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NEWS: Disney Reveals EPCOT Festival of the Holidays Dates & Details

The dates and more details have been announced for the 2025 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays! We love this festival and wish it was longer! Learn more below.





 

Here are all the details from Disney Cast Member Maura Consedine:

Visting EPCOT during International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth is a fan-favorite holiday tradition for Walt Disney World guests, and we are thrilled to share the first details about what you can expect when the event returns this year.

Start making your list (and checking it twice) to plan for which entertainment, eats, and experiences below you want to enjoy this holiday season.

Credit: Disney

EPCOT Festival of the Holidays Dates 

As usual, the festival kicks off the day after Thanksgiving, so you can trade the turkey for Christmas trees, holiday treats, and cheerful traditions! Mark your calendar to attend Festival of the Holidays from November 28-December 30, 2025. 

Planning ahead is the best way to start your vacation! Walt Disney World theme park tickets and lodging reservations are already available to book during the holiday season. Many of our resort hotels embrace the spirit of the season with classic holiday lights, music, and decor, all with magical Disney flair, for you to take in during your visit.

Credit: Disney

Festival of the Holidays Shows and Entertainment 

There is plenty of exciting entertainment to enjoy during Festival of the Holidays – jam with JOYFUL!, learn about holiday traditions around World Showcase, and experience the magic of the Candlelight Processional.

Credit: Disney

Experience the Candlelight Processional 

Each evening during the festival, the America Gardens Theatre will come alive with the stirring Candlelight Processional, a retelling of the nativity story featuring holiday hymns. This beloved performance boasts a large live orchestra, herald trumpets, and vocal ensembles including the Voices of Liberty, Disney Cast Choir, and local community groups, who perform Christmas carols and traditional tunes for all to enjoy.

A highlight of the Candlelight Processional are the celebrity narrators who bring the story of Christmas to life onstage, with previous guests of honor including Josh Gad, Neil Patrick Harris, and Jodi Benson. This year’s line-up will be announced at a later date, so be sure to keep checking the Disney Parks Blog for updates.

Performances are held nightly at 5 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 8:15 p.m., with a runtime of approximately 50 minutes. Seating is first-come, first-served and often fills up fast, so we suggest planning ahead if you want to experience this stunning show. Dining packages with reserved seating are another great option for guests – more details will be available soon.





 

Credit: Disney

Learn from the World Showcase Storytellers 

While you’re exploring the World Showcase pavilions throughout the day, you can stop to see performances from Holiday Storytellers as they share festive traditions and bring holiday tales to life in their respective countries. EPCOT is the perfect place to learn about how different cultures celebrate this special season.

Each country will spotlight unique stories and performers, including:

      • Mexico Pavilion – Las Posadas Celebration
      • Norway Pavilion – A Mischievous Magical Barn Santa
      • China Pavilion – Chinese Lion Dancer
      • Italy Pavilion – La Befana
      • Japan Pavilion – Daruma Storyteller
      • Between the Morocco and France Pavilions – Hanukkah Storyteller
      • France Pavilion – Père Noël
      • United Kingdom Pavilion – Father Christmas
      • Canada Pavilion – Canadian Holiday Voyageurs

Performances happen frequently, but showtimes can be confirmed each day in the My Disney Experience app.

Credit: Disney

Feel the Rhythm of JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season 

JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season is a concert series that celebrates the spirit of Christmas and Kwanzaa. Holiday hits are performed by Central Florida group D’Vine Voices in an upbeat mix of music styles including gospel, jazz, and R&B. Check the My Disney Experience app for showtimes.

The combination of classic songs and updated arrangements with powerhouse vocalists will surely ignite warm holiday memories for every guest.

Credit: Disney

Festival of the Holidays Food and Drink

The holidays are not complete without a seasonal selection of snacks and sips, and of course EPCOT is known for its exceptional culinary offerings.





 

Credit: Disney

Taste the Season with Holiday Kitchens  

Food and drinks are a staple ingredient of EPCOT festivals, and this year’s Holiday Kitchens will be serving up an amazing assortment of bites and beverages. These standalone booths will highlight heartwarming holiday recipes and festive flavors from around the world – we can’t wait to try them all.

The final list of vendors is still being cooked up in our kitchens, but we are thrilled to share that there will be a blend of new offerings and returning favorites. For loyal fans of our Foodie Guides, you can look forward to a full Festival of the Holidays-focused guide coming at a later date.

Credit: Disney

Sweeten Your Day with the Holiday Cookie Stroll 

Another can’t-miss activity for foodies is the Holiday Cookie Stroll, returning this year. We all have magical memories of being in the kitchen learning how to bake and decorate the tastiest treats, and at Festival of the Holidays you can take a bite of cookies made in our Walt Disney World kitchens.

The complete list of items for this cheerful cookie crawl is still in the works, but we can tell you today that the stroll will again feature the Coffee-Mocha Cookie topped with Coffee-infused Buttercream, Cocoa Nibs, and Chocolate-covered Espresso Beans.

When you purchase any five cookies from the official locations and collect the corresponding stamps in  your Festival Passport, you can redeem a special surprise at Holiday Sweets and Treats. This adventure is the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth during the holiday season.





 

Festival of the Holidays Ride Overlays and Activities 

Get wrapped up in the array of seasonal activities to enjoy throughout EPCOT, and don’t miss out on an iconic attraction with a festive twist.

Credit: Disney

Where to Find Santa at EPCOT

Santa is always traveling around the world, and the same is true at World Showcase. Guests can see Père Noël (Father Christmas) appear in the France Pavilion where he tells the story of Babette and her Christmas letter, and Barn Santa will be up to his old tricks in the Norway Pavilion.

Credit: Disney

Embark on Olaf’s Holiday Scavenger Hunt 

Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt returns this year, which sends guests on a jolly journey to locate Olaf in 13 different spots throughout EPCOT.

Guests can purchase a map and stickers, available at select festival merchandise locations. Your quest is to find holiday traditions that Olaf has discovered in every pavilion. Once you have them all, you can visit Creations Shop or World Traveler at International Gateway to redeem a gift that’s worth melting for.

Credit: Disney

See How Nature Shines on Living with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses 

During Festival of the Holidays, the classic attraction Living with the Land transforms into a glittering greenhouse tour, featuring sparkling Christmas lights and dazzling decor, sure to fill guests of all ages with childlike wonder and awe.

The peaceful boat ride still chronicles the incredible work of Walt Disney World plant scientists and their innovative growing techniques and technologies, with a bit of frosty flair. A holiday-themed narration can also be heard to guide you on your cruise.

For a no obligation, FREE Quote on a Disney vacation package, please contact our travel partner Magical Vacation Planner at 407-442-0227 (407-442-0215 for Spanish). You can also request a FREE quote online by Clicking HERE.



 

Chad & Cindy Nykamp

After years of multiple Walt Disney World vacations, Cindy and Chad's dream of living in Orlando came true in 2010. After friends and family made them their go-to-people for Walt Disney World advice, Cindy and Chad launched DisneyLists.com in August 2015 to share their knowledge and love of Disney. Chad and Cindy have been Disney World Annual Passholders for years, DVC members, together have raced more than 70 runDisney races, and particularly love cruising on the Disney Cruise Line. Chad and Cindy also regularly represent DisneyLists.com at Walt Disney World and Disney Cruise Line media events. While attending these events, they get an insiders view of all the new things that have come to Walt Disney World and Disney Cruise Line. These experiences have helped them gain knowledge and expertise they happily pass on to their followers. They still can't believe how lucky they are to have such an amazing opportunity and will continue to share Disney with anyone who will listen!
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