

  • Las Posadas Celebration: Join the fun and pageantry of Las Posadas with dancers, pinatas, and the music of Mariachi Cobre.
  • 25-minute performances on Sundays through Thursdays at 11:05AM, 12:05PM, 1:05PM, 3:05PM, 4:10PM, and 5:15PM.

Norway

  • A Mischievous Magical Barn Santa: Mischievous Barn Santa visits Sigrid, a Christmas storyteller.
  • 15-minute performances on Sundays through Saturdays at 1:35AM, 12:35PM, 1:35PM, 2:35PM, 4:35PM, 5:35PM, 6:35PM, and 7:10PM.

China

  • Chinese Lion Dancer: A colorful performance that brings good fortune and happiness in the Lunar New Year.
  • 15-minute performances on Sundays through Saturdays at 12PM, 1PM, 2PM, 3PM, and 4PM.

Italy

  • La Befana: Hear the story of La Befana, the kind-hearted witch who visits sleeping young children on the Eve of the Epiphany.
  • 15-minute performances on Sundays through Saturdays at 11:30AM, 12:15PM, 1PM, 2:40PM, 3:35PM, 4:20PM, 5:05PM, and 5:45 PM.

The Odyssey Pavilion

  • Santa Claus: Visit with Santa Claus through December 24th.
  • 60-minute performances on Sundays through Saturdays at 11AM, 12:30PM, 2PM, 3:30PM, 5PM, and 6:30PM.

Japan

  • Daruma Storyteller: Hear the story of the Daruma doll and Japanese customs of the New Year.
  • 15-minute performances on Sundays through Saturdays at 11:20AM, 12:40PM, 1:40PM, 3:20PM, 4:20PM, 5:05PM, 5:50PM, and 6:35PM.

Between Morocco and France

  • Hanukkah Storyteller: Celebration of Hanukkah with a storyteller who recounts traveling abroad to explore the diverse music and traditions of Hanukkah around the world.
  • 15-minute performances on Sundays through Saturdays at 10:15AM, 11:30AM, 12:40PM, 1:15PM, 2:45PM, 3:45PM, 5:00PM, and 6:00PM.

France

  • Père Noël: Visit with Père Noël and rediscover the magic of Christmas through the letter of a child.
  • 15-minute performances on Sundays through Saturdays at 10AM, 11AM, 12:10PM, 12:50PM, 2:15PM, 3:15PM, 4:30PM, and 5:15 PM.

United Kingdom

  • Father Christmas: Ring in the season with Father Christmas.
  • 15-minute performances from Sundays through Saturdays at 10:30AM, 11:30AM, 12:40PM, 1:30PM, 3PM, 4PM, 5PM, and 6PM.

Canada

  • Canadian Holiday Voyageurs: Explore holiday customs from the various regions of Canada on a musical tour of the Great White North.
  • 20-minute performances from Sundays through Saturdays at 11:45AM, 12:45PM, 1:45PM, 3:25PM, 4:30PM, and 6:35PM.

Gingerbread Display

We also stopped by CommuniCore to check out the brand-new Spaceship Earth Gingerbread Display! It was gorgeous and you can see a show every 15 minutes.

Spaceship Earth Gingerbread Display

You can find a countdown timer on the display to see when the next show is. It is the same show every 15 minutes so once you see it once, it will be the same each time!

Meet Santa

Over in the Odyssey Pavilion, you can meet St. Nick himself!

Holiday Lights at Spaceship Earth

EPCOT always glows-up at night. You can expect a dazzling fireworks display over World Showcase Lagoon and some glimmer and shimmer on the illuminated Spaceship Earth.

If you’re looking for a special way to end your night with a bit of the holiday spirit though, you’ll want to head to Spaceship Earth! 

It looks like a candy cane!

Is there an additional charge to see the entertainment?

No, it is all included in your admission to EPCOT.

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