EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
runs from November 24th to December 30th, 2023

Below is some information from the 2023 festival while we await more information about the 2024 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.

Festival of the Holidays

In 2023, the Festival featured the always-popular Holiday Kitchens and more. The Candlelight Processional is a guest favorite (info below!), and the International Storytellers from around World Showcase are a truly unique experience.

Shi Wasu Holiday Kitchen

Everything Confirmed for the 2023 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays

Festival of the Holidays Logistics

The Festival begins on November 24th, 2023.

The Festival is included with the price of admission to EPCOT, though Holiday Kitchens, Festival merchandise, and some Festival offerings are an additional cost.

Candlelight Processional

This retelling of the Christmas story, as told by a celebrity narrator accompanied by a large and incredibly impressive orchestra (typically a 50-piece orchestra) and a mass choir, will wow audiences starting November 24th! 

Candlelight Processional 2021

The 2023 Narrators include:

  • November 24th and 25th, 2023: Chrissy Metz *NEW
  • November 26th to 27th, 2023: Luis Fonsi *NEW
  • November 28th to 29th, 2023: Ann-Margaret *NEW
  • November 30th to December 2nd, 2023: Simu Liu
  • December 3rd to 5th, 2023: John Stamos
  • December 6th to 8th, 2023: Neil Patrick Harris
  • December 9th to 11th, 2023: Marlee Matlin
  • December 12th and 14th, 2023: Brendan Fraser *NEW
  • December 15th to 16th, 2023: Eva Longoria *NEW
  • December 17th and 18th, 2023: Joey McIntyre *NEW
  • December 19th to 20th, 2023: Sterling K. Brown *NEW
  • December 21st to 23rd, 2023: Jordan Fisher *NEW
  • December 24th and 26th, 2023: Steven Curtis Chapman
  • December 27th and 28th, 2023: Audra McDonald *NEW
  • December 29th and 30th, 2023: Lisa Ling

The show typically takes place at the America Gardens Theatre each evening at 5:15PM, 7PM, and 8:30PM.

Dining packages are usually available to pair with your Candlelight Processional experience. These enable you to enjoy a meal at select restaurants in EPCOT and then get reserved seating for one of the Candlelight Processional shows for the day. There are usually dining packages you can reserve in advance, as well as some day-of options. Check back for 2024 details.

JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season

This uplifting performance typically takes place on World Showcase Plaza Stage, right at the top (or bottom?) of World Showcase between Canada and Mexico. JOYFUL! brings song traditions from both Christmas and Kwanzaa!

JOYFUL!

Daily Performance Times: 

2:40PM, 3:45PM, 4:50PM, and 6:10PM

Holiday Kitchens

Starting November 24th, the Festival of the Holidays will bring back Holiday Kitchens. Favorite dishes like Slow-Roasted Turkey from American Holiday Table and Cheese Fondue in a Bread Bowl from Bavaria Kitchen returned in 2023!

Las Posadas

Click here to see what you can expect at the Holiday Kitchens this year.

And check out our Guide to the Best Eats from the 2023 Festival of the Holidays!

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 — and we anticipate its return for 2023!

Cookie Stroll in Festival Passport

The 2023 Cookie Stroll included:

Connection Café
Holiday Sugar Cookie

Nochebuena Cocina
Spiced Chocolate Cookie

Yukon Holiday Kitchen
Snickerdoodle Cookie made with SNICKERS bar pieces

L’Chaim! Holiday Kitchen
Black and White Cookie (plant-based)

American Holiday Table
Gingerbread Cookie

Bavaria Holiday Kitchen
Linzer Cookie

Holiday Hearth Desserts
Peppermint Pinwheel Cookie

Black and White Cookie

The prizes for 2023 included a completer cookie themed to Disney’s 2023 film Wish, and a special Festival of the Holidays cup with hot cocoa shake!

 

We’ll keep you posted on the 2024 festival details as they’re released!

Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition

This family-friendly holiday fun allows guests to purchase a map and stickers from select merchandise locations and travel around World Showcase looking for traditions the famous snowman has lost along the way.

Olaf Scavenger Hunt Map and Prize

Guests can return their completed maps to Creations Shop or World Traveler for a festive surprise. Maps cost $9.99 plus tax and can be purchased at select Festival merchandise locations including Creations Shop, Port of Entry, and World Traveler.

World Showcase Entertainment

Enjoy the sights and sounds of the nations of the World Showcase as each country’s holiday heritage comes to life amid joyful music and time-honored traditions.  Live musical performances typically happen throughout World Showcase. For entertainment, showtimes, and information, visit our full list of Festival of the Holidays Entertainment.

Canadian Holiday Voyageurs

Holiday Storytellers in nearly every World Showcase country share tales from their own traditions, including (usually) a presentation in Norway to celebrate the Scandinavian Julenissen!

Norway’s Julenissen

You can find Storytellers in the following locations:

  • Las Posadas Celebration (Mexico)
  • Mischievous Barn Santa and Sigrid (Norway)
  • Chinese Lion Dancer (China)
  • La Befana (Italy)
  • Santa Claus (The Odyssey Pavilion)
  • Daruma Storyteller (Japan)
  • Hanukkah Storyteller (Between France and Morocco)
  • Père Noël (France)
  • Father Christmas (United Kingdom)
  • Canadian Holiday Voyageurs (Canada)

Learn more about Festival of the Holidays Storytellers here!

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! 

Holiday lights on Spaceship Earth!

During the 2023 holiday season, Spaceship Earth added a special holiday section to its Beacon of Magic performance. Check back for details about what will be offered in 2024.

Click here to see more photos and a video of this holiday overlay!

Stay tuned for more updates about EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays.

Keep checking back as we update everything confirmed to return to the 2024 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.