Walt Disney World Resort has revealed the details for the holiday offerings that will be available later this year for Disney fans who visit the Most Magical Place on Earth during the merriest of seasons. At EPCOT, the Festival of Holidays will be making its return from November 28-December 30, 2025. There will be festive food and beverage offerings, entertainment, and a whole lot more. Below is a look at what can be experienced this year during the 2025 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.
Festival of the Holidays Shows and Entertainment
There will be no shortage of entertainment offerings to be experienced during the Festival of Holidays. This ranges from JOYFUL!, to learning about holiday traditions around World Showcase, or experiencing the beauty of the Candlelight Processional.
Candlelight Processional
On each night during Festival of the Holidays, America Gardens Theatre will offer the beautiful Candlelight Processional. This is a gorgeous retelling of the nativity story with holiday hymns, an orchestra, choir, and celebrity narrator. The vocal ensembles include the Voices of Liberty, Disney Cast Choir, and local community groups.
The celebrity narrators are always a highlight of the Candlelight Processional. Previous narrators include Josh Gad, Neil Patrick Harris, and Jodi Benson. The line-up of celebrity narrators will be announced at a later date. Daps Magic will report on them when they are announced.
The Candlelight Processional is presented nightly at 5:00 PM, 6:45 PM, and 8:15 PM. The show runs approximately 50 minutes. Seating is first-come, first-served and often fills up fast, so plan ahead if you want to experience this show. There will also be dining packages with reserved seating available, with details coming soon.
World Showcase Storytellers
One of the highlights of the Festival of Holidays is getting to experience and explore the different pavilions around World Showcase. While doing this, check out the performances from Holiday Storytellers as they share the festive traditions and bring holiday tales to life from their respective countries. The following Holiday Storytellers are scheduled to share their cultures during the season:
- Mexico Pavilion – Las Posadas Celebration
- Norway Pavilion – A Mischievous Magical Barn Santa
- China Pavilion – Chinese Lion Dancer
- Italy Pavilion – La Befana
- Japan Pavilion – Daruma Storyteller
- Between the Morocco and France Pavilions – Hanukkah Storyteller
- France Pavilion – Père Noël
- United Kingdom Pavilion – Father Christmas
- Canada Pavilion – Canadian Holiday Voyageurs
Performances happen frequently throughout the day. Specific showtimes can be found each day in the My Disney Experience app.
JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season
Another fun offering at EPCOT during Festival of Holidays is JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season. This is a concert series that celebrates the spirit of Christmas and Kwanzaa. Holiday hits are performed by Central Florida group D’Vine Voices in an upbeat mix of music styles that include gospel, jazz, and R&B. Check the My Disney Experience app for showtimes.
Festival of the Holidays Food and Drink
There is no shortage of food and beverage offerings to enjoy during the holidays at EPCOT. While the full menu hasn’t been released yet, some offerings have been shared by Disney.
Holiday Kitchens
This year, the Holiday Kitchens will be serving up an incredible selection of food and beverages that celebrate the holiday season. These standalone booths will offer heartwarming holiday dishes and festive flavors from around the world.
The final list of vendors is still being worked on. However, Disney did share that there will be both new offerings and returning favorites. The specifics will be shared at a later date. Daps Magic will report on the foods and Holiday Kitchens when they are revealed.
Holiday Cookie Stroll
The Holiday Cookie Stroll is returning to EPCOT this holiday season. This gives guests the chance to stroll around EPCOT and experience bites of different cookies made in the Walt Disney World kitchens.
At this time, the complete list of items for the Holiday Cookie Stroll is still being worked on. It is known that the stroll will again include the Coffee-Mocha Cookie topped with Coffee-infused Buttercream, Cocoa Nibs, and Chocolate-covered Espresso Beans.
The Holiday Cookie Stroll will allow guests to purchase five cookies from the official locations and then collect the corresponding stamps in their Festival Passport. Once this is done, a special surprise can be redeemed at Holiday Sweets and Treats!
Festival of the Holidays Ride Overlays and Activities
During Festival of the Holidays will offer a wide range of seasonal activities to be enjoyed throughout EPCOT. There will also be a beloved attraction that gets a festive overlay.
Santa at EPCOT
Santa is always traveling around the world. The same is true at EPCOT’s World Showcase. Throughout the holiday season, guests can find Père Noël (Father Christmas) in the France Pavilion. There, he tells the story of Babette and her Christmas letter. At the Norway Pavilion, find Barn Santa and learn about how he is up to his old tricks once again!
Olaf’s Holiday Scavenger Hunt
Returning this year is Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt. This sends guests on a quest to locate Olaf in 13 different spots throughout EPCOT.
Guests can purchase a map and stickers for this quest at select festival merchandise locations. They can then find the holiday traditions that Olaf has discovered in every pavilion around World Showcase. Once all of them have been found, visit Creations Shop or World Traveler at International Gateway to redeem a gift!
Living with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses
During the Festival of Holidays, Living with the Land is transformed into a glittering greenhouse tour. This allows guests to experience the attraction with sparkling Christmas lights and dazzling decor. It is a holiday experience that is fun for the whole family!
The core of the boat ride remains the same, as it highlights the incredible work of Walt Disney World horticulturalists and their innovative growing techniques and technologies. It also just has some added merriment with the decor and the holiday-themed narration that guides the relaxing floating tour.
The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays is always a highlight at Walt Disney World Resort during the holiday season. What do you most look forward to experiencing this year during the Festival of the Holidays? Do you have a favorite memory or experience of this holiday offering? Share your thoughts, opinions, and memories in the comments below!
