With festivals running nearly year-round, EPCOT always has something different going on. The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, which runs in January and February, is one of our favorites. Focusing on culinary, performing, and visual arts, this festival is fun for all ages! (updated January 16, 2025)
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This year, the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts runs from January 17 – February 24, 2025. As with all festivals at EPCOT, crowds are significantly higher on weekends when locals flock to the park, so we recommend doing EPCOT during the week if you can.
In 2020, the girls and I took a girls’ trip to Disney World and visited EPCOT to check out the festival. We had so much fun that I returned the following year (2021) with just the boys.
And then, the girls + Christopher, and I visited again to take in all the festival fun in 2024. The Festival of the Arts is one of our favorite times to be in the park!
One of my favorite aspects of the Festival of the Arts is the famous works of art that you can pose inside. The boys LOVED climbing into pieces they’d seen or learned about in school and becoming part of the art – at least for long enough to take a picture!
And the girls had fun doing it, too! I’ve even seen people dress up to match a specific piece of art – though we’ve never done that!
Throughout the park, there are various artists that you can watch as they create their works of art. We always enjoy the chalk art and check on the progress several times throughout our day at EPCOT.
The chalk art lines the walkways and bridges before you get to World Showcase, and let me tell you, this stuff is IMPRESSIVE!
In addition to chalk art, the International Festival of the Arts is also about culinary art. And on every trip, the kids have made it their mission to try as many things as possible.
DECONSTRUCTED DISH Deconstructed BLT: Crispy Pork Belly, Soft-poached Egg, Brioche, Watercress Espuma, and Tomato Jam (Pic from 2021 – AVAILABLE in 2025)
Overall, this one was probably a 7/10 for our crew. The flavors worked well together, but we would have liked a bit more toast for dipping in all the egg yolk!
DECONSTRUCTED DISH Deconstructed Strawberry Cheesecake: Whipped New York-style Cheesecake with Fresh Florida Strawberries and Sugar Cookies (Pic from 2021 – NOT AVAILABLE in 2025)
This was quite possibly our FAVORITE dish at the Festival of the Arts and definitely a 10/10. It wasn’t too sweet, and the sugar cookies added a nice crunch. This one is perfection but has been replaced by a Deconstructed Key Lime Pie for 2025.
DECONSTRUCTED DISH Deconstructed Breakfast: Twinings of London® Chai Tea Shake with Maple Syrup garnished with a Waffle Crisp and Candied Bacon (non-alcoholic) (Pic from 2021 – NOT AVAILABLE in 2025)
We all really enjoyed this one, too. It’s definitely on the sweet side, given that it has maple syrup (and candied bacon), and it was a solid 8/10.
REFRESHMENT PORT Lobster Poutine: Lobster, Lobster Bisque Cheese Sauce, Pickled Jalapeños, and Citrus Cream (Pic from 2021 – NOT AVAILABLE in 2025)
This one was most definitely a 10/10. It had lots of big pieces of lobster and delicious flavor combos! It was probably the most filling snack we ordered all day, and the pickled jalapeños offered some serious spice. It was replaced by a brand-new Caprese Poutine for 2025 that also sounds like a winner.
During a break from snacking, we watched this guy do this entire painting while he danced around to music. We were in awe of his ability to not only paint exceptionally but do it while dancing around in front of an audience.
L’ART DE LA CUISINE FRANCAISE Crème de Brie en Petit Pain: Warm Creamy Brie in a House-made Bread Bowl (Pic from 2021 – AVAILABLE in 2025)
It’s melted cheese in a bread bowl; what’s not to like?! Another 10/10.
L’ART DE LA CUISINE FRANCAISE Croissant à la Truffle Noir d’Hiver: Black Winter Truffle Croissant (Pic from 2021 – NOT AVAILABLE in 2025)
This one was a bit different, and we were most definitely split on liking it vs. not. Overall, I’d say this is a 6/10, but I think you’ll either really like it or really not; there’s not much in between.
The boys loved snacking around World Showcase on our 2021 trip. We don’t often do festival food with five kids because the cost can add up. However, since this was a special trip (and what we were there for), we tried A LOT. Instead of ordering several of each option, we ordered one of everything we tried, and there was enough for everyone to have at least a bite (but usually more) of each.
VIBRANTE & VÍVIDO: Passion Fruit Mousse with Dragon Fruit Jam (Pic from 2021 – NOT AVAILABLE in 2025)
I know everyone has raved about this treat but it really fell flat for us. Even looking past the smooshed presentation of our order, there was something about the texture that none of us really enjoyed. We gave it a 4/10 overall and would not order it again. This has been replaced by a Passion Fruit-filled Mango Cheesecake and sounds much better – I’d definitely try the new version!
VIBRANTE & VÍVIDO: Coconut and Passion Fruit Smoothie (non-alcoholic) (Pic from 2021 – NOT AVAILABLE in 2025)
The smoothie, on the other hand, was delicious! It’s definitely a 10/10, especially considering that you can keep the cute cup! The 2025 version is a Layered Tropical Berry Smoothie (Wild Berry, Piña Colada, and Strawberry) that sounds delicious!
VIBRANTE & VÍVIDO Blue Corn Pupusa: Stuffed with Cheese and topped with Shredded Pork, Guajillo and Árbol Chile Sauce, Cabbage Slaw, and Aji Amarillo Crema (Pic from 2021 – NOT AVAILABLE in 2025)
A little bit spicy, and a whole lotta color, this one was a 7/10 for us. The blue corn pupusa was either overcooked or old because we found it difficult to cut or even chew. But the pork + slaw + sauce combo was spot on.
TANGERINE CAFE – FLAVORS OF THE MEDINA: Stone-baked Moroccan Bread With Assorted Dips – Hummus, Chermoula, and Zhoug (Pic from 2024 – AVAILABLE in 2025)
This was one of Ellie’s FAVORITE snacks from the entire festival. She has asked about it every time we’ve been to EPOCT since – and even at home sometimes! This one is only $5, so it’s one of the more affordable options. Definitely a 10/10 from our crew!
GOSHIKI Sushi Donut: Donut-shaped Sushi featuring Salmon, Tuna, Shrimp, Cucumber and Sesame Seed over a decorated plate of Wasabi Aïoli, Sriracha, and Eel Sauce (Pics from 2021 and 2024 – AVAILABLE in 2025)
Always a crowd favorite, the sushi donut does not ever disappoint. This was a 10/10 for our crew and it’s one we always get year after year.
FUNNEL CAKE STAND: Red Velvet Funnel Cake topped with Cream Cheese Icing and Pixie Dust (Pic from 2021 – NOT AVAILABLE in 2025)
Nick is OBSESSED with all things red velvet, so this was a must-do for him, and he LOVED it – and ate the whole thing! According to him, it was a 10/10. This year’s festival version is a Cotton Candy Funnel Cake and sounds like sugar on a plate!
FUNNEL CAKE STAND: Funnel Cake topped with Oreos and a Slab of Ice Cream (not a Festival exclusive) (Pic from 2021 – AVAILABLE in 2025)
The other two are not red velvet fans and opted to share the Cookies and Cream funnel cake, which they also loved! Another 10/10 from the teen boys.
L’ARTE DI MANGIARE Mozzarella Fritta: Flash-fried Breaded Fresh Mozzarella with Artist Palette Condiments (Pic from 2024 – AVAILABLE in 2025)
This was a fun choice and definitely fit the “art” theme of the festival. Ellie loved dipping the giant (flat) mozzarella stick into all of the different dip choices. The flavor of this one was pretty basic, but it fills the fun quota and is an excellent choice for kids or pickier eaters. We gave it an 8/10.
Crossing the Delaware with General Washington – and using his phone to check for directions.
KARAMELL-KÜCHE: Caramel Corn (not a Festival treat but a must-do when we’re in EPCOT – check out more of our favorite EPCOT treats!)
REFRESHMENT OUTPOST: Warm Brown Sugar Stuffed Pretzel with Banana Soft-Serve and Chocolate Sauce (Pic from 2021 – NOT AVAILABLE in 2025)
At this point in our walk around World Showcase, the teens were not very hungry, which is odd since that never happens at home, where they also eat constantly! But still, they couldn’t pass the Refreshment Outpost without trying this pretzel, especially since we were all intrigued with the banana soft serve. And it’s a good thing we stopped because this treat was both decadent and delicious- another 10/10.
THE PAINTED PANDA General Tso’s Chicken Shumai: Dumplings Filled with Chicken, Potato, Onion, and Water Chestnut (Pic from 2024 – AVAILABLE in 2025)
This one was a hit for us – probably a 9/10. It’s definitely a solid choice if you’re near China and want a snack!
POP Eats: Tomato Soup with French Onion and Bacon Grilled Cheese (Pic from 2021 – AVAILABLE in 2025)
Another hit for our group! The sandwich was grilled perfectly, and the bacon makes the grilled cheese feel a bit more grown-up – but you know we still dipped it in the tomato soup! This was a 10/10 for us, though I wish our soup had been served in the decorated can like I’ve seen elsewhere on the internet. The 2025 version is slightly different, with a pimento cheese, bacon, and fried green tomato grilled cheese.
FIGMENT’S INSPIRATION STATION AT THE ODYSSEY: Grape Smoothie with Freeze Dried Skittles (Pic from 2024 – NOT AVAILABLE in 2025) Lexie loved this smoothie and gave it a 10/10 but the rest of us thought it tasted like grape medicine. The Rainbow Cake with Freeze-Dried Skittles, on the other hand, was delicious! (Pic from 2024 – AVAILABLE in 2025)
The 3D chalk art is one of the most impressive aspects of the festival. We walked by in the morning, and while we could tell it was a table, we weren’t really sure what exactly the finished product would be. And by late afternoon, it was pretty much done and very impressive. Nate Baranowski does some phenomenal work!
While we loved snacking around World Showcase, I honestly think watching the artists and seeing the finished chalk art was one of my favorite aspects of the festival.
Back in 2021, to continue with the immersive theme of the Festival of the Arts, many of the construction walls around EPCOT were wing walls. The walls had butterfly wings painted on them so that you could stand in front of them and pose for pictures. It’s such a cute way to incorporate the construction walls into the festival!
They came in varying sizes, so there were butterfly wings for the little ones, too! Disclaimer: This picture was from the 2019 Festival of the Arts.
Another favorite at the International Festival of the Arts is the giant paint-by-number mural. You can get a little cup of paint and a sponge brush and paint five squares of the enormous mural. Over the course of a few days, it’s fun to watch the design come together and turn into a work of art.
After you paint your squares, you get a small print (like a postcard) of the image you helped create.
I honestly think my kids would spend most of the day working on this painting if they could. It is absolutely a must-do for us every single time we’re there, no matter how old they are.
And it’s definitely not just for kids – there are plenty of adults who love to participate in this one! If you’re going to be in EPOCT several times over the course of a few days, make sure to do the paint-by-number on your first day and then keep going back to look so that you can see the finished project. Once it’s complete, they’ll bring out a new one in a totally different design.
We usually stay at EPCOT until the park closes and have a fun day full of delicious food and beautiful art. In addition to all of the festival fun, we typically still manage to ride Test Track (currently closed), Mission Space, Soarin’, and Living with the Land without getting Lightning Lane. I’m so glad I’ve had the opportunity to share the International Festival of the Arts with all the kids over the years!
Have you ever been to the EPCOT Festival of the Arts?? Are you more of a fan of the food or art scene at this EPCOT festival??
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