EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays is my favorite festival that happens at EPCOT. I know this event is extremely short, but it has a lot to offer. Since I was a kid, I’ve always loved EPCOT because there’s so much to learn and see. During the holidays, a whole layer of its culture is added to each pavilion. I find learning about different festive celebrations very interesting, but the best part is trying the different foods that accompany each holiday. As we get closer to this event, I wanted to highlight what I am looking forward to the most at this year’s festival.
Holiday Kitchens
The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays featured will feature 18 Holiday Kitchens in 2023! The Holiday Kitchens are scattered throughout all 11 World Showcase pavilions and beyond. On November 9th, Disney finally released the menus for the event. After doing some reading, I have made a list of all the foods I am excited to try. Before jumping into my list, I want to say that everything here will be plant-based or dairy-free. Now that I got that out of the way, let’s check out my list.
- Potato Latkes – L’Chaim! Holiday Kitchen
- Black and White Cookie – L’Chaim! Holiday Kitchen
- Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail with prosecco cocktail sauce and grilled lemon – Bubbles & Brine
- Peanut stew with sweet potatoes, mustard greens, and roasted peanuts – Refreshment Outpost
- Tamale with chorizo, plant-based cotija cheese, and spicy red chile sauce – Nochebuena Cocina
Holiday Storytellers
Celebrating the holiday season at EPCOT is so special. Guests can learn about the holiday traditions of all the countries represented in the World Showcase pavilions. Each country has its own unique theme that highlights its culture. Storytellers will delight you with tales of their heritage and how the holidays are celebrated in their homeland. It’s a unique opportunity to learn more about the world in which we live.
This offering will forever be my favorite part of the holidays at EPCOT. I have so many childhood memories of meeting and talking to the storytellers. My most vivid memory is with La Befana from the Italy Pavilion. I will never forget being so young and interacting with her, even though she low-key scared me.
Another storyteller I enjoy and always stop for is Père Noël at the France Pavilion. His story is excellent, and honestly, it never gets old. In recent years, I have added another storyteller to my favorites list. The Hanukkah Storyteller has become my absolute favorite. Growing up, I celebrated both Christmas and Hanukkah in my home since both holidays are part of my family’s culture. Hanukkah has always been my favorite and has such a special place in my heart, so when they added a Hanukkah storyteller, I got so happy. I must watch this short show whenever I go to EPCOT during this festival.
These two Festival of the Holidays offerings are my absolute favorite. This entire festival is a must-do for me, and I always recommend it to my friends and family. I love it so much that I always dedicate a day of my birthday weekend to EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays. I highly recommend checking out this event if you visit Walt Disney World between November 24th and December 30th.
Hi, I'm Erica, and I write about all things Disney. Before working for The DIS, I was a theme park performer at SeaWorld, but I also performed at Disney. I have such an immense love for theme parks to the point I studied them in college.
