We are so excited that the third annual Epcot Festival of the Arts kicks off this Friday! From January 18 – February 25, 2019 the Festival of the Arts will celebrate the Culinary, Visual, and Performance Arts in various ways throughout the park!

Today we attended a Preview Event to get a sneak peek (and even some sneak tastes) of what the Festival has in store.

Let’s dive in!

Food Studios

The Festival’s Food Studios will once again provide yummy and beautiful eats to Epcot guests at Food Booths throughout the park.

See what I mean 🙂 ?

But don’t worry! We didn’t simply look at sketches and paintings of the items we’ll all be able to enjoy once the event kicks off on Friday…

… we also got pictures of several of the actual items that all guests will be able to enjoy soon!

The Masterpiece Kitchen

The Masterpiece Kitchen will serve the Vanilla, Rose Water, and Pistachio Panna Cotta

as painted above, and as presented here!

The pistachio comes through both in the base of the cake and the pistachio crumble.

The Masterpiece Kitchen will also be serving what is a favorite meatless item for many guests (and one one of ours, too!): the delicious and creamy Wild Mushroom Risotto, Aged Parmesan, Truffle Shavings and Zinfandel Reduction.

It returns for its third year.

Pop Eats!

Pop Eats! will serve the new n

on-alcoholic — and all natural — Blue Sky Black Cherry Boba Freeze.

A black cherry soda base is frozen then topped with the boba pearls for a fun and kid-friendly item!

And the Shrimp Cerviche with Lime Foam will return again this year.

And I’m sure everyone is pumped that the Pop’t Arts will be returning as well!

These popular sugar cookies with strawberry filling will also be available at The Painter’s Palate in addition to Pop Eats!

Decadent Delights

The sweet treats at Decadent Delights will include the sweet-and-salty Chocolate, Peanut Butter and Pretzel Crunch.

The design for the Crunch is based on modern art.

The beautiful Lemon and Blood Orange Tart will also make its debut this year.

And to complement your sweet treats? How about the Cold Fashioned Coffee Cocktail?

The Artist’s Table

Another savory standout comes by way of The Artist’s Table: Beef Wellington with Mushroom Bordelaise, Fennel Cream, and Roasted Baby Vegetables

.

The Table will also be serving the Pan-Seared Scallop with Chorizo, Roasted Red Pepper Coulis and a Parmesan Crisp again this year.

And this is so fun… the Pan-Seared Scallop dish is inspired by a famous painting: The Lady in the Hat, with the coulis representing her dress, and the parmesan crisp and flower creates her hat.

But we’re pretty sure that the super fun Chocolate and Beer Pairing served here is going to be among the biggest hits at the Festival!

Featured brews at this booth will include Saugatuck Brewing Co. Neapolitan Milk Stout (paired with strawberry white chocolate), Lexington Brewing Company Kentucky Vanilla Barrel Cream Ale (paired with honey chocolate), and Lindemans Framboise Lambic (paired with black currant and violet chocolate).

The Painter’s Palate

Gallery Bites

at The Painter’s Palate will feature A Trio of Hors d’Oeuvres: Chilled Shrimp with Cucumber Cream Cheese on a Crostini; Traditional Deviled Egg with Candied Bacon; and Crispy Truffled Risotto Ball with Truffle Aioli.

And the Smoked Salmon and Cream Gâteau with Egg Yolk Cream, Paddlefish Caviar, and Micro-herbs is a take on a classic Austrian layered cake in a savory form!

The Painted Panda

Okay, so the following candy you’ll soon see below, I want to stress, is NOT a traditional food booth item. But you simply have to stop by The Painted Panda Food Studio in the China Pavilion to see if you can catch Master Artist Wenbo Zhang who will be at The Painted Panda five days a week (check your Times Guide in the park for appearances).

Dragon’s Beard Candy making and Sugar Painting are among his unique talents, and you will even be able to make a purchase by working with a Cast Member at the booth.

We really think you’ll enjoy what you see!

You can check our instagram stories today for a video him working on a sugar creation!!

Be A Part of the ART!

Over 100 artists will be participating throughout the Festival. But not only will guests have the chance to appreciate the art on display and in performance… they’ll also be able to take part, in some instances! The overarching theme of the Festival will be human achievement through art.

Of course, the Disney on Broadway Concert Series will run seven days a week this year. The Series features performances by some of Broadway’s most accomplished actors and actresses singing some of Disney’s most beloved songs at the America Gardens Theater.

The performances take place three times each evening throughout the Festival.

See the full concert lineup with information about times and even Disney on Broadway Concert Series Dining Packages here.

A new photo opportunity will join options returning from the past few years. It has not yet made its debut, but you’ll be able to strike your own pose with your family in a new Neverland photo scene in the UK Pavilion!

Interactive Paint by Numbers Wall Murals will return with four different scenes.

It takes about 2 days for guests to complete a mural… all by painting in one number at a time!

The finished products will be displayed in different locations in Epcot for park guests to come back and see the completed works of art. Here is an example from a previous year which was relocated in Future World (near the Guardians of the Galaxy attraction construction) upon completion:

Figment’s Hunt with the Master’s Scavenger Hunt will be part of the fun once again. Children (and adults!) can search for Figment by following clues provided in works of art around World Showcase.

Three small coloring books will comprise this year’s prizes!

Animation Academy is also a great option for the whole family!

Included with your Epcot admission, you’ll be guided by a Disney artist in how to draw a beloved Disney character!

Merchandise

And, of course, there will be plenty of merchandise on hand to commemorate your time at the Festival of the Arts!

This is just a small glimpse of what’s to come!

And all of this only scratches the surface!

Don’t forget that the Epcot Festival of the Arts also offers complimentary seminars and extra-ticketed interactive workshops, MANY visual and performing artists throughout the park, featured artists exhibits, and MUCH more!

You can check out full information here, and be sure to also check your Times Guide and Festival Passport by grabbing one in the park!

See all of the information for the Epcot Festival of the Arts here!

Are you as excited as we are for the Festival of the Arts to begin? Please let us know with a comment below!