EPCOT International Festival of the Arts starts tomorrow! From 8th January - 22nd February 2021 enjoy this festival that celebrates everything artistic! See artists create work in front of your eyes, watch incredible performance artists and indulge in delicious culinary art!
Let's dive into everything this festival has to offer!
Visual Arts
Get to see Disney art up close by visiting exhibitions showing off the brilliant talents of Disney artists. There will be a range of exhibits around World Showcase which demonstrate the amazing artwork and culture of the countries found in World Showcase.
At the American Adventure Pavilion you will be able to see original artwork and can grab all your festival merchandise! You can also visit a new exhibit that displays American Indian Art.
View beautiful Mexican art showcasing the traditions of Dia de Muertos at the 'Remember Me!'La Celebración del Día de Muertos exhibition at the Mexico Pavilion.
Learn all about Viking gods and myths at the Norway Pavilion.
Head to the Japan Pavilion to learn all about 'kawaii', the phenomenon of Japan's cute culture.
Marvel at the beauty of Shanghai Disney Resort at this exhibition all about Disney's Chinese park in the China Pavilion.
At the France Pavilion learn about how French literature was brought to life with music, artwork and costumes in theatre, cinema, ballet and opera.
You can visit the Festival Markets where invited artists will be showing off their skills. You have the opportunity to buy these unique artworks and artisan crafts. You can even show off some of your own artistic flare by being able to customise some of the pieces!
Brush up on your own skills with the Animation Academy. A Disney Animation Artist will take you step-by-step helping you draw some of your favourite Disney characters! Paper and pencils will be provided and you get to take your artwork home with you! The Animation Academy takes place every day of the festival at 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM at America Gardens Theatre.
There will be lots of artful photo opportunities dotted around the park so be sure to get your Instagram shots here! These photo spots are inspired by famous pieces of art and include works by the following artists:
Homage to Frida Kahlo
Mona Lisa – Leonardo da Vinci
The Scream – Edvard Munch
Washington Crossing the Delaware – Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze
Luncheon of the Boating Party – Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Peter Pan Storybook
Birth of Venus – Sandro Botticelli
Café Terrace at Night and Sunflowers – Vincent van Gogh
Be sure to leave your mark on this festival by taking part in the hand-on wall mural at Expression Section: A Paint By Numbers Mural. Be part of this massive piece of art created by Guests at EPCOT.
Keep your eyes peeled to find classic Disney characters created in chalk in off the beaten track parts of the park. You may spot characters such as Jiminy Cricket where you least expect to find him!
Performing Arts
Enjoy performances of much-beloved EPCOT performers the JAMMitors and Voices of Liberty as well as a number of festival exclusive performances.
Don't miss Voices of Liberty as they perform classic Disney tunes with their show - The Disney Songbook. Catch them at the Americas Gardens Theatre.
Enjoy aerial performance art with Art Defying Gravity. You can be wowed by this at World Showcase.
For fans of show tunes be sure to catch a performance by the EPCOT Pianist. Jazz hands at the ready!
At the Mill Stage in the Canada Pavilion the EPCOT band JAMMitors will be getting the crowd pumped with their upbeat performances.
Every Thursday - Sunday watch the impressive Visual Arts in Performance. See artists create Disney images live in front of your eyes in this high energy performance.
At Future World East watch Chalk Artists at work and then create some of your own chalk art too!
Figment’s Brush with the Masters Scavenger Hunt No EPCOT festival is complete without a themed scavenger hunt! For the Festival of the Arts help Figment in a journey that takes you around World Showcase to teach him about art. Great fun for all the family!
To take part purchase the scavenger hunt map for $7.99. You can purchase your map from Disney Traders or World Traveler at International Gateway. As you make your way around World Showcase make sure you keep your eyes peeled to spot Figment. He will be hiding inside famous works of art!
Once you have found Figment it is time to add the corresponding sticker onto your map in the pavilion you found him in.
Once you have completed your scavenger hunt and found all the places Figment is hiding return your map to Disney Traders for an artful prize!
Culinary Arts
One of the highlights of every EPCOT festival is the incredible foods you can purchase! At the Festival of the Arts try a range of beautifully presented dishes from cuisines from all around the world! A feast for the eyes as well as the tastebuds!
The food studios available to visit in 2021 include:
The Artist's Table at The American Adventure Pavilion Try the beef Wellington, pan-seared scallops or the artist palette jumbo chocolate-chip cookie.
Citrus Blossom at Showcase Plaza Come here to try the orange cream shake served in a souvenir Orange Bird sipper cup. This is definitely one for Instagram!
Cuisine Classique at the Germany Pavilion Enjoy hearty dishes such as red wine-braised short rib, coq au vin and opera cake.
Decadent Delights at Promenade Refreshments Fancy a sweet treat? Visit this studio for raspberry or lemon soft-serve ice cream.
The Deconstructed Dish at Showcase Plaza This studio creates beautiful deconstructed versions of classic dishes. Try their unique take on a Reuben, BLT or strawberry cheesecake. There is also a chai tea shake on offer.
El Artista Hambriento at the Mexico Pavilion If you are looking for some tasty Mexican cuisine order the pork belly pastor, chile rellenos and chocolate tacos from here.
Goshiki at the Japan Pavilion Looking to get creative and take some arty snaps? Visit this studio and order the sushi donut! Also available is a unique drink called Pink Snow which is made with sake, peach schnapps, cranberry juice and Calpico.
Festival Favorites at World Showplace At this food studio you will find fan favourite dishes such as charcuterie, Remy’s ratatouille and a jumbo chocolate-chip cookie.
Painter's Palate at World Showplace Visit Painter's Palate for dishes such as prime steak tartare, salt-roasted beet tartare and a pistachio cake with cherry mousse and Morello cherries.
L'Art de la Cuisine Francaise at the France Pavilion If you are a fan of French cuisine be sure to visit this food studio! Here you will find warm brie in a bread bowl, a black winter truffle croissant and house-made macarons.
L'Arte di Mangiare at the Italy Pavilion For some Italian delights such as arancini, lobster ravioli and cream-filled Italian donuts stop by L'Arte di Mangiare.
Masterpiece Kitchen at the Canada Pavilion At this studio you will find dishes such as wild mushroom risotto, salmon and cream gâteau and panna cotta.
Mosaic Canteen at the Morocco Pavilion For a taste of Morocco visit Mosaic Canteen where you will find dishes like harissa-roasted rack of lamb and a Mediterranean flatbread with Za’atar pesto.
The Painted Panda at the China Pavilion The Painted Panda serves Chinese dishes such as pork and water chestnut meatballs and Sichuan red hot mala shrimp. Also available to enjoy is bubble tea!
Pop Eats at Showcase Plaza One of the most Insta worthy studios is Pop Eats! The food here is inspired by modern art and is beautiful! Order items such as the colorful almond frangipane cake and the Pop’t Art, which is a modern-designed sugar cookie with strawberry filling.
Vibrante & Vívido between the Morocco Pavilion and the France Pavilion If you like tasty food and great cocktails visit this studio! Choose from dishes such as a chilled seafood cocktail or a passion fruit mousse and enjoy them with a piña colada or daiquiri cocktail!
Also available to take part in is the food studio stroll. Collect your festival passport when you enter EPCOT and then collect the stamps of the 5 menu items listed below. Once you have collected all five you get a complimentary Artist Palette cookie! You can collect your reward from Decadent Delights.
The great thing about this acitvity is you can add stamps to your passport over the whole length of the festival, no need to do it all in one visit! A great reason to come back!
The dishes that earn you a stamp in your passport include:
Red: Remy's Ratatouille from Festival Favorites
Blue: Blue Corn Pupusa stuffed with Cheese and topped with Shredded Pork from Vibrante & Vívido Food Studio.
Green: Pistachio Cake with Cherry Mousse and Morello Cherries from The Painter's Palate
Pink: Vanilla, Rose Water, and Pistachio Panna Cotta from Masterpiece Kitchen
Orange: Mouskoutchou: Orange Cake with Cinnamon-Orange Chocolate Mousse from Mosaic Canteen
Reward: The Artist Palette Cookie
The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is yet again set to be a fantastic event to enjoy for anyone visiting EPCOT at this time of year. And the best thing is entrance to the festival is free!
What element of this festival are you most excited for? Let me know in the comments below, on Instagram or on Facebook.
As someone who loves to dabble with art in my free time this festival is right up my alley! Here are some of my Disney watercolour paintings I have done for fun!