EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays 2025: Food Booths, Storytellers, and Holiday Magic
- Practically Perfect Pixie Dust
- Dec 3, 2024
- 11 min read
Updated: Jul 9
***Updated 7/09/25 with all the latest information
🎁 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays 2025
One of our favorite things to experience at Walt Disney World is the EPCOT Festival lineup—and each one brings its own unique energy to the park. From the creativity and color of the Festival of the Arts, to the floral beauty of Flower & Garden, and the delicious global bites of Food & Wine, it all builds to one final celebration: the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. ✨
Christmas time at Disney truly is the most magical time of year. EPCOT transforms into a festive wonderland filled with dazzling decorations, joyful entertainment, and holiday treats from around the world. This seasonal festival brings heartwarming traditions to life through food, music, and storytelling.
🗓️ In 2025, Festival of the Holidays runs daily from November 28 through December 30, and is included with regular EPCOT admission.
Let’s take a closer look at everything you can enjoy during this heartwarming and festive celebration.
🍽️ Holiday Kitchens: Global Festive Flavors
Who doesn’t love great food—especially when it’s themed for the holidays? One of the signature experiences at every EPCOT festival is exploring the food booths, and Festival of the Holidays is no exception.
For 2024 they are still "cooking" up the menu, but in 2024, there were 15+ Holiday Kitchens stationed throughout World Showcase and beyond, each offering seasonal dishes and beverages that reflect holiday traditions from around the world.
From savory bites to indulgent desserts, these limited-time menus are filled with unique flavors and comforting classics. Whether you're looking for something warm and hearty or sweet and nostalgic, there’s something festive at every stop.
Here’s a peak into of what you might find:
🇲🇽 Las Posadas Holiday Kitchen (Mexico Pavilion): Tamale de Barbacoa — shredded barbacoa beef in corn masa, topped with mole negro, cotija cheese, crema Mexicana, and pickled onions
🇫🇷 Le Marché de Noël Holiday Kitchen (France Pavilion): Bûche de Noël au Pain D’Épices — gingerbread Yule log with milk chocolate and hazelnut ganache
🇯🇵 Shi Wasu Holiday Kitchen (Japan Pavilion): New Year Celebration Soba — buckwheat soba noodles in hot dashi soup with shrimp tempura, yuzu, and green onions
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Check out our full 2024 Holiday Kitchens & Menus post here to get an idea of other yummy goodies and sips may be headed our way. We will update with 2025 details as soon as they are released.
🥂 Seasonal Sips & Holiday Flights
The Festival of the Holidays isn’t just about the food—the drink selections are just as festive! Each Holiday Kitchen offers a variety of seasonal beverages, from cozy classics to creative holiday cocktails.
Whether you're sipping a hot mulled wine, sampling a festive mimosa or cider flight, or trying a spiced holiday cocktail, there’s something for every palate. You’ll also find wine, beer, and sangria flights scattered throughout the booths—perfect for sharing (or not 😄).
We’re especially excited to try a few of the more unique offerings this year—and maybe discover a new holiday favorite!
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Many of the drinks come in small portions, so it’s easy to taste around the world without overdoing it. Grab a festival passport to keep track of what you try!
🍪 Holiday Cookie Stroll — Returning for 2025!
Who doesn’t want an excuse to eat Christmas cookies at Disney? While Disney lists this as a scavenger hunt, we like to think of it as more of a cookie crawl—and a very tasty one at that!
The Holiday Cookie Stroll is back for 2025, inviting guests to purchase five festive cookies from select Holiday Kitchens around the park. Each stop features a different sweet treat to try, and once you’ve collected all five, you’ll earn a special completer cookie and holiday surprise from Shimmering Sips, located near the Port of Entry at World Showcase Plaza.
☕ While the full 2025 cookie lineup hasn’t been announced just yet, we do know that one fan-favorite treat is already confirmed:The Coffee-Mocha Cookie is making its return—topped with coffee-infused buttercream, cocoa nibs, and chocolate-covered espresso beans. It’s rich, decadent, and perfect for pairing with a hot cocoa or holiday cocktail.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: This cookie is a must-try for coffee lovers—and it's usually one of the first to sell out at its booth later in the day!
🍬 Here’s how it works:
📘 Pick up a Festival Passport at most festival kiosks or park entrances
🍪 Purchase any five of the designated cookies (look for the cookie icon in your passport or on our Festival of the Holidays Food Guide)
✅ Get your passport stamped at each cookie booth
🎁 Bring your stamped passport to Shimmering Sips to claim your completer treat!
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Want to snack smart? We’ve marked all the Cookie Stroll booths on our 2025 Festival of the Holidays Map with a 🍪 icon, so you can plan your path and skip the backtracking!
🍽️ EPCOT Dining Guide
🍴 Looking for a full meal between all those cookie stroll stops?Browse our EPCOT Dining Guide to discover the best table service and quick service spots—plus a few hidden gems.
🧭 Olaf’s Holiday Traditions Expedition — Returning for 2025!
We love participating in EPCOT’s seasonal scavenger hunts. Whether we’re spotting Spike the Bee during Flower & Garden, searching for hidden Figments during Festival of the Arts, or tracking down Remy and friends during Food & Wine, these interactive games are a highlight of every trip.
For the Festival of the Holidays, the spotlight turns to Olaf—and he’s off exploring holiday traditions around the World Showcase! In this festive scavenger hunt, you’ll look for little Olaf figures placed throughout the pavilions, each holding a different holiday item or symbol.
🗺️ Here’s how it works:
Purchase your scavenger hunt map (2025 price TBA; previously $9.99) at the Creations Shop, World Traveler, or many festival merchandise kiosks
Search for Olaf and identify the holiday tradition he’s showcasing in each pavilion
Once complete, return your map to Disney Traders, Gateway Gifts, or World Traveler to claim your prize!
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: This is a great way to keep little ones engaged as you explore the festival—and a fun excuse for grown-ups to poke around every nook and cranny of World Showcase.
🎢 Want to know more about the fun rides and shows available year-round at EPCOT?
Check out our full EPCOT Attractions Guide to see what’s worth riding between Holiday Kitchen stops and Storyteller showtimes!
🎭 Festival of the Holidays Entertainment
📖 World Showcase Storytellers — Confirmed for 2025!
One of the most enchanting parts of the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays is the return of the World Showcase Storytellers. In each country, performers share traditional holiday tales, legends, and customs that bring the season to life. From Father Christmas to mischievous barn gnomes, each one offers a peek into how different cultures celebrate.
Each performance lasts about 15–20 minutes, and they’re scheduled multiple times daily throughout the festival.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: These storytellers are a hidden gem—don’t rush past them! They’re especially fun for kids and a great way to take a break from the crowds and food booths.
🌍 Confirmed 2025 World Showcase Storytellers
🇨🇦 Canada – Canadian Holiday Voyageurs
🇬🇧 United Kingdom – Father Christmas
🇫🇷 France – Père Noël
✡️ Between France & Morocco – Hanukkah Storyteller
🇯🇵 Japan – Daruma Storyteller
🇮🇹 Italy – La Befana
🇨🇳 China – Chinese Lion Dancer
🇳🇴 Norway – Mischievous Barn Santa & Sigrid
🇲🇽 Mexico – Las Posadas Celebration
🎅 Where to Find Santa at EPCOT
Santa’s always busy traveling the world—and you can catch him doing just that in EPCOT’s World Showcase! During the Festival of the Holidays, you’ll find a few familiar versions of St. Nick sharing their unique traditions:
🇫🇷 Père Noël appears in the France Pavilion, where he tells the charming story of Babette and her heartfelt Christmas letter.
🇳🇴 Barn Santa pops up in the Norway Pavilion, getting into all kinds of mischievous fun during a comedic storytelling performance with Sigrid.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: These aren’t just character sightings—they’re full performances, and they’re some of the most delightful moments in the festival. Check your Festival Passport or My Disney Experience app for showtimes!
🎅 Note: A Traditional Santa Claus meet-and-greet has not yet been confirmed for 2025. In previous years, he appeared at the Odyssey Pavilion through December 24.
🎭 EPCOT Character Meet & Greet Guide
🎅 Want to meet more characters beyond Santa Claus?See who you can find around the park with our EPCOT Character Meet and Greet Guide—updated for 2025!
2024 Storytellers schedule, we will update for 2025 once it is released.
Canada
Canadian Holiday Voyageurs
2:20 PM, 3:30 PM, 4:35 PM, 5:35 PM, 6:45 PM, and 7:30 PM
United Kingdom
Father Christmas
11:45 AM, 12:35 PM, 1:30 PM, 2:20 PM, 3:50 PM, 4:50 PM, 5:35 PM, and 6:40 PM
France
Père Noël
10:00 AM, 11:05 AM, 12:10 PM, 12:50 PM, 2:20 PM, 3:25 PM, 4:30 PM and 5:15 PM
Between France & Morocco
Hanukkah Storyteller
12:00 PM, 1:00 PM, 1:50 PM, 2:50 PM, 3:45 PM, 5:05 PM, 5:50 PM, and 6:30PM
Japan
Daruma Storyteller
10:45 AM,11:45 AM, 12:45 PM, 1:35 PM, 2:35 PM, 4:15 PM, 5:00 PM, and 5:45 PM
Italy
La Befana
11:15 AM, 12:15 PM, 1:00 PM, 1:55 PM, 3:30 PM, 4:15 PM, 5:00 PM and 5:40 PM
China
Chinese Lion Dancer
12:00 PM, 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM
Norway
Mischievous Magical Barn Santa
11:40 AM, 12:30 PM, 1:35 PM, 2:45 PM, 4:20 PM, 5:20 PM, 6:10 PM and 7:00 PM
Mexico
Las Posadas Celebration
11:05 AM, 11:55 PM, 12:45 PM, 2:45 PM, 3:50 PM and 4:55 PM
The Odyssey Pavilion
Santa Greeting
Daily through December 24
11:00 AM, 12:30 PM, 2:00 PM, 3:30 PM, and 5:00 PM
🌍 EPCOT World Showcase Guide
🌐 Curious about the pavilions behind the storytellers?Dive deeper into each country with our EPCOT World Showcase Guide, packed with cultural tips, dining options, and family-friendly must-dos.
🎶 JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season
Get ready to clap your hands and feel the spirit of the season—JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season is back for the 2025 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays!
This high-energy performance celebrates both Christmas and Kwanzaa through powerful Gospel and R&B vocals. The uplifting music, soulful harmonies, and infectious energy make this a must-see show during the festival.
🎤 JOYFUL! will once again take place at CommuniCore Plaza in World Celebration.
🕒 2024 Showtimes (2025 schedule TBA):1:05 PM, 2:10 PM, 3:15 PM, and 4:20 PM
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: JOYFUL! is one of the few performances located outside the World Showcase—so don’t forget to check your Festival Passport or the My Disney Experience app for exact showtimes if you're planning your day from front to back!
Voices of Liberty: The Dickens Carolers
The a cappella group preforms Christmas favorites at 11:15 AM, 12:00 PM, 12:45 PM, 1:30 PM, 2:15 PM, 3:30 PM, and 3:45 PM daily in the rotunda at The American Pavilion
CANDLELIGHT PROCESSIONAL **updated for 2024
🌟 Candlelight Processional — Returning for 2025
A beloved tradition for many Walt Disney World guests, the Candlelight Processional is the crown jewel of the Festival of the Holidays entertainment lineup. Held at the America Gardens Theatre in the American Adventure Pavilion, this moving performance features a celebrity narrator retelling the story of Christmas, accompanied by a full choir and 50-piece live orchestra.
Many families attend year after year just for this experience—it’s that powerful.
🕯️ For 2025, the Candlelight Processional will return with nightly performances at 5:00 PM, 6:45 PM, and 8:15 PM.
✨ 2024 Narrator Lineup (for reference)
While the 2025 narrator schedule hasn’t been announced yet, here’s a look at who took the stage in 2024:
Josh Gad – Nov. 29–30
Nico Santos (NEW) – Dec. 1–2
Chrissy Metz – Dec. 3–5
Whoopi Goldberg – Dec. 6–7
Tituss Burgess (NEW) – Dec. 8–10
Brendan Fraser – Dec. 11–12
Ralph Macchio (NEW) – Dec. 13–14
Gary Sinise – Dec. 15–16
Neil Patrick Harris – Dec. 17–18
Pat Sajak – Dec. 19–21
Gloria Estefan – Dec. 22–23
Edward James Olmos – Dec. 24–26
Sterling K. Brown – Dec. 27–28
Jodi Benson – Dec. 29–30
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: If you want a guaranteed seat, consider booking a Candlelight Processional Dining Package (we’ll update details as soon as 2025 bookings open!). In the mean time head over to our
🍽️ Want to know how EPCOT dining packages work?
While we wait for the 2025 Candlelight Processional Dining Package details to drop, head over to our Disney World Fireworks Dessert Parties & Dining Packages Guide for all the deets on how dining packages work at EPCOT and beyond!
🧊 Festival Activities from 2024 (Not Yet Confirmed for 2025)
🎄 A Grand and Miraculous Gingerbread Display
New in 2024 Located in CommuniCore Hall, this stunning 8-foot-tall gingerbread version of Spaceship Earth was made of hundreds of hand-crafted gingerbread triangles. It even lit up and “danced” periodically throughout the day—just like the real thing!🧁 Guests could also purchase gingerbread kits at the nearby Experimental Prototype Cookies of Tomorrow Holiday Kitchen.
🌟 Deck CommuniCore Hall – Glittering Glove Presented by Balsam Hill
New in 2024 This immersive walkthrough experience featured a twinkling forest and shimmering holiday décor inspired by World Showcase countries and EPCOT architecture. Festival-exclusive merchandise was also available here.
❄️ Do You Wanna Build a Snowflake?
New in 2024 In CommuniCore Plaza, guests could decorate their own paper snowflakes at this kid-friendly station. Nearby, JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season performed on stage, and the Favorites of Festivals Past Holiday Kitchen served up returning fan-favorite dishes from previous EPCOT festivals.
🎁 Seasonal Scents – Festive Fragrances by Scentsy
New in 2024This walk-through experience—set up between the Imagination! Pavilion and World Showcase—invited guests to explore a “snow globe garden” inspired by seasonal Scentsy scents. These fragrances were also available for purchase in CommuniCore Hall.
🗺️ Festival Map — Your Guide to Booths, Benches & Breaks
When we were planning our own Festival of the Holidays day, we found ourselves on the hunt for the perfect map—something that showed not only where the food booths were, but also where to grab a seat, take cover from the rain, or enjoy a shady break between bites.
We couldn’t find exactly what we needed… so we made our own! We will be updating it for 2025 as soon as information is released.
🎉 Here’s our custom EPCOT Festival of the Holidays Map, updated for 2024 and available both online and as a downloadable PDF.
📍 It includes:
Holiday Kitchen booth locations
Rest stops with seating
Covered and shaded areas (great for weather surprises)
Plus icons for scavenger hunt spots and more!
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Download the map to your phone before your park day so you don’t have to rely on Wi-Fi or cell signal in the middle of World Showcase!
🎁 Ready to Celebrate the Holidays at EPCOT?
Whether you're sipping mulled wine, searching for Olaf, listening to a Storyteller share beloved traditions, or singing along to JOYFUL!, there's truly something for everyone at the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. With festive food, heartwarming entertainment, and plenty of sweet moments to share, it’s the perfect way to wrap up your Walt Disney World year.
✨ As always, we’ll keep this guide updated as new details for 2025 are released—so check back often!
Looking for more planning help? Don’t miss these festival-friendly resources:
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: EPCOT can get busy during the holidays—especially in the evenings and on weekends. Arrive early, pace yourself, and don’t forget to soak in the joyful little details between snacks and shows!
Pixie Dust Hugs,
Bren, Lyn, and Kim
🎄Planning a full holiday trip to Walt Disney World?
Don’t miss our complete guides to the two biggest after-hours events of the season:
🎅 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party — parades, snowfall on Main Street, rare characters, and more at Magic Kingdom
🎬 Disney’s Jollywood Nights — a glam nighttime celebration at Hollywood Studios with live music, cocktails, and vintage vibes
Make the most of the merriest time of the year at every park!
