Every year there are a lot of fun events and festivals held at Walt Disney World. None indulge your artistic side more than the Epcot International Festival of the Arts.
Epcot International Festival of the Arts
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Whether you’re a budding Picasso or a stick figure specialist the Epcot International Festival of the Arts appeals to artists of all levels. It also has fun things to do for every age making it a wonderful family activity.
The festival is held at the start of every year. It runs from early January through late February. It consists of art exhibits, specialty dining options, and fun art related activities.
Epcot holds many events every year, but the Epcot International Festival of the Arts is the most recent one that Disney has added. It started back in 2017. It showcases a celebration of visual art, a little of the performing arts, and of course the culinary arts as well. While the original Arts Festival was treated as a weekend event it now occurs daily during the designated event time period.
Culinary Arts
For many years now Walt Disney World has been known for it’s focus and dedication to the culinary arts. The Epcot International Festival of the Arts is a wonderful chance to see and taste true culinary works of art.
The Epcot International Food and Wine Festival is held yearly every fall. While it is a far bigger showcase of the culinary treats the Festival of the Arts gives a smaller taste of the large fall event with a more artistic spin.
Food Studios
During the festival Disney places different Food Studios around World Showcase where you can view, drink, and of course eat, amazing and yummy works of art. These are creations made of colorful ingredients, unique cooking techniques, and imaginative presentation.
Want to know what food options there are to choose from? Check out the Festival of the Arts Food Studios Menu here.
Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine
If you want to get the most out of your culinary arts experience you should consider taking part in the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine. To participate use the Festival Passport as a guide to purchase five vibrant food items.
Upon your purchase you will receive a stamp for the passport. Once you’ve collected five stamps you can take your passport to the Decadent Delights Food Studio to receive an adorable and complimentary Artist Palette Cookie.
Performing Arts
There are so many different things that are considered art. One is through performance. At the Epcot International Festival of the Arts all of Epcot becomes a virtual stage and there is a different performance to watch everywhere you turn!
While attending the Festival you have the opportunity to experience many different forms of performing art. The performances happen all over Epcot, and at different times, so it is wise to check out the Entertainment section of your My Disney Experience app at the start of the day so you can plan accordingly.
Here is a list of some of the amazing performances that happen during the Festival:
- Voices of Liberty – The Disney Songbook: During the Festival you can find the Voices of Liberty performing on the American Gardens Theatre stage singing some of Disney’s best songs. You can hear everything from the classic “When You Wish Upon a Star” to newer favorites such as “Let it Go.”
- Art Defying Gravity: Watch in amazement while you enjoy the spectacle of thrilling acts of strengths that defy both gravity and the imagination performed in World Showcase.
- Epcot Pianist: Enjoy a variety of fun and toe tapping show tunes performed by a talented entertainer in World Showcase.
- JAMMitors: Relax while enjoying some soothing sounds produced by this fun group of musicians performing at the Mill Stage in the Canada Pavilion.
Visual Arts
I’m sure it’s no surprise that one of the main highlights of the Epcot International Festival of the Arts is art its self. This is the time to truly immerse yourself in amazing art. You can spend time watching talented artists at work and maybe even take a piece of art home with you.
Featured Exhibits
There is nothing like watching art being crated before your eyes. Here are some ways that you can do just that while visiting the Festival.
- Chalk Art: Watch artists design large and detailed pieces of art right on the paths leading to World Showcase.
- Visual Arts in Performance: Watch in amazement at a high-energy, on-stage performance by a guest visual artist painting favorite Disney characters in World Showcase.
Pavilion Exhibits
In World Showcase you can find featured exhibits that offer you an up close and personal experience with different forms of art from around the world. Here is a list of the different art you can see.
- Art of Disney – American Adventure Pavilion: Shop this art gallery featuring Festival merchandise, original artwork, and more!
- Mexico Folk Art Gallery – Mexico Pavilion: Celebrate the artistry and traditions of Día de Muertos with the gallery show, ‘Remember Me!’ La Celebración del Día de Muertos.
- Stave Church Gallery – Norway Pavilion: Sail back in time with the Gods of the Vikings gallery show to discover the legendary gods and myths of the Vikings.
- House of the Whispering Willows – China Pavilion: Discover the beauty and wonder of the Shanghai Disney Resort.
- Bijutsu-kan Gallery – Japan Pavilion: Delve into the origin and evolution of “kawaii,” Japan’s cute culture.
- Creating Tradition: Innovation and Change in American Indian Art – American Adventure Pavilion: Behold an all-new exhibit celebrating American Indian art.
- Race Against the Sun: Ancient Technique to Modern Competition: Discover two incredible modern-day competitions – Marathon des Sables (Marathon of the Sands) and Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles du Maroc (Rally of the Gazelles)
- Tale as Old as Time: French Storytelling on Stage and Screen – France Pavilion: Explore six distinct gallery cases honoring the costumes, music, and artwork that brought French literature to life through cinema, theater, ballet, and opera.
Artist Galleries
During the Festival Epcot also turns into a larger than life art gallery. All around the park you’ll find over 100 Disney and visiting artists that have set up stands to showcase their amazing art, and you’ll have the option to purchase any that catch your eye. The art available does continuously change, so if you see something you like make sure to get it!
Interactive Art Experiences
Of course the Epcot International Festival of the Arts wouldn’t be complete without giving you a chance to get involved with art itself! Every day you’ll find lots of fun and interactive activities that will truly immerse you into the fun and enjoyment of art.
Enemy Ink
Time to pull out your artistic eye along with your impeccable fashion sense. Here you can choose your own color, design, and style to create your own wearable artistic masterpiece. The custom t-shirt printing is done on-sight right before your eyes!
Expression Section: A Paint By Number Mural
Remember completing a paint by number picture when you were a kid? Now is your chance to try one again, but this one is way bigger than one you’ve ever done before! Every day from park opening until 5:00 PM you can join in with fellow artists to complete a larger-than-life-paint-by-number mural in this complimentary one-of-a-kind experience.
Kidcot Fun Stops
Found at each World Showcase pavilion Kidcot Fun Stops are a fun things at Epcot for toddlers up through elementary age kids alike. The Kidcot Fun Stops are available all year, but during the Art Festival they take on a different fun art theme.
During the festival the Kidcot Fun Stops welcome kids of all ages to have some art fun just for them. There they can pick up a palette, grab their brushes, and create their own masterpiece on an art-filled odyssey around Epcot.
Figment’s Brush with the Masters
Epcot wouldn’t be what it is without Figment, and he’s used his imagination to add some fun to the Festival. He’s chosen a fun piece of famous art work and put himself into the picture and hidden them all over World Showcase!
If you want to get in on the fun of hunting for Figment’s own personal masterpieces head to Disney Traders or World Traveler at the International Gateway. At either location you can purchase a scavenger hunt map with corresponding stickers.
Once you have your map head around World Showcase to find where Figment hid the pictures. Some of them aren’t so easy to find, so make sure to look all over. You’ll know you found the right one by the Figment head attached at the bottom of the picture frame.
If you’re really stuck finding the picture ask some of the cast members around. They’ll give you a hint of where to look. If nothing else you’ll find you have spent a lot of time truly enjoying exploring all of the different countries in World Showcase while you hunt.
Once you’ve found the picture place the sticker of the original art work on the correct spot for each country. When you’re all done head back to either Disney Traders or World Showcase to get an artful surprise!
Chalk Full of Character
Some Disney friends wanted to join in on the fun of the festival! Disney favorites from Abu to Jiminy Cricket can be found in charming chalk drawings hidden throughout World Showcase. Keep your eyes peeled. You’ll never know which one you’ll see next!
Animation Academy
Want to have a chance to do some drawing yourself? Daily at 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM at the American Gardens Theatre an Animation Artist will lead you through a step-by-step lesson on how to draw some favorite Disney characters. You will receive an artist board, paper, and a pencil to use during the lesson.
Artful Photo Ops
Have you ever wanted to jump into a painting and become a part of it? During the Festival you can do just that! In fact you’ll be able strike a pose and get your picture taken in these artistic back drops.
Become part of these works of art around World Showcase:
- 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
For 2021 the Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Arts starts on January 8, 2021. It will continue to run daily through February 22, 2021. Valid admission to a Walt Disney World theme park as well as an Epcot park reservation are required to attend the festival. Certain events and activities require an additional fee.
Want to know more about current Festival updates and information? Be sure to check out the Epcot International Festival of the Arts page on the Walt Disney World website.
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