The 3rd Annual Epcot International Festival of the Arts begins tomorrow, January 18th and runs daily to February 25th and included with your theme park admission. This festival has something for everyone and we were invited to get an early look at the great food, amazing merchandise, and world-class entertainment that, over the past two years, has quickly become a guest favorite.
Festival Merchandise
With items ranging from a limited edition MagicBand to a new set of Figment ears, this festival is always the one you need to make extra room in your luggage for.
One of the returning favorites is the “Figment’s Brush with the Masters” scavenger hunt where guest search all throughout World Showcase to find classic works of art that Figment has gotten into.
Guests will be able to purchase the map at multiple locations and whether they choose to track down the art or not they can redeem the map for one of three exclusive mini coloring books as this year’s redemption prize.
Festival Foods
Now it wouldn’t be an Epcot Festival without some of the best foods created just for this special occasion and with 21 Food Studios this year you will have Instagram Food pictures for days!
The Painter’s Palate – Gallery Bites: A Trio of Hors d’Oeuvres: Chilled Shrimp with Cucumber Cream Cheese on a Crostino: Traditional Deviled Egg with Candied Bacon Crispy Truffled Risotto Ball with Truffle Aïoli (V)
The Painter’s Palate – Smoked Salmon and Cream Gâteau with Egg Yolk Cream, Paddlefish Caviar, and Micro-herbs
The Artist’s Table – Pan-Seared Scallop with Chorizo, Roasted Red Pepper Coulis and a Parmesan Crisp (GF)
The Artist’s Table – Beef Wellington with Mushroom Bordelaise, Fennel Cream, and Roasted Baby Vegetables
The Masterpiece Kitchen – Wild Mushroom Risotto, Aged Parmesan, Truffle Shavings and Zinfandel Reduction (V)
Masterpiece Kitchen – Vanilla, Rose Water and Pistachio Panna Cotta
Decadent Delight – Lemon and Blood Orange Tart
Decadent Delights – Chocolate, Peanut Butter and Pretzel Crunch
POP Eats! – Popping Bubbles Cocktail
The Artist’s Table – Chocolate and Beer Pairing Flight
Festival Entertainment
The highlights of this festival are the arts and from the living statues in Future World, being able to help create a “paint by numbers” mural, and to see the many artists showing off their craft all along World Showcase. It is a guarantee you will not be able to take in everything in one day.
The biggest piece of the Festival of the Arts has to be the Disney On Broadway Concert Series, expanded to every day of the festival, with such Broadway talent as Kerry Butler & Kevin Massey, Kissy Simmons & Alton Fitzgerald White, and Ashley Brown & Josh Strickland to name a few this will be the must-see feature everyone will be talking about. I had the chance to speak with David Baldree, Produce Disney Parks Live Entertainment and Jeff Lee, Staff Associate Director Disney Theatrical Productions New York, who gave a overview of some of the entertainment for this years festival before getting a sneak peek at what is in store for guests during the Disney On Broadway Concert Series and what else is going on “Around the Disney World.”
For more information on the festival and the full line up of the Disney On Broadway Concert Series head HERE and follow along on our social media for ongoing updates.