Must-See Shows at the Epcot International Festival of the Arts

The Epcot International Festival of the Arts is right around the corner, and there is a lot going on this year! I recently attended a preview. One of the things that I am most excited about this year is the live entertainment. The must-sees that I am about to mention are all included with your theme park admission, so once you are through the front gate (or the International Gateway entrance) they are FREE!

I’ll start with Trevor Carlton. In your Festival Passport this is listed as Visual Art in Performance. This show kind of had to describe. Carlton will start with a mostly blank canvas, there is just a colorful background. He’ll then take paint and start to create. At first you will scratch your head, trying to figure out which character he is painting. Suddenly you will realize who it is as the shape materializes before your eyes. Watching the painting come to life is just part of the experience. It is a high energy show, with music and some semi-choreographed moves. Carlton will also work to get the audience pumped for what is going on. I am not doing this justice, so go see it for yourself. Visual Art in Performance takes place twice a day, Fridays through Mondays. There are two shows each of those days, and Carlton told me that he will be there the entire festival this year.

The second act that you do not want to miss is Art Defying Gravity. Since this will run daily I am not sure how many people will perform at each show. There were five in the show that we saw during the preview. They broke it up into three different segments. There are feats of strength and balance that will wow you. Performance art is part of the Festival of the Arts, and this is a performance that you will not soon forget.

Finally, I need to mention the Disney Broadway Concert Series. This will take place three times each evening in the America Gardens Theater. Most days there is a duo who will perform. They will rotate with another duo. At the end of their run, the two duos will combine for an evening of special shows. After that, the next group begins. The shows will change so that the songs that the actors are known for can be featured. You will hear many of your favorite Disney classics. If you’ve ever wished that you could see one of Disney’s Broadway shows, this will allow you to experience at least part of the magic.

This is not all of the extra entertainment that you will find at the Epcot International Festival of the Arts. The Living Statues will return this year. You can hear a didgeridoo player or a Paraguayan harpist. Some of the best high school bands in the country will be performing as well. Make sure you pick up a Festival Passport and a map when you enter the park. They will give you all the information that you need.