5 Reasons to Love the Epcot Arts Festival

Hands up if you love a good party! OK, let’s see…That seems clear enough – just about everyone! Well, if you’re heading to Orlando in the next six weeks, you’re going to the right place.

Yes, it’s Festival season once again, and Epcot is the place to be from now until February 19, as the International Festival of the Arts has just got under way and offers a real live entertainment and food fiesta.

This events effectively fills the gap between the start of “slow” season in Orlando – basically, mid-January to the end of February – and the beginning of the USA’s big Spring Break holiday period, which begins in early March.

It was brand new in 2017 but has quickly become one of Epcot’s must-sample events for its unique live shows and art displays, as well as some truly creative food and drinks.

In fact, with the daily concerts at the America Gardens Theatre (the big performance centre facing the American Adventure pavilion in World Showcase), we would say this now offers some first-class entertainment that shouldn’t be missed.

What IS the Arts Festival?

In Disney’s own words, the Festival is “a celebration of the visual, culinary and performing arts,” with a variety of ways to enjoy each one in a series of kiosks, stages and set-pieces, all set around the whole World Showcase area of the park.

Like its big brother brethren, the Arts Festival features a superb array of what Disney calls Food Studios around the different pavilions, and this is a great way to snack and devour some truly inspired culinary offerings.

Live entertainment is the other key feature, with the Disney on Broadway concert series one of THE great Epcot hallmarks, as well as other live music and the Art in Performance shows.

And then there is the merch. Disney are already past masters at getting you to part with your cash for a range of must-have souvenirs, but this is taken to new heights during their festivals, and the Arts extravaganza is no exception, with bags of creativity going into their range of gifts, collectibles and artworks.

So, with all that in mind, we thought we would offer our Top Five Reasons to Love the International Festival of the Arts:

Hands-on Arts: There are three wonderful interactive opportunities to get in touch with your artsy side at this year’s Festival, starting with the eight Artful Photo Ops, where you step into a framed scene from an artistic masterpiece, like Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, or a scene from a Disney classic such as Sleeping Beauty. There is also the must-try and very family-friendly Expression Section, which is a huge paint-by-numbers mural for visitors to try their hand at, and the art class of the Animation Academy, a chance to learn how to draw Disney characters with an animation artist.

The Gravity-Defying Artists: There’s no mistaking this eye-popping live performance four times a day (at 11 and 11.55am, and 1.50 and 2.45pm). This group of gymnasts, acrobats and body-builders are front and centre for a showcase of gravity-defying feats of strength and agility, all with the grace of ballet dancers. They can be found on the stage in front of the World Showcase plaza. Also here up to eight times a day is the live music of four featured musicians, Nicholas Marks on guitar, Victor Espinola on harp, Don Black on saxophone and Dominic Gaudious on digeridoo. On select days, you can also see the Visual Art in Performance, as the artist of the day paints a classic Disney character right in front of the audience!

Artists at Work: This is possibly the most engaging part of the Festival, a chance to watch regular artists as they paint and work on their various creations. Most of the kiosks throughout World Showcase will have their own resident artist for the duration and it’s the ideal opportunity to find the perfect piece to hang in your home. This year, there are collections and live workings from 10 featured artists, including Festival regulars such as John Nadeau and Shane Grammer. Their vibrant designs and unique styles often include popular Disney scenes and characters, and you may just discover your new favourite artist!

*All that Festival Food: *This is arguably the feature where we get into most trouble, as it is just SO tempting to snack your way to a standstill around World Showcase. There are 16 Food Studios to sample, and they all include some innovative and creative dishes. Look out for deconstructed delights such as the BLT and Key Lime Pie at the Deconstructed Dish studio, while the Artist’s Table features comfort foods given an elevated twist. There’s also The Wonderful Walk of Colourful Cuisine, a highlighted array of seven dishes that, if you get a stamp for them all in the Festival Passport, opens the door to a free Artist Palette Cookie at the Deco Delights studio. New dishes this year include the Grilled Pork Belly at The Craftsman’s Courtyard and Neapolitan Dessert Trio from Deco Delights. Additionally, there are another six regular food outlets around the park that offer dishes specially for the Festival, including some delectable chilled drinks at Joffrey’s Tea & Coffee Company just outside the Epcot entrance.

That Broadway Melody: We can’t pass up any mention of the Arts Festival without obsessing over the Disney on Broadway concert series, which takes place each evening, with 35-minute shows at 5.30, 6.45 and 8pm. Hit shows such as The Lion King, Frozen, Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid are all given a thorough airing, and the quality of performers on display is breathtaking. It offers the kind of quality you are unlikely to witness outside Broadway and the West End. The only drawback is they have become hugely popular, and you’ll need to arrive early (and join the pre-show queue) in order to get a good seat, but it’s well worth it in our opinion.

Especially for children, there is also the World Showcase-wide scavenger hunt, Figment’s Brush with the Masters, where a series of Figment-themed photo frames are hidden around the main lagoon. It costs an additional $9.99 for the essential map and stickers that go with it.

For more details, check out Epcot’s Arts Festival info on this link.

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