The International Festival of the Holidays is BACK in EPCOT for 2023, and we’re trying out everything there is to do!
Get ready to take on the festival with us!
This year’s festival runs from November 24th through December 30th, bringing with it lots of food booths, holiday decor, and entertainment offerings. We’re here on the first day of the festival, and right now we’re talking about all the entertainment!
Let’s check out some of the biggest entertainment offerings at this year’s festival!
Storytellers around World Showcase
Holiday Storytellers are situated throughout World Showcase, sharing the traditions of the festive season in the country they represent.
We spotted the Hanukkah Storyteller between Morocco and France.
Hanukkah Storyteller
We also saw La Befana in Italy. She is a kindhearted witch who visits sleeping young children on the Eve of the Epiphany.
La Befana
We got to see the Daruma Storyteller in Japan. We got to learn about the story of the Daruma doll and the Japanese customs of the New Year!
Daruma Storyteller
Here’s a full list of this year’s Holiday Storytellers:
- Mexico Pavilion – Las Posadas Celebration (Sunday through Thursday): ¡Feliz Navidad! Join the fun and pageantry of Las Posadas with dancers, piñatas and the music of Mariachi Cobre.
- Norway Pavilion – A Mischievous Magical Barn Santa (Daily): Celebrate the season with laughter as a mischievous Barn Santa visits Sigrid, an unsuspecting Christmas storyteller.
- China Pavilion – Chinese Lion Dancer (Daily): Catch a glimpse of a colorful performance that brings good fortune and happiness in the Lunar New Year.
- Italy Pavilion – La Befana (Daily): Come hear the tale of La Befana, the kindhearted witch who visits sleeping young children on the Eve of the Epiphany.
- Japan Pavilion – Daruma Storyteller (Daily): Hear the fascinating story of the Daruma doll and the Japanese customs of the New Year!
- Between the Morocco and France Pavilions – Hanukkah Storyteller (Daily): Witness a storyteller recount traveling abroad to explore the diverse music and traditions of Hanukkah around the world.
- France Pavilion – Pere Noel (Daily): Visit with Père Noël and rediscover the magic of Christmas through the letter of a delightful child.
- United Kingdom Pavilion – Father Christmas (Daily): Join Father Christmas as he rings in the season, sharing the traditions of the United Kingdom with good cheer.
- Canada Pavilion – Canadian Holiday Voyageurs (Daily): Explore holiday customs from the various regions of Canada on a musical tour of the Great White North with the Canadian Holiday Voyageurs.
Performance times for the storytellers can be found in the My Disney Experience app.
Santa Claus in the Odyssey
Santa Claus is at this year’s festival again in 2023! He’s set up in The Odyssey Pavilion.
Meet Santa!
There is a photo op with Santa and his sleigh in this immersive greeting experience. He greets guests daily from November 24th through December 24th at 11AM, 12:30PM, 2PM, 3:30PM, 5PM, and 6:30PM. (In case appearance times change, you can confirm times in the My Disney Experience app during your visit.)
Voices of Liberty
Catch the Voices of Liberty choir in the American Adventure pavilion!
Voices of Liberty
This acapella choral group dons Dickensian Caroler costumes just for the Festival.
They draw a crowd
Gingerbread in America pavilion
The Gingerbread Capital City is an edible display presented in The American Adventure pavilion.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
These patriotic displays feature gingerbread versions of iconic locations and landmarks such as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial.
Hi President Lincoln
A gingerbread version of EPCOT’s American Adventure building made its debut in 2021!
A tiny American Pavilion
Joyful Show at World Showcase Plaza
Don’t miss a performance of Joyful: A Celebration of the Season!
Joyful!
This show, which takes place on the World Showcase Plaza stage, features gospel mixed with jazz, R&B, and more, celebrating Christmas and Kwanzaa.
Joyful: A Celebration of the Season!
Showtimes are 1:15PM, 2:20PM, 3:25PM, and 4:30PM. Check the information boards in the park and the My Disney Experience app to confirm times when you go.
Joyful
Candlelight Processional
The Candlelight Processional is one of the most popular entertainment offerings during the festival.
Candlelight Processional
A celebrity narrator shares the Christmas story accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and choir. Three performances take place each night at 5:15PM, 7PM, and 8:30PM.
Candlelight Processional sign
Candlelight Processional Dining Packages allow guests to pair lunch or dinner at a participating EPCOT Table Service restaurant and enjoy reserved seating for the popular production. Regal Eagle Smokehouse also offers a same-day Walk-up Candlelight Processional Dining Package. On the first day of the festival, we saw these were sold out around 12 PM.
Regal Eagle Candlelight Processional Dining Package
Visit our Candlelight Processional Page to see the list of this year’s celebrity narrators along with restaurants and prices for the Dining Packages. You can also find our full review of the Candlelight Processional Dining Package HERE.
Click here to learn more about the Candlelight Processional.
Stay tuned to DFB for more updates from this year’s Festival of the Holidays!
Click here to learn more about the festival.
DON'T MISS A MOMENT
OF HOLIDAY MAGIC
Holidays at Disney World: DFB's Merriest Guide is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World.
It includes all the must-have information for navigating the holiday season at Disney World, including:
- The COMPLETE schedule of events for the Holiday Season
- How to avoid the crowds on Disney World's busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!)
- ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM.
- And, of course, we'll tell you where to eat!
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MORE Disney World Holiday INFO!
Learn About Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Get the Latest Information About the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
Get All the Details About Disney Jollywood Nights
Everything You Need to Know About Disney World Holiday Dining and Events
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Are you going to the 2023 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays? Let us know in the comments.
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The storytellers are the highlight of our Holiday entertainment as we make our way around Epcot. Candlelight Processional was a must see and the many famous narrators are a wonderful memory. We wish there was more handicap seating; lately we have needed to sit at tables by the America restaurant.