Yes, yes, we know — one of the big highlights of an EPCOT festival is the food. We’re Disney Food Blog — believe us, we get it. 🤣 But if all you’re doing at the Festival of the Arts is eating…you’re doing it WRONG.

The Festival of the Arts is back in EPCOT from now through February 20th, 2023, and it has LOTS for you to enjoy. There is unique merchandise and incredible art to admire, but you’ll also want to stop and take some time to see some of the incredible entertainment!

So, without further ado, here’s a full breakdown of the entertainment you can catch during the Festival between bites at your favorite food booths and shopping sprees at the Festival marketplaces!

Disney on Broadway Concert Series

Incredible Disney on Broadway performers singing award-winning show tunes LIVE? Ummm yeah, you can sign us up for that! The Disney on Broadway Concert Series allows you to experience the magic of Disney’s Broadway musicals thanks to some talented performers who were ON Broadway in these popular roles.

Performances are offered at 5:30PM, 6:45PM, and 8PM each day in the America Gardens Theatre (American Adventure Pavilion).

Here’s a FULL list of the performers:

Plus there will be a special finale performance on February 20th with Ashley Brown, Josh Strickland, Kissy Simmons, and Michael James Scott. Seriously, don’t miss your chance to see these incredible performers LIVE without any additional cost!

If you want to guarantee a good seat, look into buying a Disney on Broadway Concert Series Dining Package. With the dining package, you’ll get a meal at a participating restaurant and guaranteed seating for a performance on that day.

Want a last-minute package? Stop by Regal Eagle Smokehouse on the day of your visit for day-of packages — these are limited in availability though!

Learn more about the Disney on Broadway Concert Series here!

Musical Performances

Want to catch other musical performances at the Festival? Well, that’s available too! Within World Showcase Plaza you’ll find Don Black, playing saxophone, Victor Espinola, playing harp, Dominic Gaudious, playing didgeridoo, and Nicholas Marks, playing guitar.

The performance times for these can vary so check the My Disney Experience app for the details there.

Art Defying Gravity

If you want to see some people perform incredible moves that’ll blow your mind, stop by Art Defying Gravity. This is a performance group that showcases some pretty amazing acrobatic poses.

Look for them at World Showcase Plaza from Saturday through Wednesday. Showtimes will be listed in the My Disney Experience app!

Art in Performance

But wait…there’s MORE! If you’ve ever tried to paint your favorite Disney character it might have taken you hours or even days. But these artists don’t need that kind of time. At Art in Performance, you can see incredible artists paint Disney characters in just MINUTES.

Daily signings and live performances will be available.

To check the artist schedule for the Festival of the Arts, click here!

Animation Academy

If YOU want to get in on the art action, stop by the Animation Academy, which is held at the America Gardens Theatre. While there, an animation artist will lead you through a lesson on how to draw a Disney character.

It’s a great way to learn more about art and come out with a fun little souvenir you created yourself! Lessons are offered daily at 12:30PM and 1PM.

Figment’s Brush with the Masters

Another way you can interact with the art around you is by participating in Figment’s Brush with the Masters. This is a scavenger hunt that’ll take you all throughout the World Showcase pavilions to find Figments that have been hidden in works of art!

While you can search for the hidden Figments for free, if you pay $9.99 (plus tax) you’ll get a map and stickers that’ll help you track your progress. And if you complete the search, you’ll return your map and get a little souvenir!

Get the map and stickers at Creations Shop, Port of Entry, and World Traveler.

MORE!

And there’s MORE! If you want more entertainment while at the Festival, stop by the Chalk Art Galleries to see the incredible artists at work designing some of the most amazing chalk art you might ever see.

They’ve even decked out the sign for the occasion!

They’ve made some masterpieces with chalk, but keep in mind — it is Florida, so rain is inevitable! On opening day we saw some of the pieces washing away…

…but some pieces are still looking pretty colorful.

New art is added regularly though, so don’t worry!

If you’re looking for an interactive experience, hop into the Artful Photo Ops spread throughout the park! At these photo op locations, YOU will become part of the art — get those cameras ready.

You can immerse yourself in a classic, right here in 2023!

If you’re looking for another interactive experience, head over to the Expression Section for a paint-by-numbers mural that you get to participate in!

Over here, you’ll be assigned a color and get to fill in a few squares. Make sure you check back to see how that mural comes together as everyone works together to fill it in!

Kiddos can also create their own chalk art at the bridge to World Showcase Plaza, or the whole family can look for Disney characters in chalk form throughout the pavilions.

Luca art has returned to EPCOT for Festival of the Arts! 🎨 pic.twitter.com/LBWf9noskE

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) January 11, 2023

 

Abu, Jiminy Cricket, Dante, and MORE are all hidden — how many characters will YOU find?!

And you may want to stick around at night during Festival days to see how Spaceship Earth lights up! In 2023, a new Beacon of Magic celebrating Figment debuted. “This technicolor tribute features music that is bound to spark your imagination, along with a spectacle of dazzling light.” The Figment-themed show features various designs and the “One Little Spark” song.

And that’s a look at the entertainment at the Festival of the Arts! We’ll be updating this post with additional information, photos, and videos, so check back for the latest news.

Planning your trip to the 2023 Festival of the Arts and not sure where to start? You’ve come to the right place! Click here to see the FULL menus for all of the food booths this year, click here to see a list of all of the NEW items at the Festival, and click here to see the items you can get to complete the Festival of the Arts Food CHALLENGE.

Want to know how to handle the Festival like a PRO? Grab our BRAND NEW DFB Guide to the Festival of the Arts for 150+ pages of tips, tricks, and advice.

We’ve got ALL of the information you’ll need in there to make sure you enjoy every single minute of the Festival and don’t miss the very best it has to offer!

Click here to get the guide!

 What is your favorite part of the EPCOT Festival of the Arts? Tell us in the comments!