The annual Food and Wine Festival at EPCOT is the most well-known festival, but is it the best? For many guests, the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts takes the top spot. This art festival at EPCOT has the most creative and visually stunning food. Each year the menu outdoes the previous year.
Besides the amazing food and drink at EPCOT, there is breathtaking art. This must-visit event grants you the chance to meet some of the artists themselves while enjoying live entertainment and some of the best photo opportunities at Disney World. Plus, the hands-on activities are great for kids, and couples too.
The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts runs from January 12 – February 19, 2024. While it is a shorter festival, it takes place during one of the best times of the year to visit Walt Disney World. Let's take a closer look at this masterpiece. While you're there, discover some secret spots at Walt Disney World for a little extra romance.
Top Food Picks for Adults at The EPCOT Festival Of The Arts
You and your muse will have the most fun at the EPCOT Festival of the Arts if you're willing to explore unique tastes. The food at the 2024 art festival at EPCOT is some of the most creative we've seen at this legendary theme park.
Here are our top food picks for adults at the festival of the arts (starting near the Canada Pavilion and working your way around to Mexico Pavilion):
- Neapolitan Dessert Trio: Chocolate Tart, Vanilla Bean Cheesecake, and Strawberry Mousse (Near Port of Entry)
- Deconstructed BLT: Crispy pork belly, soft-poached egg, brioche, watercress espuma, and tomato jam – The Deconstructed Dish (Near Port of Entry)
- Tomato Soup with pimento cheese, bacon, and fried green tomato grilled cheese – Pop Eats (Near Port of Entry)
- Roasted Bone Marrow with onion marmalade, pickled mushrooms, mache lettuce, and bone marrow snow – Gourmet Landscapes (Canada Pavilion)
- Sushi Donut: Donut-shaped sushi featuring salmon, tuna, shrimp, cucumber, and sesame seed over a decorated plate of wasabi aïoli, sriracha, and eel sauce – Goshiki (Japan Pavilion)
- Duck and Dumplings: Smoked duck breast, ricotta dumplings, petite vegetables, and duck jus – The Artist’s Table (The American Adventure)
- Hummingbird Cake: Banana cake with pineapple, coconut, pecans, and cream cheese frosting with banana sorbet – The Artist’s Table (The American Adventure)
- Red Wine-braised Beef Short Rib with Balsamic Glaze Parsnip Purée, Broccolini, Baby Tomatoes – Pastoral Palate (Germany Pavilion)
- Black Forest Cake: Chocolate Mousse with morello cherries and Chantilly cream – Pastoral Palate (Germany Pavilion)
- Tostada de Langosta: Chilled Lobster with Chipotle Aïoli, Onions, and Mango on a Fried Corn Tortilla with Guacamole, Shredded Cabbage, and Hot Sauce (Mexico Pavilion)
- Beef Wellington – Mushroom Duxelles, Prosciutto, and Puff Pastry with Red Wine Demi-glace – Cuisine Classique (Near Test Track)
- Cast Iron-roasted P.E.I. Mussels with Sautéed Tomatoes and Garlic – Cuisine Classique (Near Test Track)
Best Drinks
There's no doubt that drinking around the world at EPCOT is a favorite pastime among Disney adults. The drinks at EPCOT's Festival of the Arts warrant appreciation over mass consumption. Raise a glass and enjoy the festival, and give these creative cocktails their due.
Here are some highlights:
- Neapolitan Beer Flight with Strawberry Blonde Nitro, Vanilla Porter, Milk Stout – Deco Delights (Near Port of Entry)
- Espresso Martini featuring Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka – Deco Delights (Near Port of Entry)
- Frozen French Martini: Grey Goose Vodka, vodka, chambord liqueur, pineapple, orange, and grape juices with lemon-lime foam – L’Art de la Cuisine Francaise (France Pavilion)
- Butterfly Blue: Butterfly pea flower-infused cocktail with vodka, light rum, lychee syrup, magic boba pearls – The Painted Panda (China Pavilion)
- Smokey Banana Bliss Margarita: Ten to One Rum, llegal Mezcal Joven, Banana Purée, and Lime Juice – El Artista Hambrieto (Mexico Booth)
Don't miss this cute keepsake: At the Japan Pavilion's booth, you can enjoy Sake in a traditional personalized wooden cup. When you order you'll provide your name to the Cast Member who will write your name on the traditional wooden cup in Japanese. This wooden cup is called a masu and it is a traditional vessel for drinking sake tracing back hundreds of years.
The wooden masu cup is said to complement traditionally brewed sake since it's brewed in wooden casks. Hold the cup at a diagonal, with the corner facing you, this will make it easier to drink.
Activities for Adults at EPCOT's Festival of the Arts
There's no doubt that food and drinks are the highlights of a Disney date at EPCOT's Festival of the Arts. And yet, you'd miss out on a lot if you two don't have some fun together with these great activities.
The EPCOT Art Festival highlights the visual arts, the culinary arts, and the performing arts. Each festival offering highlights one of these areas.
Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine
Set out on a stroll around EPCOT in search of sweet and savory offerings—all listed in the Festival Passport.
At each of these stops, upon purchasing a tasty dish, you will receive a stamp for your Festival Passport. Once you have collected at least 5 stamps, bring your Festival Passport to the Deco Delights Food Studio near Port of Entry to receive a complimentary Artist Palette Cookie.
The Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine can be completed at your leisure, and you can even bring your stamped Festival Passport back to EPCOT at any time during the festival to complete your stroll.
- Deconstructed Key Lime Pie – The Deconstructed Dish (Near Test Track)
- Tomato Soup – Pop Eats! (Near Port Of Entry)
- Neapolitan Dessert Trio – Deco Delights (Near Port Of Entry)
- Verjus-roasted Beets – Gourmet Landscapes (Canada)
- Chorizo And Potato Empanada – Vibrante & Vívido: Encanto Cocina (Between France And Morocco)
- Blueberry-filled Pastry Tart With Purple Icing – Figment's Inspiration Station (At The Odyssey)
Don't miss out on these best activities for adults:
- Stop by the paint by numbers mural as soon as you arrive so you both can add your own artistic touch a Disney mural
- Get your camera ready, there are multiple photo opportunities, many that allow you to step inside a work of art
- Speaking of art, take time to browse the artist tents and be prepared to fall in love with a piece or two. My husband and I have ended up buying a piece of art at each annual art festival.
- You can also chat with the artists. Each day of the Epcot Art Festival different artists are available at certain tents for meet and greets, and to sign any work of theirs you may have purchased.
- Each World Showcase pavilion has at least one Disney or Pixar character “painted” on a building. These are decals, but they really do look like paintings. See how many you can spot, make it into a game to play together.
- Don't miss the live music on the Showcase Plaza stage, it's a great way to kick off the festival before you head into World Showcase.
DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series
Each festival at Epcot offers live entertainment. The Festival of the Arts has live entertainment in multiple places, but the main event is at the American Gardens theater. Here you can witness singers straight from Broadway sing powerful versions of Disney hits. Any Disney fan is going to love this DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series.
Starting at 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM and 8:00 PM
There is a dining package available in which you purchase a meal at a participating Epcot restaurant and then enjoy reserved seating for the performance. To me, this package is not worth it, considering the show does not have many visual elements and doesn't tend to fill up.
You'll need to be in the American Gardens Theater at least 15 minutes before showtime to at least get a seat.
Here is the schedule of Disney on Broadway performers:
Caissie Levy (Frozen) and Patti Murin (Frozen)
January 12, 14, 15, 18, 20, 22 and 23
Headshots of Caissie Levy and Patti Murin
Gavin Lee (Beauty and the Beast) and Heidi Blickenstaff (The Little Mermaid)
January 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, 24 and 25
Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins) and L. Steven Taylor (The Lion King)
January 26, 28 and 29
Josh Strickland (Tarzan) and Kissy Simmons (The Lion King)
January 27, 30 and 31
Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins) and L. Steven Taylor (The Lion King)
February 1, 3, 5 and 6
Josh Strickland (Tarzan) and Kissy Simmons (The Lion King)
February 2, 4, 7 and 8
Mandy Gonzalez (Aida) and Michael James Scott (Aladdin)
February 9, 11, 12, 15, 18 and 19
Bradley Gibson (The Lion King) and Shoba Narayan (Aladdin)
February 10, 13, 14, 16, 17 and 19
Know Before You Go…
- Park reservations are required
- EPCOT's hours are typically 10am – 9pm during the Festival of the Arts
- Arrive 15 minutes early for any entertainment and activities
- Weekends are especially busy and crowds build as the day goes on
- Figment’s Inspiration Station at the Odyssey is very busy thanks to the popular popcorn bucket featuring Figment
- Make a getaway of it and stay at one of the most romantic Disney hotels
All images by Dani Meyering