EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays 2025 Dates and Returning Entertainment Confirmed

Disney confirmed the dates and some details of the 2025 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth.

EPCOT Festival of the Holidays Dates

A colorful, lit Christmas tree glows beside a patterned geodesic dome during the holidays at Walt Disney World.

As usual, the festival kicks off the day after Thanksgiving, on November 28 this year. It runs through December 30, 2025.

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.

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.

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.

World Showcase Storytellers

Two people in festive, Nordic-style costumes celebrate holidays at Walt Disney World by a Christmas tree, waving and smiling.

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.

JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season

Four people in festive outfits sing and wave onstage by decorated Christmas trees and wrapped presents outdoors.

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.

Festival of the Holidays Food and Drink

A festive funnel cake topped with a swirl of whipped cream and colorful holiday sprinkles on a red plate.

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

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.

A frosted cookie topped with chocolate bits and coffee beans sits on a plate over a red plaid cloth, with more cookies behind.

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.

Meet Santa Claus

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.

The Walt Disney World website page for EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays indicates Santa will meet in the Odyssey pavilion again although the page may not be up to date for this year’s event.

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.

Living with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses

Inside a Glimmering Greenhouse, a large bush sculpted into Mickey Mouse's head dazzles with white lights and dons a Santa hat. This enchanting display sits under blue lighting, offering a magical glimpse for those on the Behind the Seeds Tour.

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 horticulturalists 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.

The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays webpage also teases the return of the gingerbread Spaceship Earth in CommuniCore Hall, although this may be a holdover from last year’s event.

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