Complete Guide to EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays (2025 Edition)

Want to have a truly unique holiday experience at Walt Disney World? Then plan a trip during Epcot’s Festival of the Holidays, from November 28 to December 30. Enjoy the Candlelight Processional, over 15 Holiday Kitchens, special holiday treats, cultural storytellers, Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition, and the festive Cookie Stroll, all in a global celebration of holiday traditions.

The holiday season at Walt Disney World transforms EPCOT into a global celebration of cultural winter traditions, making it one of the most magical times of year to visit. The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays returns for 2025 with an impressive array of seasonal snacks and storytellers that showcase how different countries celebrate this special time.

Whether you’re a seasoned world (or World Showcase) traveler or first-time visitor, this beloved tradition offers something for everyone.

Key Takeaways

• The EPCOT Festival of the Holidays 2025 runs from November 28 to December 30, offering a month-long celebration of global traditions.
• The Candlelight Processional features celebrity narrators and emotional performances, making it an extra special and highly popular event.
• Over 15 Holiday Kitchens provide a culinary global journey with seasonal specialties from various cultures.
• Fun family experiences like Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition and the Cookie Stroll give the kids something to do to join in on the fun
• The festival is very popular and has the shortest run time of any of EPCOT’s festivals, so plan early if you want to attend this one.

1. Overview of the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays 2025

The EPCOT Festival of the Holidays runs from November 28th through December 30th, 2025, giving guests just over a month to experience this seasonal festival. This annual celebration transforms EPCOT’s World Showcase pavilions into a global holiday celebration.

Unlike other EPCOT festivals like the Food & Wine Festival or Festival of the Arts, this event specifically focuses on holiday traditions from around the world.

2. Key Features of the Festival

The festival boasts several signature experiences that make it stand out among Disney’s theme parks holiday offerings:

• Candlelight Processional: A stirring Candlelight Processional featuring a celebrity narrator, 50-piece orchestra, and Disney cast choir.  Disneyland also features a Candlelight Processional, but this is staged just inside the entrance to Disneyland, vs having a whole park dedicated to global Holiday celebrations. 
• Holiday Kitchens: Global food booths offering seasonal specialties that you won’t find at the other EPCOT festivals.
• Holiday Storytellers: Cultural representatives sharing traditions from their countries- everyone from Father Christmas in the UK to La Befana in Spain- there are some really interesting stories to be told and cultural traditions to be shared!
• Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition: A family-friendly scavenger hunt
• Holiday Cookie Stroll: A sweet journey collecting stamps and cookies- that’s my kind of stroll!

These elements combine to create an immersive holiday experience unlike anything else at Walt Disney World.

3. The Candlelight Processional Experience

The Candlelight Processional remains the crown jewel of EPCOT’s festival. Held nightly at the America Gardens Theatre, this performance features a celebrity narrator telling the Christmas story, backed by a full orchestra and choir.

Narrators for 2025 have not yet been announced, but past seasons included Neil Patrick Harris, Josh Gad, and Whoopi Goldberg. Performances take place at 5:00 PM, 6:45 PM, and 8:15 PM. Guests can secure guaranteed seats with dining packages from select EPCOT restaurants.

The following restaurants offered dining packages in 2024, all are for Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) unless indicated below, so book early:

• Biergarten Restaurant (Germany Pavilion)

• Chefs de France (France Pavilion)

• Coral Reef Restaurant (The Seas Pavilion)

• Garden Grill Restaurant (The Land Pavilion) – available for breakfast, lunch, or dinner

• La Crêperie de Paris (France Pavilion)

• Le Cellier Steakhouse (Canada Pavilion)

• Nine Dragons (China Pavilion)

• Rose & Crown Dining Room (United Kingdom Pavilion)

• Shiki‑Sai: Sushi Izakaya (Japan Pavilion)

• Teppan Edo (Japan Pavilion)

• Tutto Italia Ristorante (Italy Pavilion)

• Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria (Italy Pavilion)

• La Hacienda de San Angel (Mexico Pavilion)

• Spice Road Table (Morocco Pavilion) – depending on the year, this has offered ADRs and same-day packages

• Regal Eagle Smokehouse (American Adventure Pavilion) – same-day only packages

Prices vary from $41 to $105 (Regal Eagle being the cheapest and Shiki‑Sai: Sushi Izakaya (Japan) being the most expensive).  Prices for children ages 3-9 are cheaper. My favorites on this list are Le Creperie de Paris, Garden Grill, and Via Napoli, but if you are looking for the most budget friendly option and like barbeque then Regal Eagle is a great choice. 

The combination of Christmas carols by a superbly talented choir and orchestra, orchestral music, and the powerful retelling of the Christmas story with a celebrity narrator helps to create a wonderful Holiday tradition!

4. Holiday Kitchens: A Culinary Journey around the World

Food lies at the heart of every EPCOT festival, and the Holiday Kitchens immerse guests in seasonal specialties from around the globe. For 2025, expect around 16 kitchens across World Showcase, with both returning delights and fresh yummy new options (details to be announced soon):

• American Holiday Table – Comforting classics like turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce.

• Bavaria Holiday Kitchen – German-style winter treats and hearty drinks.

• L’Chaim! Holiday Kitchen – Jewish holiday favorites such as latkes and brisket.

• Favorites of Festivals Past – The most popular dishes brought back from years past.

• New for 2025 – The Coffee-Mocha Cookie, topped with coffee-infused buttercream and chocolate-covered espresso beans, joins the Cookie Stroll lineup.

You’ll also find specialty beverages at Joffrey’s Coffee stands throughout the park, and inventive desserts showcased at CommuniCore Hall’s show kitchen.

5. Holiday Storytellers and Cultural Traditions

 

The Holiday Storytellers program transforms EPCOT into a living, interactive holiday book. Guests can meet:

• Las Posadas in Mexico

• The Mischievous Barn Santa in Norway

• Chinese Lion Dancer in China

• La Befana in Italy

• Daruma Storyteller in Japan

• Hanukkah Storyteller between Morocco and France

• Père Noël in France

• Father Christmas in the United Kingdom

• Canadian Holiday Voyageurs in Canada

Each brings cultural authenticity, entertainment, and education all at the same time.

The Voices of Liberty, dressed in Victorian costumes, perform carols inside the American Adventure Rotunda, while the JOYFUL! singers bring gospel and R&B rhythms to CommuniCore Plaza.

6. Unique Aspects of the Festival

What sets EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays apart from celebrations at Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, or Animal Kingdom is its global perspective. While other parks focus primarily on American Christmas traditions, EPCOT embraces celebrations like Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Chinese New Year, and Père Noël from France.

The festival also features stunning light displays, including the Northern Lights effect that transforms Spaceship Earth each evening. This light show synchronizes with holiday music for a perfect way to end your park day.

7. Interactive Experiences: Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition

Families with children particularly enjoy Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition, a scavenger hunt where guests help Olaf (the snowman from Frozen) collect his favorite things from around the world. Purchase your map at Disney Traders, Creations Shop, or World Traveler near International Gateway.

As you explore World Showcase, search for Olaf figurines hidden in each pavilion. Once completed, return your map for a special festival prize.

EPCOT can get boring for some kids- it definitely did for me as a kid and it has for my kids when they were young- so it’s nice to have experiences like this and the cookie stroll to make it much more fun!

8. EPCOT Gingerbread Displays and Festive Decorations

Throughout EPCOT, you’ll discover festive holiday décor, including a beautifully detailed gingerbread display in the American Adventure Pavilion, featuring iconic U.S. landmarks rendered in gingerbread in the pavilion’s rotunda.  This has not been officially announced for 2025 but is expected given its popularity last year.

CommuniCore Hall also hosts a new gingerbread Spaceship Earth display—a dazzling, illuminated showpiece that delights guests every few minutes. Again, not officially announced yet, but it was there last year and very popular.

Every country in the World Showcase is adorned with decorations reflecting their unique cultural traditions.  This can also be a learning experience for kids, bringing us back to the heart of EPCOT’s edutainment core.

Don’t miss the massive Christmas tree near the entrance to World Showcase, a popular photo location. The combination of international decorations, Christmas lights, and seasonal music creates a special atmosphere throughout the park this time of year.

9. Festival Duration and Performance Times

The 2025 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays runs from November 28th through December 30th, giving guests plenty of time to experience the festivities. Most festival offerings begin at 11:00 AM when World Showcase opens and continue until park closing.  

The Candlelight Processional runs three times nightly, while Holiday Storytellers typically perform 4-5 times daily in each pavilion. Food booths generally open with World Showcase at 11:00 AM.

Check the My Disney Experience app or pick up a Festival Passport upon arrival for the most up-to-date schedule.

10. EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays popularity

Guest reviews consistently rank the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays among the most loved seasonal events at Walt Disney World. The Candlelight Processional receives particular praise, with many guests planning their entire holiday vacation around this tradition.

If you are a first-time visitor, it’s helpful to know that the festival is included with regular park admission, unlike Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom.  All EPCOT festivals are always included in your park admission, making it easier on your budget!

11. Tips for Making the Most of Your Visit

To maximize your EPCOT Festival of the Holidays experience, be sure to check out these insider tips:

• Book Candlelight Processional dining packages as soon as they become available (typically 60 days ahead of your trip is when you can start booking them)
• Visit on weekdays when possible to avoid weekend crowds.  If you must go on the weekends, including Friday, try to go earlier in the day as the evenings can become more crowded.
• Start the Cookie Stroll early in the day before popular cookies sell out
• Use the Disney Dining Plan snack credits for festival food items if available
• Download the My Disney Experience app to track storyteller and event schedules
• Arrive at America Gardens Theatre at least 30 minutes before Candlelight Processional (45-60 minutes without dining package)
• Check out festival merchandise at Creations Shop for unique holiday souvenirs

For the best festival experience, plan to spend a full day at EPCOT, arriving early and staying through the evening light shows.

The Wrap Up

The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays offers a unique celebration that honors diverse cultural traditions while offering classic magical Disney Vacation memories. From the moving Candlelight Processional to delicious holiday treats and global storytelling, this festival captures the spirit of the season in a way that only Disney can.

Whether you’re making a family tradition or experiencing it for the first time, the 2025 festival promises to be a highlight of the holiday season at Walt Disney World!

This post was all about the EPCOT festival of the Holidays!

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