Epcot Festival of the Holidays is a magical yuletide extravaganza. Delicious holiday treats, cultural traditions, spirited story telling from around the world, Santa visits, scavenger hunts and the fan favorite, Candlelight Processional. Enjoy seasonal musical performances and take a festive global tour around Showcase Lagoon.

The event runs daily from November 24th to December 30th 2023.

Epcot Festival of the Holidays – Holiday Kitchens

Get ready for the Festival of the Holidays to take your taste buds on a seasonal journey. Over 15 Holiday Kitchens are sprinkled throughout World Showcase offering an array of festive goodies. Sample seasonal flavors and treasured holiday recipes from across the globe.

Go hungry, because you’ll be able to sip and savor more than 50 bites and over 60 specialty beverages.

Disney chefs create treasured dishes to keep palates merry. From savories to sweets, children’s drinks to adult libations, there’s something on the holiday menu for everyone.

Holiday Cookie Stroll

Purchase five cookies from any of the cookie stroll locations, collecting a stamp in your festive passport for each one. When you’ve got 5 stamps in your passport, head to Holiday Sweets & Treats for a complimentary specialty treat.

• Nochebuena Cocina: Alfajores – Vanilla Shortbread Cookie with Dulce de Leche and Coconut
• Yukon Holiday Kitchen: SNICKERS®-Doodle Cookie made with SNICKERS® Bar pieces
• L’Chaim! Holiday Kitchen: Black and White Cookie (plant-based)
• American Holiday Table: Chocolate Crinkle Cookie
• Bavaria Holiday Kitchen: Linzer Cookie
• Holiday Hearth Desserts: Gingerbread Cookie
• Sunshine Seasons: M&M’s® Sugar Cookie
• Connections Café: Sugar Cookie

All ages will love joining in. There’s no time limit and you can collect the five stamps at leisure during the festival. Claim your complimentary treat before Epcot Festival of the Holidays ends on December 30th.

Candlelight Processional

This is one of the most popular events during the Epcot Festival of the Holidays. Epcot’s grandest holiday tradition features the retelling of the Christmas story by a celebrity narrator. The Candlelight Processional is performed with a 50-piece orchestra, mass choir and different celebrity narrators. Many find it a spiritually moving experiences, but the choir and orchestra appeal to non religious visitors too.

The 40 minute show takes place at the America Gardens Theatre three times every night during the festival at 5:15pm, 7:00pm or 8:30pm.

Candlelight Processional 2023 Narrators

The Epcot Festival of the Holidays lineup of award-winning actors, singers and TV personalities features several new celebrity narrators making their debut, including Brendan Fraser, Eva Longoria, Chrissy Metz and Ann-Margret. They will join many returning fan-favorite celebrity narrators, including Neil Patrick Harris.

Here’s the full line-up for the 2023 Candlelight Processional.

• Chrissy Metz (NEW): Nov. 24-25
• Luis Fonsi (NEW): Nov. 26-27
• Ann-Margret (NEW): Nov. 28-29
• Simu Liu: Nov. 30-Dec. 2
• John Stamos: Dec. 3-5
• Neil Patrick Harris: Dec. 6-8
• Marlee Matlin: Dec. 9-11
• Brendan Fraser (NEW): Dec. 12-14
• Eva Longoria (NEW): Dec. 15-16
• Joey McIntyre (NEW): Dec. 17-18
• Sterling K. Brown (NEW): Dec. 19-20
• Jordan Fisher (NEW): Dec. 21-23
• Steven Curtis Chapman: Dec. 24-26
• Audra McDonald (NEW): Dec. 27-28
• Lisa Ling: Dec. 29-30

Candlelight Processional Seating

Standby seating is on a first come, first serve basis and does get full. Lines start forming well in advance of shows. You need to start lining up early to get a good seat. At least 50% of the theater is reserved for those with Candlelight Processional Dining Packages.

Timing for arriving to get in line really depends on the narrator. People will start lining up several hours in advance for popular narrators. The date you are visiting will also play a factor in wait times.

If you want to be guaranteed a seat for a popular narrator, without waiting in line for several hours, a dining package is the way to go. The dining packages are usually booked well in advance, but same day seating can also be booked at one location during the Epcot Festival of the Holidays.

2023 Candlelight Dinner Package

When you book a Candlelight Dinner Package you’ll enjoy dining at one of 8 Epcot eateries, followed by same day guaranteed seating at the Candlelight Processional. Your dining package includes an appetizer, entrée and dessert or one full buffet (where applicable), plus a non-alcoholic beverage. At Spice Road, you’ll get 2 small plates and a nonalcoholic beverage per person, plus a tagine and dessert platter for your party to share

• Spice Road Table – Morocco Pavilion – $55 adult, $24 child
• Rose & Crown Dining Room – United Kingdom Pavilion – $66 adult, $29 child
• Biergarten Restaurant – Germany Pavilion – $65 adult, $37 child
• Garden Grill Restaurant – The Land Pavilion – Breakfast: $63 adult, $40 child | Lunch/Dinner: $78 adult, $50 child
• Coral Reef Restaurant – The Living Seas – $78 adult, $32 child
• Akershus Royal Banquet Hall – Norway Pavilion – Breakfast: $71 adult, $45 child | Lunch/Dinner $83 adult, $53 child
• Le Cellier Steakhouse – Canada Pavilion – $104 adult, $42 child

For reservations book online from October 17th 2023 onwards. It is highly recommended you book as early as possible. You will also need an Epcot park reservation too.

Your seating is guaranteed when you book a dining package, but you are not assigned a specific seat. You are guaranteed a seat in a reserved area.

Same Day Candlelight Processional Dining Options

If you don’t book a dining package in advance, same day dining options with reserved seating for the Candlelight Processional can be booked at Regal Eagle Smokehouse or Spice Road Table.

• Regal Eagle Smokehouse – American Adventure Pavilion – $41

Check availability on the day you visit. Seating packages are limited, head there as early as possible in the day for the best chance of a reservation.

If you are not that fussed about seating, there is usually standing room just outside the theater that still gives you a reasonable view. You have to keep clear of walkways and will be moved by Cast Members if you block any.

You can also hear the performance in the American Adventure area.

Epcot Festival of the Holidays – Story Telling

One of our favorite parts of the Epcot Festival of the Holidays. All ages will love experiencing international cultures and traditional story telling by live actors in seasonal costume. Various nations showcase traditions specific to their culture. Plus, there’s also entertaining story telling, live music performances and culinary treats.

The Story Tellers are the stars of the Epcot Festival of the Holidays. Do make sure you stop and listen to the the tales and special seasonal shows. You’ll enjoy traditional tales and holiday antics from around the globe.

Mexico Pavilion – Las Posadas Celebration

¡Feliz Navidad! Join the fun and pageantry of Las Posadas with dancers, piñatas and the music of Mariachi Cobre.
Performance Details: 25-minute performances – Sundays through Thursdays
11:05 AM, 12:05 PM, 1:05 PM, 2:45 PM, 3:50 PM and 5:15 PM

Norway Pavilion – A Mischievous Magical Barn Santa

Celebrate the season during Epcot Festival of the Holidays with laughter as a mischievous Barn Santa visits Sigrid, an unsuspecting Christmas storyteller.
Performance Details: 15-minute performances – Daily
11:35 AM, 12:35 PM, 1:35 PM, 2:35PM, 4:35PM, 5:35 PM, 6:35 PM and 7:10 PM

Italy Pavilion – La Befana

Come hear the tale of La Befana, the kind-hearted witch who visits sleeping young children on the Eve of the Epiphany.
Performance Details: 15-minute performances – Daily
11:30 AM, 12:15 PM, 1:00 PM, 2:40 PM, 3:35 PM, 4:20 PM, 5:05 PM and 5:45 PM

Japan Pavilion – Daruma Storyteller

Hear the fascinating story of the Daruma doll and the Japanese customs of the New Year!
Performance Details: 15-minute performances – Daily
11:20 AM, 12:40 PM, 1:40 PM, 3:20 PM, 4:20 PM, 5:05 PM, 5:50 PM and 6:35 PM

Between Morocco and France Pavilions – Hanukkah Storyteller

Discover an entertaining celebration of Hanukkah along World Showcase promenade, where a storyteller recounts traveling abroad to explore the diverse music and traditions of Hanukkah around the world.
Performance Details: 15-minute performances – Daily
10:15 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:40 PM, 1:15 PM, 2:45 PM, 3:45 PM, 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM

France Pavilion – Père Noël

Visit with Père Noël and rediscover the magic of Christmas through the letter of a delightful child during the Epcot Festival of the Holidays.
Performance Details: 15-minute performances – Daily
10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:10 PM, 12:50 PM, 2:15 PM, 3:15 PM, 4:30 PM and 5:15 PM

United Kingdom Pavilion – Father Christmas

Join Father Christmas as he rings in the season, sharing the traditions of the United Kingdom and good cheer.
Performance Details: 15-minute performances – Daily
10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:40 PM, 1:30 PM, 3:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 6:00 PM and 6:45 PM

Canada Pavilion – Canadian Holiday Voyageurs

Explore holiday customs from the various regions of Canada on a musical tour of the Great White North with the Canadian Holiday Voyageurs.
Performance Details: 20 minute performance – 11:45 AM, 12:45 PM, 1:40 PM

The Odyssey Pavilion – Santa Claus

Get ready for a Christmas photo op with Santa Claus, daily through December 24. Whether you know him as St. Nick, Père Noël or Father Christmas, a visit with jolly Santa Claus brings good cheer to the season.
Times: 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM, 2:00 PM, 3:30 PM, 5:00 PM and 6:30 PM

Epcot Festival of the Holidays Fun

JOYFUL! A Gospel Celebration of the Season

Enjoy a blend of holiday melodies as JOYFUL perform uplifting gospel, R&B and contemporary holiday songs at World Showcase Plaza. The JOYFUL! performers sing favorites such as Go Tell It on the Mountain with amazing four-part harmonies. Plus, the group showcase the rhythm and joy of powerhouse vocals and togetherness in newer contemporary holiday favorites. American holiday classics like the quintessential Nat King Cole favorite The
Christmas Song and other melodies of the season are also included.

Kwanzaa will be incorporated into performances of JOYFUL! until December 25th. From December 26th the group will perform a full Kwanzaa show.

JOYFUL Performances begin at 1:15 PM, 2:20 PM, 3:25 PM, and 4:30 PM daily throughout the Epcot Festival of the Holidays.

Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt in search of Olafs most treasured holiday collections that he’s misplaced around World Showcase. A Scavenger Hunt map and stickers is available for $9.99 during Epcot Festival of the Holidays.

Look for the traditional Olaf found in each pavilion and mark it on your map. Even if you don’t find them all, take your map to Creations or World Traveler at International Gateway and you’ll get a keepsake worth melting for.

Epcot Festival of the Holidays Gingerbread Display

The American Adventure: Disney Chefs have gone all out to create this gingerbread display. Take a tour to US iconic landmarks such as Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and The American Adventure building.

The gingerbread creations will be on display at The American Adventure Pavilion throughout the Epcot Festival of the Holidays.

We’re sure you’ll have a joyous time at Epcot International Festival of the Holidays. See you there!

If you are visiting the Epcot Festival of the Holidays, we’d love to welcome you to one of our cozy Orlando Vacation Homes. An awesome alternative to hotels for comfort, space and privacy!