The 2025 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays kicked off Friday at Walt Disney World, bringing warm seasonal energy to World Showcase and beyond. Guests will find global traditions, festive food, and live entertainment spread throughout the park. The festival runs through December 30, giving plenty of time to enjoy everything it offers.
Holiday Storytellers return to each World Showcase pavilion, and they remain one of the best parts of the event. These short performances introduce the stories, customs, and characters behind seasonal celebrations around the world. The atmosphere feels welcoming, and the storytellers help guests connect with each culture in a personal way.
Mexico shares traditions inspired by Las Posadas. Norway highlights its playful holiday gnomes. China brings the spirit of Lunar New Year. Germany focuses on long-standing customs passed down from generation to generation. The United Kingdom offers classic stories that feel familiar to many visitors. Walking from pavilion to pavilion becomes a small trip around the world, filled with charming moments along the way.
The Candlelight Processional has also returned, drawing many guests to the America Gardens Theatre each night. A celebrity narrator retells the Christmas story, accompanied by an orchestra and choir. The setting feels peaceful and thoughtful. Many families return year after year because the show creates a calm break from busy holiday schedules. Don’t forget about the Candlelight Processional Dining Packages that offer a delicious meal plus guaranteed seating at that night’s performance!
The Holiday Kitchens give the festival its flavor. These booths offer seasonal dishes and drinks from many regions. Guests will find potato pancakes, slow-roasted holiday meats, pastries, and cookies. Warm ciders, mulled wines, and hot cocoa appear throughout the walkways. Sampling items at each stop becomes an enjoyable part of the day, and the variety makes it easy to try something new.
Around the park, smaller details add to the fun. Live musicians perform holiday sets. Shops carry seasonal merchandise. Decorations blend with each pavilion’s existing look without feeling overdone. Kids and adults alike love taking part in the Holiday Cookie Stroll, collecting specialty cookies (and eating!) from select booths to earn a final treat.
Be sure to stop by CommuniCore Hall to see the gorgeous gingerbread Spaceship Earth! The display was new last year and we’re glad that we’ll be able to see it again this year. Watch the time-lapse video of it being built below!
The festival keeps a friendly balance of tradition and fresh experiences. It gives guests many chances to slow down, taste something flavorful, and enjoy stories they might not hear anywhere else. With the 2025 festival now underway, EPCOT invites everyone to explore and celebrate the season in a warm and welcoming way.
