One little spark is at the heart of all creation for the 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts!
This EPCOT fest offers amazing performances, fantastic art, and cuisine with artistic flair. The park’s youngest festival —turning 7 years old this year— takes place throughout the World Neighborhoods and World Showcase. And new this year, more Figment features have been added, such as Figment’s Creation Station at the Odyssey, along with a new Beacons of Magic segment on Spaceship Earth (don’t worry fellow Muppet fans, the Rainbow Connection segment has also returned!). There’s a lot to explore, let’s get started!
When is EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts?
This year’s Festival of the Arts kicked off on January 13th and runs through February 20th, 2023. Best of all, since this event takes place in Florida’s cooler months, and just after peak holiday crowds have gone down, it’s easily the most enjoyable fest to consume hot dishes and leisurely stroll around, taking in the creative offerings!
Figment’s Creation Station at the Odyssey
Located at the Odyssey center (which only seems to be used during festivals now that the preview center has been removed), there is a mini festival center of sorts offering rainbow-themed sweet treats and beer flights, a Wonderground art shop, passholder-exclusive merchandise, and seating with tables. This is also where you can pick up a Figment popcorn bucket after placing a Mobile Order on the My Disney Experience app!
80s EPCOT fans, rejoice! The space is filled with nods and actual props from the original 1982 Journey Into Imagination, including projections from the attraction, a recreated mural from the original ride loading area, and a Figment animatronic:
EPCOT Festival of the Arts Merchandise
Before we get to the eats and treats, let’s take a look at this festival’s merchandise collection. You’ll definitely want to pick up a work of art or two around the park, but these commemorative festival souvenirs are made to make you fans of one little purple dragon, specifically. Figment is considered this fest’s mascot, ready to create rainbows! In addition to Figment’s Imagination Station at the Odyssey, you can find festival merchandise at several pop-up Festival Markets sprinkled throughout the park, as well as Creations Shop.
EPCOT Festival of the Arts Entertainment & Activities
Walking around World Showcase, there are plenty of creative activities included with park admission, as well as a few paid versions (such as creating your own T-shirt or spin art with festival vendors).
Chalk Art
Chalk Art lines the path to the World Showcase Port of Entry before you start your creative journey! These installations change throughout the duration of the festival, so check back often!
Photo Opportunities
Step-in photo opportunities are sprinkled around World Showcase, begging to star in your next Instagram post.
Mural Painting
One of the most popular offerings each year is Expression Section, an interactive paint-by-number mural depicting an artsy sightline in EPCOT. After coloring in a few squares, you’ll receive a souvenir bookmark of the mural you helped create. It’s fun to watch the white canvas eventually get filled in with the complete picture.
Live Performances
Defying Gravity acrobat performers, energetic visual artist performers, and musical acts take the stage near Port of Entry throughout the day. Be sure to check the schedule for the full listing of performances.
Learn to draw iconic Disney characters at Animation Academy, taught by a Disney animator at the America Gardens Theater at 12:30pm and 1:30pm daily.
In the evenings at 5:30pm, 6:45pm, and 8:30pm daily, the America Gardens Theater hosts a Disney on Broadway Concert series. Each performance is headlined by Broadway stars performing favorite songs from more than 25 years of award-winning Disney on Broadway productions.
Here’s this year’s Disney on Broadway lineup:
Kara Lindsay (Newsies) and Kevin Massey (Tarzan)
- January 13
- January 15-16
- January 19-20
Arielle Jacobs (Aladdin) and Adam Jacobs (Aladdin)
- January 14
- January 17-18
- January 21-22
Patti Murin (Frozen) and Robert Creighton (The Little Mermaid)
- January 23
- January 25-26
- January 29-30
- February 2- 3
Mandy Gonzalez (Aida) and L. Steven Taylor (The Lion King)
- January 24
- January 27-28
- January 31-February 1
- February 4-5
Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins) and Michael James Scott (Aladdin)
- February 6
- February 8-9
- February 12-13
- February 16-17
Kissy Simmons (The Lion King) and Josh Strickland (Tarzan)
- February 7
- February 10-11
- February 14-15
- February 18-19
Plus, an extended finale will take place on February 20, featuring Ashley Brown, Josh Strickland, Kissy Simmons, and Michael James Scott. See any stars you’d like to see?
Festival of the Arts Beacon of Magic
Throughout the night, at sundown and just before the park’s nightly Harmonious fireworks performance, check out the festival-exclusive Beacon of Magic shows!
Currently, there are four different segments: the EPCOT anthem, EPCOT40 celebration, and exclusive to this festival is Rainbow Connection, plus a new celebration of Figment.
View this post on Instagram
EPCOT Artistic Finds
It’s hard to miss all of the art on display around the park – this is a great time to explore new artists, visit your old favorites, and maybe purchase a piece of their work for your home. Between various artistic styles, painting and print sizes, plenty of Disney-themed and some non-Disney, there’s something for everyone!
EPCOT Culinary Arts
At this festival, you can feast on dishes made with an artistic flair and delicious Disney twists from 16 unique Food Studios, plus limited-time festival offerings at additional locations. Think of these food booths as accompaniments to the rest of the festival’s creative offerings, as there are far fewer food locations than the ever-popular Food & Wine. This really lets the offerings of the fest shine, as there is plenty to see and do besides eat and drink, but those pretty and delicious dishes are calling…
Two new Food Studios have been added to the 2023 festival lineup. First, here’s a look at what you can find at Figment’s Inspiration Station at the Odyssey: Art, Food & Little Sparks of Magic (say that three times fast!)
- Fruit Pizza: Watermelon, Compressed Cantaloupe, Berries and Berry Balsamic (plant-based) (gluten/wheat-friendly)
- Pop’t Art: Sugar Cookie with Blueberry Filling (Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine item)
- Rainbow Cake with freeze-dried SKITTLES bite-sized candies
- Figment Premium Popcorn Bucket with Rainbow Popcorn
Beverages:
- Grape Smoothie with freeze-dried SKITTLES bite-sized candies (nonalcoholic)
- 3 Daughters Brewing Black Cherry Hard Cider, St. Petersburg, FL
- 3 Daughters Brewing Blood Orange Hard Cider, St. Petersburg, FL
- 3 Daughters Brewing Passion Fruit Hard Cider, St. Petersburg, FL
- Rainbow Cider Flight
- 81Bay Brewing Co. Green with Envy Blonde Ale, Tampa, FL
- 81Bay Brewing Co. Blue Butterfly Lager, Tampa, FL
- Urban Artifact The Gadget Raspberry & Blackberry Midwest Fruit Tart, Cincinnati, OH
- Beer Flight
And the second new Food Studio is Moderne (Near Test Track)
- Compressed Watermelon Tataki with Pickled Watermelon Rind, Yuzu Pearls, Watermelon Foam, and Wasabi (plant-based)
- Angry Crab: Whole Crispy Soft-Shell Crab with Green Papaya Salad, Mango-Sriracha Fluid Gel, Coconut-Lime Foam with Pomegranate and Mango Crush Pearls
- Pan-Seared Scallops with Vanilla-Butternut Squash Purée, Brown Butter Cauliflower Purée, and Lime Foam (Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine item)
- The Tropics: Lilikoi Mousse, Guava Cake, Coconut Crémeux, Compressed Pineapple and Mango Gel
Beverages:
- Watermelon Mary featuring Boyd and Blair Potato Vodka
- J. Lohr Riesling, Monterey, CA
Want to gameplan before your Festival of the Arts journey? View the full festival menu lineup here! And we’ll be back with more as we revisit this fest in the coming weeks!
An Evolving Work of Art
This Festival of the Arts has come a long way since it opened in 2017. Originally, it only ran during the weekends, with very little festival-specific merchandise, a few booths, and about half the offerings it has now. Once Disney realized how many locals, visitors, and art fanatics LOVED it, the Festival blossomed and has only improved with time. It’s the shortest of EPCOT’s festivals, which just makes it that much more special.
The International Festival of the Arts is well suited for all ages since there are activities for everyone, especially compared to the International Food & Wine Festival later in the year. From the fine and fun arts to food and drinks suited for a wide range of tastes, and activities for young and old alike.
It contains favorite elements from Flower & Garden and Food & Wine, while bringing back some of that creative essence and colorful ambiance from the original spirit of EPCOT. Plus, you know what they say… without art, earth is just “eh”.
Let’s Hear From You
All of EPCOT is filled with color for the International Festival of the Arts. What do you think of this fledgling festival? Did any of the food, art, or merchandise catch your fancy? Let us know in the comments below!
You must be logged in to post a comment.