2023 Epcot Festival of the Arts Guide: Food, Concerts, Tips and more!

Have you ever thought about combining your love of food, art, and Disney all in one place? If so, you’ll be more than happy to experience the Epcot International Festival of the Arts at Walt Disney World.

If you still have no idea what I am talking about, I am guessing you are one of the poor souls who has not gotten your ticket to this Epcot festival yet.

Don’t worry, there still is time.

Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!

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When is the Epcot International Festival of the Arts?

The Epcot International Festival of the Arts is back from January 13th to February 20th 2023 and it is not something you should miss.

Festival of the Arts Japan Chirasi Sushi and Haupia Pearl. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!
Festival of the Arts Japan Chirasi Sushi and Haupia Pearl

And that is why I am giving you a comprehensive guide about what to do to get the best out of your experience there and if you should go.

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What is the Epcot International Festival of the Arts?

The Epcot International Festival of the Arts is Disney’s way of combining the creativity of arts and food in only a way Disney can do!

Epcot International Festival of the Arts 2023 Encanto Cocina. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!

Although it began only three years ago, the Epcot International Festival of the Arts has become a huge part of the Disney Culture. It is essentially a celebration of creativity.

Creativity, not within the generic definition of it as arousal of visual and auditory senses, but a perfect blend of all five senses.

What is the Epcot Festival of Arts. Sushi Donut at Epcot Japan Pavilion.

Each of these senses will be masterfully serenaded in the course of over 30 days that the Epcot International Festival of the Arts is conducted.

If you are still wondering what it is all about, let me list it out for you:

  • Artwork
  • Concerts
  • Food
  • More food
  • Live performances
  • Lots and lots of fun activities

As mentioned earlier, it is held at Epcot inside Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

I am sure you knew this already because you’ve most likely being thinking about attending this event for a while and you probably just need a little bit more information to help you finalize your decision.

Epcot International Festival of the Arts 2023 Disney 50th Anniversary Concept Art Paintings. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!

That’s why I’m here!

So, let’s finish this Disney guide.

What to expect in the Epcot International Festival of the Arts?

When you enter Epcot, you will get a little Festival of Arts passport to start your day off right!

You can then begin to explore the festival at your leisure and enjoy all of the world class attractions at this Disney theme park.

Festival of the Arts Live Art Human Statue next to dolphin. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!
Festival of the Arts Live Art

The festival focuses on mainly three aspects of art– culinary, visual and performance.

There are huge galleries filled with the most original and breathtakingly beautiful pieces of art.

If you were anything like me as a child, you must have idolized these artists for they are also the creators of your favorite characters.

Epcot Festival of the Arts Artists Painting on the World Showcase Pathway. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!

As if it was not enough to dazzle us with their brilliant artwork, these artists will also give us a glimpse into their artistic process by creating art in front of the guests!

What if you’re not into Artwork?

Even if you are not an art gallery person, you can enjoy the Epcot International Festival of the Arts too.

Art comes in various shapes and forms. And one of them is the great voices from Broadway actors and their musical performances. It’s Disney songs like you have never heard before.

Festival of the Arts Canada Triple Chocolate Mousse with Gold Shavings. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!
Festival of the Arts Canada Triple Chocolate Mousse with Gold Shavings

Now, I don’t know about you but my little Disney fan heart is jumping and screaming at the thought of all this. 

Epcot International Festival of the Arts Group Painting. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!
Festival of the Arts Group Painting

If you thought this was all there was to it, you are highly mistaken. There are also numerous activities which are complimentary to your Epcot Festival ticket.

Learn how to find your perfect vacation home rental near Disney World HERE!

What’s New at the Epcot Festival of the Arts?

The Epcot International Festival of the Arts looks a little bit different this year due to the past global crisis.

Epcot Festival of the Arts POP Eats Chicken Art. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!

Although some of your favorite treats and experience may be there, you’ll notice a few changes on trip to Epcot Festival of the Arts.

Let’s go through some of the top strategies for experiencing this annual Epcot festival.

1. Park Reservations

Although Park Hopping is back, you will need still book a reservation for your day at Epcot. You can read how this new Disney reservation system works here.

Sushi Donut at Epcot Festival of the Arts. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!
Sushi Donut at Epcot Festival of the Arts

2. Epcot’s Operating Hours

Epcot normal hours are back and is now open from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. every day. Your park pass will allow you to come and go from the park as many times as you want throughout the day.

3. Meeting Disney Characters

Although character meet-and-greets were postponed due to the pandemic, you can now meet some of your favorite Disney characters throughout World Showcase.

4. Limited Seminars

Since the creation of this Epcot festival, Disney previously offered a variety of seminar classes to help bring out your creative side.

Epcot International Festival of the Arts 2022 Disney 50th Anniversary with Live Action Art. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!

This year, many of those offerings are postponed. You can however, participate in other events such as the Animation Class.

Sake with tuna sashimi on top of rice and orange slices. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!
Sake with tuna sashimi on top of rice and orange slices

Here are 11 more things for you to do at Epcot Festival of the Arts!

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How does the Epcot Festival of the Arts differ from the other park festivals?

This artistic festival is different from the other Epcot Festivals in many ways.

Festival of the Arts Deconstructed Strawberry Cheesecake. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!
Festival of the Arts Deconstructed Strawberry Cheesecake

Not only is everything a bit over-the-top, there are other characteristics that you may notice below:

Epcot Festival of the Arts Food

This is where I run out of words…

The food of this art festival is something you have to experience.

Epcot International Festival of the Arts Pan-seared Scallop. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!
Epcot Festival of the Arts Pan-seared Scallop

Simply reading about it will just not be enough.

However, I will try my best to describe the indescribably delicious tastes, smells and sights of what is probably the best food festival in the entire world.

Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese with Glitter Beer at Epcot Festival of the Arts. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!

The cherry on top is that they offer vegan, gluten-free and a dubious kid-approved option as well.

Epcot Festival of the Arts Food Studio Booths

This is exactly what in sounds like. Loads of stalls and a surprising number of adventurous foods to try.

Epcot International Festival of the Arts 2023 Vibrante and Vivido Encanto Cocina. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!

This could be a relatively cheaper experience thank the others if you choose your booths wisely and stick with your Disney budget.

Epcot festival of the arts food studio booth. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!
Epcot Festival of the Arts Food Options

In all fairness, the food is exceptionally delicious and they are not stingy with the quantity, so I would say, it is worth your money.

What to expect at the Epcot Festival of the Arts food booths?

The Marketplace Booths will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily and there is a literal food fiesta.

Apart from being absolutely mouth-watering, the food is also extremely aesthetically pleasing.

And you know what that means– Instagramming the heck out of every dish you buy.

Festival of the Arts Gallery Bites_ A Trio of Hor d'Oeuvres. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!
Epcot Festival of the Arts Gallery Bites: A Trio of Hor d’Oeuvres

This year, the Food Studio will include over 12 stalls to get your foodie adventure on.

They are bringing back the Pop Eats stall, which was a huge success pre-pandemic as well as a wide range of cuisines from different countries including Japan, France and Italy.

The Artist’s Table, the Painter’s Palette, and the Cuisine Classique are the show-stoppers here.

Just be prepared to shell out quite a few dollars for the experience, the food and drinks can get pricey at this particular Epcot festival.

The Performing Arts

As Disney has mentioned, The Show MUST Go on…

Did you know that you can watch a Broadway Show at Walt Disney World? Well, kind of…

Epcot International Festival of the Arts 2023 Artist Meet and Greet. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!

At the Epcot Festival of the Arts, you can enjoy classic Disney tunes sung by Broadway’s most-famous actors right here in Central Florida. 

Epcot Festival of the Arts Community Canvas. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!
Epcot Festival of the Arts Community Canvas

You can catch this show on select days from January 13 to February 20, 2023.

Disney Broadway Show Schedule:

Kara Lindsay (Newsies) and Kevin Massey (Tarzan)

  • January 13
  • January 15 through 16
  • January 19 through 20

Arielle Jacobs (Aladdin) and Adam Jacobs (Aladdin)

  • January 14
  • January 17 through 18
  • January 21 through 22

Patti Murin (Frozen) and Robert Creighton (The Little Mermaid)

  • January 23
  • January 25 through 26
  • January 29 through 30
  • February 2 through 3

Mandy Gonzalez (Aida) and L. Steven Taylor (The Lion King)

  • January 24
  • January 27 through 28
  • January 31 through February 1
  • February 4 through 5

Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins) and Michael James Scott (Aladdin)

  • February 6
  • February 8 through 9
  • February 12 through 13
  • February 16 through 17

Kissy Simmons (The Lion King) and Josh Strickland (Tarzan)

  • February 7
  • February 10 through 11
  • February 14 through 15
  • February 18 through 19

Special Performance – February 20, 2023

  • On February 20, you’ll be super excited to know that there will be an extended finale featuring Ashley Brown, Josh Strickland, Kissy Simmons and Michael James Scott!

The Visual Arts

While enjoying the incredible performances, be sure to visit some of the galleries, murals and photo ops that will be happening this year.

Figment Wall Mural Painting at Epcot Festival of the Arts. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!

Visual Arts You’ll Experience this Year

  • Animation Academy
  • Artful Photo Ops: take advantage of the special props so you can have unique memories of your time at the festival
  • Festival Markets: allows you to buy pieces artwork from the participating artists at the festival
  • Festival merchandise: be sure to pick up a few festival souvieniers to commerate your visit
  • Figment’s Brush with the Masters Scavenger Hunt
  • Hands-on wall mural
  • Interactive Experiences
  • Pavilion Exhibits: check out the beautiful artistry from the various countries featured in World Showcase

The Artist you’ll see are quite literally, the créme de la créme of the Disney World and you’ll be able to chat with them.

Epcot Festival of the Arts 3D Art Chalk of Frozen Characters. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!

What is unique about it is that the galleries are all placed throughout World Showcase where you can see the artist creating new artwork right in front of you!

This is definitely something you do not want to miss.

Available artwork from WonderGround Gallery artists include (final details pending):

  • Jerrod Maruyama – Little Orange World
  • Mcbiff – I’m Proud of You
  • Ann Shen – I Will Always Be With You
  • Ashley Taylor – My World
Epcot Festival of the Arts artwork display. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!
Epcot Festival of the Arts artwork display.

Available artwork from Disney artists include (final details pending):

  • David Buckley – A Day in the Park
  • Morgan Ditta – We’ve Got Music
  • John Nadeau – TIE Attack!
  • Brett Owens – New Classics – Mulan
  • Darren Wilson – Forever Princess
  • Joseph Yakovetic – Off to Neverland

Ready to make your trip out to Walt Disney World Resort, then get your no obligation, FREE Quote by filling out the form with The Park Prodigy by Clicking HERE!

The Interactive Experience

Let’s go through more festival activities you can experience while at the Epcot Festival of the Arts.

  • Featured Disney Artists and Visiting Artists: You’ll get the opportunity to meet the artist behind the art
  • Interactive Experiences: Participate in some of the entertainment like the Paint by Number Mural (daily from park open until 5 p.m.)
  • Kidcot Fun Stops: This fun Epcot activity is still going on although the Cast Members won’t be directly involved as in the previous years. According to Disney, kids of all ages can pick their palette, grab their brushes and create their own masterpiece on an art-filled odyssey around Epcot’s World Showcase.
  • Figment’s Brush With The Masters: This is a fun scavenger hunt where you help Figment learn about art around World Showcase. You can purchase your map and stickers at Disney Traders or World Traveler at International Gateway. After you’re done finding every item, you’ll return your map to Disney Traders or World Traveler for a free prize!
  • Chalk Full of Character: Don’t miss out on the unique chalk drawings located throughout Epcot
  • Animation Academy: Everyday at 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. in the America Gardens Theatre, you’ll get a step-by-step guide on how to draw some of your favorite Disney Characters.

Exciting New Merchandise

Apart from the usual hoodies and T-shirts, Disney has new merchandise including wall art, paintings, toys and totes.

Epcot International Festival of the Arts 2023 Merchandise Figment Spirit Jersey and Tumbler. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!

There is truly a huge plethora of options when you are looking for something to take home as a souvenir of your time at the Epcot Festival of Art and Culture.

My personal favorite is the new Figment inspired long-sleeved shirt with “make a masterpiece today” name printed on the back.

Epcot International Festival of the Arts 2023 Figment Popcorn Bucket Merchandise Frenzy. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!
This Figment Popcorn Bucket is a hit this year and causing so much hype with a 5+ hours line just to purchase one.

To buy these cool new merchandises, just head to all the little shops located throughout Epcot Theme Park!

Epcot Festival of the Arts Merchandise Items

  • Adult Mask
  • Apparel (Adult Tees & Spirit Jersey)
  • Baseball Cap
  • Event Poster
  • Figment’s Brush with the Masters Scavenger Hunt
  • Keychains
  • MagicBands
  • Palette Plate & Drinkware (Mug and Stainless-Steel Water Bottle)
  • Trading Pins

Passholder Merchandise

  • Adult Tee
  • Tumbler
  • Trading Pin

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Top 6 Tips for Epcot Festival of the Arts 2023

Now that we have the basics under our belts, let’s go through a few of my favorite tips for you.

Epcot Festival of the Arts Canada Smoked Salmon Tartare. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!
Festival of the Arts Canada Smoked Salmon Tartare

1. Go During Weekdays

Visit Epcot on weekdays instead of weekends. On the weekends, locals crowd add to the one at the festival.

Epcot International Festival of the Arts 2023 Large Yellow and Orange Painting on Grass. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!

Going on weekdays will give you time to relax and enjoy the festival without constantly pushing through the crowds.

2. Experience the New Epcot Attractions on Your Visit

Three new films– Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360 and Awesome Planet are being released during this time and you can be one of the first people to view it!

Entrance to Remys Ratatouille Adventure with mouse waterfall. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!

The new Remy Ratatouille Adventure ride and fireworks extravaganza are also available for you to watch at Epcot during the festival.

Read: What’s Coming to Epcot by 2025

3. Use the Disney Photographers

Look around you for PhotoPass Photographers around the theme park and ask them for Magic Shots and special props so you can have unique memories of your time at the festival.

Figment Painting at Epcot Festival of the Arts. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!

Plus, they’ll also take great photos for you with your own phone.

4. Spend a Couple of Days at Epcot

Do not try to see all of Epcot in a day. It will be tiring and not at all enjoyable. Instead spread out your itinerary across at least three days.

Epcot International Festival of the Arts 2023 Map. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!
Epcot International Festival of the Arts 2022 Map

Perhaps you can spend a day doing all the Food Studio booths at the festival and another day focusing on the attractions and seminars.

5. Budget for Food

Believe it or not, $5 here or $6 there adds up quickly. I recommend budgeting $65-$75 for each person in your party. And that’s just a budget for food!

Mexican cheese and black black beans on top of flaky bread at Epcot Festival of the Arts. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!

Beer and wine samples are poured at about 3 ounces for wine and 6 ounces for beer or cocktails.

On average, adult beverage samples usually cost between $5.50 – $10.50 with cocktails around $15.50.

6. Try New Things

It’s easy to stick with the things most familiar to you, but that’s not what Epcot Festival of the Arts is all about!

Epcot International Festival of the Arts 2023 Tangerine Cafe Chicken Skewers and Chai Tea Mimosa Morocco. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!
Tangerine Cafe Chicken Skewers and Chai Tea Mimosa Morocco

Since the portions are smaller, it’s a great way to try something at least once…or twice as Andrew Zimmern states.

Not only should you try new food, speak to the artists and really learn about their story and what inspired their passion.

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My Final Thoughts on Epcot Festival of the Arts

So, should you go to the Taste of the Epcot International Festival of the Arts? Absolutely!

Epcot International Festival of the Arts 2023 Concept Art Paintings with the Haunted Mansion Figment Orange Bird. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!

It is one of Disney’s BEST festivals and it allows you to activate that creative side of your brain.

You are officially ready to go forth and enjoy the fourth Epcot Festival of Arts and Culture to the fullest extent. I hope this guide helped and you have a great time at the festival!

Epcot International Festival of the Arts 2023 Disney 50th Anniversary Concept Art Paintings. Keep reading to get the full Epcot Festival of the Arts guide, tips, food, concerts and more!

Prioritize and plan out your day before actually stepping into Epcot. You will thank me later.

Going into the Festival of the Arts is total sensory overload, and it helps to follow an organized plan of action thank planning everything at the moment.

Just remember not to worry if you’re not able to see and do everything. I just want you to have fun and enjoy exploring all the different countries at the park.

COMPLETE GUIDE EPCOT FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS #disney #epcot #epcotfestivals
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Are you excited for this year’s festival? If so, let us know in the comments section below.

If you like this article, then check the links below for more Epcot Festivals Tips

Read the Disney Vacation Planning Guide for your next dream trip!

Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!

NikkyJ

(Original Article Date: January 2018/Updated: January 8, 2023)

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