An Overview of the 2023 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays

The 2023 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays is here! I like to call it a “blink and you’ll miss it” festival because it only runs until December 30. While the time may be short, there is so much to do at the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays that you might want to go more than once! Here are some of the highlights.

As with any festival, pick up a Festival Passport when you enter Epcot. This will be your guide to everything that is going on. You’ll find show locations, menus, and more! This information is available in the My Disney Experience App, but it’s easier to have it right in your hands. You’ll also need your passport if you plan to participate in the Holiday Cookie Stroll.

For many, the highlight of the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays is the Candlelight Processional. A celebrity narrator retells the Biblical Christmas story, backed by a mass choir and an orchestra. This is not just for people who proclaim Jesus as Lord. It’s a beautiful production, no matter what you believe. The Candlelight Processional takes place three times each evening; 5:15, 7:00, and 8:30. It lasts around 40 minutes.

There are plenty of Holiday Kitchens once again. You’ll find Christmas and holiday favorites from around the world! Many of them are sweet. Speaking of sweet, the Holiday Cookie Stroll is back. There are five different cookies that you’ll need to buy, and then you can receive a sixth cookie for free. You’ll need a Festival Passport to receive your free cookie, just have it stamped each time you buy a participating item.

You’ll find Storytellers all around World Showcase. Check the My Disney Experience App for the times. It’s fun to learn about the holidays in other parts of the world. JOYFUL – A Celebration of the Season is another entertainment offering that you don’t want to miss. It’s a high energy show that offers a new twist on some of your favorite seasonal classics.

Olaf is searching for holiday traditions in Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt. Buy a map, find Olaf, collect a prize. I saw plenty of adults without children looking for him. The scavenger hunts can be fun, but you might want to look during the day. Olaf is harder to find after dark, plus there tend to be more adults who overindulge in the evening who aren’t paying attention to where they are walking.

Living with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses is a fun overlay. Keep checking the Wait Times throughout the day and you shouldn’t have to wait too long.

Santa is greeting in the Odyssey Building. That’s the strange looking structure that’s kind of on the water, between Test Track and Mexico. There are signs, but if you still can’t find him, ask a Cast Member. The pictures are taken in his sleigh, so there’s room for your whole family.

There is plenty more to the 2023 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays. You’ll find extra merchandise, holiday Voices of Liberty, Gingerbread displays, plenty of decorations, and Spaceship Earth after dark! All entertainment is included with your Epcot admission. If you’re having a hard time getting into the holiday spirit, the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays could be the solution.