The EPCOT International Festival of Holidays is a celebration of international holiday traditions from around the world that takes place in the World Showcase in EPCOT. EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays will take place November 29th, 2024 through December 30th, 2024.
This popular holiday tradition at Epcot features holiday marketplace booths including a holiday cookie stroll and the famous Candlelight Processional.
Keep reading to find out more about the EPCOT International Festival of Holidays including our best tips on celebrating the holidays at Walt Disney World.
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EPCOT International Festival of Holidays
The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays takes place November 29th, 2024 through December 30th, 2024. This festival experience includes:
- An International Yuletide Extravaganza: featuring 11 holiday traditions of the 11 World Showcase nations.
- The popular Candlelight Processional as guests experience the story of Christmas with a full choir and celebrity narrator.
- Holiday Kitchens: featuring seasonal food from around the world at select kiosks around the park- nearly 25 in total!
- The Holiday Cookie Stroll: sample cookies from around the world.
NEW this year is Gingerbread Spaceship Earth display coming to CommuniCore Hall and two brand new holiday kitchens coming to the food festival lineup called Experimental Prototype Cookies of Tomorrow and Favorites of Festivals Past.
EPCOT Festival of the Holidays Entertainment
The EPCOT International Festival of Holidays is about much more than the holiday food marketplace booths (although they're not to be missed!) with plenty of variety of holiday entertainment.
EPCOT Holiday Storytellers
World Showcase countries have their own Holiday Storytellers ready to share their legends and lores of the season. Shows take place multiple times throughout the day. Holiday Storytellers featured includes:
Future World
- JOYFUL! A Gospel Celebration of the Season Gospel style music
- America Music Machine: Cappela group
World Showcase
- Norway: Storyteller Sigrid tells the tale of the mischievous Christmas Gnome Julenissen.
- Germany: Helga tells a story of the first Christmas tree and the tale of the nutcracker
- Italy: La Befana, a kind-hearted witch, recalls her first Christmas 2000 years ago
- Japan: Daruma (doll) seller speaks about the Japanese New Year customs.
- France: Pere Noel recreates the magic of Christmas through the eyes of a child.
- United Kingdom: Father Christmas shares Christmas traditions.
- Canada: The Canadian Holiday Voyageurs take guests on a musical tour through the seasonal customs of the Great White North.
- China: Chinese Lion Dance to celebrate the New Year.
- Mexico: Fiesta de Navidad- dancers and mariachis.
- Morocco: Storyteller shares holiday traditions.
Spaceship Earth Light Show
And don't miss the light show at Spaceship Earth invoking the sights of winter, including snowflakes, northern lights, and warm candles.
Gingerbread Spaceship Earth at EPCOT
NEW this year is the Spaceship Earth gingerbread display located at CommuniCore Hall in EPCOT. This 8-foot-tall gingerbread display took over 160 hours and lights up and dances to music throughout the day. There are also 11 Mickeys hidden throughout the display to reflect the 11 countries of the World Showcase.
Santa Claus- American Adventure
Santa Claus greets guests at the American Adventure throughout the day. You can also enjoy the Voices of Liberty singing holiday Christmas carols in Charles Dickens-themed costumes plus view gingerbread displays of U.S. monuments. See all Disney World gingerbread houses ranked.
There will also be Holiday Storytellers at the American Adventure where guests can learn about Kwanzaa and Hanukkah.
Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt
Like all Epcot festivals, the International Festival of Holidays also includes a scavenger hunt! Search for holiday traditions Olaf has gathered from around the world. You can purchase a map for $9.99 from the Creations Shop, Port of Entry, or International Gateway gift shops. Once you've submitted your map (you can also decide to just get your prize without doing the scavenger hunt) you can redeem it for a prize.
Living with the Land- Glimmering Greenhouses
Don't forget to view the holiday overlay on Living with the Land as you drift through the twinkling holiday displays in the greenhouse. This is a beautiful addition for the season, it's worth taking the time to see!
EPCOT Candlelight Processional
The Candlelight Processional has been a Disney Parks tradition dating back to 1958 at Disneyland. The Candlelight Processional at Epcot takes place at the America Gardens Theatre featuring the Voices of Liberty and a choir of Disney cast members, a live orchestra, and celebrity narrators retelling the traditional Christmas story.
In the Candlelight Processional, you will hear the biblical story of Christmas typically told by a celebrity narrator and accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and massed choir. This is a beloved tradition at Walt Disney World so be sure you don't miss it!
How do you get tickets to the Candlelight Processional at Epcot?
You do not require a separate ticket or reservation to see the Candlelight Processional at Epcot as its included in your park admission. The seating in the America Gardens Theatre is on a first come, first served basis so plan on reserving a spot early in the day.
If you don't want to worry about having to devote part of your park day reserving a spot, you can also purchase a dining package which are typically offered for the Candlelight Processional.
Since this is such a popular tradition at Epcot, I recommend either booking a dining package or being committed to reserving your seat at least 90 minutes prior to showtime.
2024 Celebrity Narrators
- 11/29 – 11/30 Josh Gad
- 12/1 – 12/2 Nico Santos (NEW)
- 12/3-12/5 Chrissy Metz
- 12/6 – 12/7 Whoopi Goldberg
- 12/8 – 12/10 Tituss Burgess (NEW)
- 12/11 – 12/12 Brendan Fraser
- 12/13 – 12/14 Ralph Macchio (NEW)
- 12/15 – 12/16 Gary Sinise
- 12/17 – 12/18 Neil Patrick Harris
- 12/19 – 12/21 Pat Sajak
- 12/22 – 12/23 Gloria Estefan
- 12/24 – 12/26 Edward James Olmos
- 12/27 – 12/28 Sterling K Brown
- 12/29 – 12/30 Jodi Benson
EPCOT Candlelight Processional Dining Packages
If you already had plans to eat at one of these restaurants then this is a great way to bundle that experience with a guaranteed spot to see the Candlelight Processional at Epcot!
- Candlelight Processional Dining Packages are only offered during the holiday season.
- Alcohol will only be served to Guests ages 21 and older.
- Reservations require a credit card guarantee.
- Guests will receive Candlelight Seating badges at the restaurant after their meal. The badge will specify the date and show time they have reserved.
- Guests with the Dining Package will enter America Gardens Theatre in a separate queue and will be seated on a first-come, first served basis. Seating is guaranteed.
- Guests who have not reserved a Candlelight Processional Dining Package will be seated at the Candlelight Processional on a first-come, first-served basis. Seating is based on availability due to limited capacity.
- To enter EPCOT, both a theme park reservation and valid theme park admission are required. EPCOT admission is not included in the price of the dining package.
Read our review of the EPCOT Candlelight Processional dining package.
Holiday Kitchens at EPCOT
New this year for the 2024 food guide are two marketplace booths: Experimental Prototype Cookies of Tomorrow Menu and Favorites of Festivals Past Menu. I am most excited to see the Favorites of Festivals Past Menu which is bringing back popular hits from previous EPCOT festivals!
NEW! Experimental Prototype Cookies of Tomorrow Menu
Location: CommuniCore Hall
Food Items:
- Spaceship Earth Tile Gingerbread Triangle (New)
Beverages:
- Hot Cocoa by Joffrey’s Coffee (Non-alcoholic beverage)
- Gingerbread Milk Shake (Non-alcoholic beverage)
- Gingerbread Milk Shake with whipped cream vodka
- Seasonal Wine
- Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. Gingerbread White Stout
- 81Bay Brewing Co. Gingerbread Coffee Porter
NEW! Favorites of Festivals Past Menu
Location: CommuniCore Plaza
Food Items:
- Reuben Croquettes with pastrami, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese with thousand island dipping sauce
- Brown Sugar and Mustard-glazed Ham Sliders with cranberry and apple coleslaw on a Hawaiian roll
- Bauducco Panettone Holiday Trifle with eggnog custard and cranberry cherry compote
Beverages:
- Southern Tier Brewing Co. Tiramisu Imperial Stout
- Keel Farms Pecan Pie Hard Cider
- Point Snow Pilot Pistachio Nut Brown Ale
- Beer Flight
World Discovery
Connections Café Menu
Location: In World Discovery
Food Item:
- 🍪 Holiday Sugar Cookie
Connections Eatery Menu
Location: In World Discovery
Food Item:
- Holiday Sweater Liege Waffle: Chocolate-coated brioche waffle with a flurry of blizzard themed sprinkles and white chocolate garnish
Beverage:
- Coquito Milk Shake: French vanilla gelato, cream of coconut, nutmeg, and cinnamon (Non-alcoholic beverage) (Spirited version available with Bacardí Superior Rum)
Holiday Hearth Desserts Menu
Location: The Odyssey
Food Items:
- Red Velvet Mini Bundt Cake with cream cheese icing
- Salted Caramel Spaceship Earth Cookie
- Mouse Crunch made with Red & Green M&M’S Milk Chocolate Candies
- Mint Chocolate Mousse Wreath
- Apple Caramel Crumb Cake
- Chocolate-covered Toffee Brittle
Beverages:
- Hot Cocoa by Joffrey’s Coffee (Non-alcoholic beverage)
- Frozen Caramel Hot Cocoa: Hot cocoa with whipped cream and TWIX cookie bar pieces (Non-alcoholic beverage)
- Wicked Weed Brewing Jack Frost IPA
- BrewDog Winter Staycation Pecan & Toffee Stout
- Wicked Weed Brewing Milk & Cookies Imperial Milk Stout
- Cocoa Candy Cane: Hot Cocoa by Joffrey’s Coffee with Peppermint Schnapps
- Beer Flight
World Showcase
Las Posadas Holiday Kitchen Menu
Location: Mexico
Food Items:
- Empanada de Pollo: Fried corn tortilla filled with chipotle chicken and potatoes topped with chile rojo salsa, crema Mexicana, and queso fresco (New)
- Tamal de Puerco con Mole: Shredded pork in corn masa topped with mole negro, queso fresco, crema Mexicana, slivered almonds, and sesame seeds (New)
- Dulce de Leche Churro sprinkled with cinnamon sugar
Beverages:
- Holiday Margarita: Dos Hombres Mezcal, tequila, cranberry lime juice, allspice and orange blackcurrant liqueurs (New)
- Coconut Guavarita: Tromba Blanco Tequila, coconut water, guava cream, hint of lime rum, and orange liqueur with a toasted coconut rim (New)
- Holiday Cerveza: Mexican Artisanal Craft Lager with black currant liqueur
Shanghai Holiday Kitchen Menu
Location: China
Food Items:
- XO Fried Rice: Chinese sausage, onion, green onion, mushroom, egg, and house-made Hong Kong XO Chili Sauce (New)
- Beef Noodle Soup Bowl with slow-braised beef shank, green onion, and house-made chili oil
- Vegetable Spring Rolls with citrus sauce
Beverages:
- Taro Bubble Milk Tea: Green tea and boba (Non-alcoholic beverage) (New)
- Brew Hub Year of the Dragon: Dragon Fruit Lager
- Butterfly Lantern: Butterfly pea blossom gin, vodka, prickly pear, lychee syrup, soda water, and white boba
- Lychee Martini: Vodka, lychee syrup, and vermouth (New)
- Peach of Longevity: Peach Schnapps, citrus vodka, piña colada mix, and orange juice (New)
Refreshment Outpost Menu
Food Items:
- Peanut Stew with sweet potatoes, mustard greens, and roasted peanuts (Plant-based)
- DOLE Whip Raspberry (Plant-based)
Beverages:
- Ciderboys Caramel Apple Hard Cider
- 81Bay Brewing Co. Cinnamon Orange Cranberry Wheat Ale
- Crooked Can Brewing Company Crème Brûlée Lager
- Boyd & Blair Chai Tea Mule
Bavaria Holiday Kitchen Menu
Location: Germany
Food Items:
- Cheese Fondue in a bread bowl with steamed baby vegetables and marble potatoes
- Pork Schnitzel with mushroom sauce, spätzle, and braised red cabbage
- 🍪 Hazelnut Linzer Cookie
Beverages:
- Possmann Pure Hard Cider
- von Trapp Brewing Trösten Smoked Dark Lager
- Köstritzer Schwarzbier
- Regional Riesling
- Glühwein: House-made hot spiced wine (Served warm)
- Beer Flight
Tuscany Holiday Kitchen Menu
Location: Italy
Food Items:
- Montanara: Fried house-made pizza dough with pomodoro sauce, parmesan, and fresh basil
- Dolce Pizza: Fried house-made pizza dough with sugar and cinnamon
- Panettone: Panettone bread pudding and vanilla cream (New)
Beverages:
- Bombardino Freddo: Creamy eggnog and Italian brandy
- Prosecco
- Moscato
- Chianti
- Italian Red Sangria
- Italian-inspired Margarita: Tequila, triple sec, and limoncello
- Peroni Pilsner
American Holiday Table Menu
Location: The American Adventure
Food Items:
- Slow-roasted Turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, and cranberry sauce
- Blackened Catfish with Hoppin’ John and Comeback Sauce
- 🍪 SNICKERS-Doodle Cookie made with SNICKERS bar pieces
Beverages:
- Crooked Can Brewing Company Bah HOPbug IPA
- 3 Daughters Brewing Eggnog White Porter
- Playalinda Brewing Co. Peppermint Chocolate Stout
- Beer Flight
Funnel Cake Menu
Location: The American Adventure
Food Item:
- Gingerbread Funnel Cake: Vanilla ice cream, gingerbread crumbs, whipped cream, and red and green sprinkles (New)
Shi Wasu Holiday Kitchen Menu
Location: Japan
Food Items:
- Sushi Tree Roll: Christmas tree-shaped sushi roll with krab meat and cream cheese topped with ikura salmon roe and spicy mayo
- Toshikoshi Soba: Buckwheat soba noodle in hot dashi (fish-based) soup topped with shrimp tempura and chopped green onion
- Mochi Donut Wrap: A soft, chewy fusion pastry served with strawberry, whipped cream, strawberry sauce, and sweet red beans wrapped with “gyuhi” rice cake sheet (New)
Beverages:
- Ichigo Boba: Cranberry and yuzu cream drink with calpico and popping strawberry boba pearls (Non-alcoholic beverage)
- Japanese Punch: Shōchū, plum wine, cranberry, and lemon juice
- Chocolate Nigori: Creamy texture of Nigori Sake and rich sweetness and gentle bitterness from chocolate (New)
- Sapporo Premium Black Beer
Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina Menu
Location: Morocco
Food Items:
- Grilled Kebabs with carrot-chickpea salad and garlic aïoli
- Chermoula chicken
- Moroccan-spiced lamb
- Stone-baked Moroccan bread with dips (Plant-based)
Beverages:
- Ciderboys Cranberry Razz Hard Cider (New)
- Bold Rock Apple Crumble Hard Cider
- Gulf Stream Brewing Holiday Snakebite
- Holiday Fig Cocktail: Kleiner Feigling fig liqueur and white cranberry juice
- Hard Cider Flight
L’Chaim! Holiday Kitchen Menu
Location: Between Morocco and France
Food Items:
- Pastrami on Rye with house-made pickles and deli mustard
- Smoked Salmon Potato Latke
- Potato Latkes (Plant-based)
- Rugelach: Pastry filled with raspberry jam, walnuts, and cinnamon
- 🍪 Black and White Cookie (Plant-based)
Beverages:
- Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout (New)
- Frozen New York Whiskey Sour: Manifest Whiskey and Manischewitz Blackberry Wine
Le Marché de Noël Holiday Kitchen Menu
Location: France
Food Items:
- Crème De Saumon Fumé en Brioche aux Grains de Sesames, Concombre Et Radis: Smoked salmon spread on a sesame brioche roll with cucumber and radishes
- Rôti de Jambon Sauce Moutarde à l’Ancienne, Pommes Darphin: Roasted ham with mushrooms, pearl onions, bacon, white wine mustard sauce, and darphin roasted herb potatoes (New)
- Bûche de Noël au Chocolat et Caramel: Chocolate fudge Christmas log with a caramel cream center (New)
Beverages:
- Frozen Hot Chocolate Martini: Vodka, chocolate milk, and whipped cream
- Spiced Cranberry Punch: Pol Rémy Sparkling Wine, cranberry juice, orange juice, and spiced brown sugar (New)
- Chateau Haut Beaumard Cabernet Sauvignon (New)
UK Beer Cart Menu
Location: United Kingdom
Beverage:
- Frozen Chocolate Orange Cocktail: Hot chocolate, orange syrup, and blood orange liqueur
Canada Popcorn Cart Menu
Location: Canada
Beverage:
- Canadian Hot Toddy: Maple syrup, honey, black tea, lemon juice, cinnamon, and Tap 357 Canadian Maple Rye Whisky served warm
Yukon Holiday Kitchen Menu
Location: Canada
Food Items:
- Seared Salmon with butternut squash purée, maple-bourbon glaze, and fennel-arugula salad
- Beef Bourguignon with crushed potatoes
- 🍪 Peppermint Pinwheel Cookie
Beverages:
- Frozen Joffrey’s Coffee (Non-alcoholic beverage)
- 81Bay Brewing Co. Peanut Butter Banana Porter
- Playalinda Brewing Co. Maple Cookie Blonde Ale
- Collective Arts Coffee Maple Porter
- Regional Icewine
- Regional Red Wine
- Frozen Joffrey’s Coffee with Tap 357 Canadian Maple Rye Whisky
- Beer Flight
Refreshment Port Menu
Location: Near Canada
Food Item:
- Turkey Poutine: Sweet potato fries with turkey gravy, cranberry relish, and crispy onions
Beverages:
- Keel Farms Pumpkin Hard Cider
- Pasek Cellars Cranberry Wine
Swirled Showcase Menu
Location: Near Port of Entry
Food Items:
- Holiday Mickey-shaped Liquid Nitrogen Pop: Chocolate cake dipped in ganache made with Red & Green M&M’S Milk Chocolate Minis
- Soft-serve in a Cone
- Vanilla
- Apple-cinnamon
- Dark chocolate
Beverages:
- Floats: Barq’s Red Crème Soda or Barq’s Root Beer with Vanilla Soft-serve (Non-alcoholic beverage)
- Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. Bourbonola and Cherry Cola
- Floats:
- Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. Bourbonola with dark chocolate soft-serve
- Fireball Cinnamon Whisky and Barq’s Red Crème Soda with apple cinnamon soft-serve
- Coffee Float: Dark chocolate soft-serve with iced coffee and choice of Mozart Liqueur
Holiday Sweets & Treats Menu
Location: Near Port of Entry
Food Item:
- Peppermint Sundae: Chocolate ice cream, whipped cream, and peppermint candy
Beverages:
- Hot Cocoa by Joffrey’s Coffee (Non-alcoholic beverage)
- Chocolate Peppermint Shake with Twinings Peppermint Cheer Tea (Non-alcoholic beverage)
- Hot Cocoa by Joffrey’s Coffee with Choice of Liqueur: Baileys Original Irish Cream, Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream, or Grand Mariner
- Chocolate Peppermint Shake: Twinings Peppermint Cheer Tea and whipped cream vodka
- Deschutes Brewery Jubelale (New)
- Southern Tier Brewing Co. 2XMAS Ale
- Wicked Weed Brewing Hop Cocoa Porter
- Beer Flight
Mele Kalikimaka Holiday Kitchen Menu
Location: Between World Showcase and the Imagination! Pavilion
Food Items:
- Kālua Pork with Okinawa sweet potatoes and mango salad
- Lomi Lomi Salmon with tomatoes, onions, salmon roe, yuzu-mayonnaise, and yuca chips
- 🍪 Coffee Mocha Cookie topped with coffee-infused buttercream, cocoa nibs, and chocolate-covered espresso beans (New)
Beverages:
- Melon Breeze: DOLE Pineapple Juice, lime juice, melon liqueur, and Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum
- The Bruery 5 Golden Rings (New)
- Florida Orange Groves Winery Pineapple Sparkling Wine
Nochebuena Cocina Menu
Location: Between World Showcase and the Imagination! Pavilion
Food Items:
- Plant-based Chorizo Tamal with cotija and spicy red chile sauce (Plant-based)
- Pastelón: Sofrito-marinated beef with sweet plantains and olives
- 🍪 Cinnamon-spiced Chocolate Crinkle Cookie
Beverages:
- Ponche Navideño: Christmas punch with apple, pears, guava, oranges, dried hibiscus, brown sugar, tamarind, cinnamon sticks, and cloves served warm (Non-alcoholic beverage)
- Left Hand Brewing Co. Mexican Hot Chocolate Milk Stout (New)
Chestnuts & Good Cheer Holiday Kitchen Menu
Location: Between World Showcase and the Imagination! Pavilion
Food Items:
- Cinnamon-glazed Almonds
- Cinnamon-glazed Cashews
- Cinnamon-glazed Pecans
- Fire-roasted Chestnuts
Beverages:
- Eggnog (Non-alcoholic beverage)
- Eggnog with choice of cordial: Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, Mozart Chocolate Liqueur, or Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey
- Southern Tier Brewing Co. Chestnut Praline Imperial Ale
World Nature
Sunshine Seasons Menu
Location: The Land
Food Items:
- Peanut Butter Cookie made with Red & Green M&M’S Milk Chocolate Minis
Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company Menu
Location: Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company throughout the park
Beverage:
- Merry Mint Cookie Latte: A festive blend of espresso, toasted marshmallow syrup, peppermint syrup, dark chocolate sauce, and milk topped with peppermint whipped cream and chocolate cookie crumbs (Non-alcoholic beverage) (New)
- Spirited version available with Baileys Original Irish Cream
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