EVERYTHING You Need to Know About the 2023 EPCOT Festival of the Arts

We’re here at the EPCOT Festival of the Arts!

This year’s festival, which is a celebration of all things visual, performing, and culinary arts, runs from January 13th through February 20th! Now that we’re back to full-blown festival mode, let’s see what’s in store!

Atmosphere

Who’s ready to CELEBRATE?! We’re kicking off this party at the front of the park, where everything is decorated in bright colors. (Wouldn’t be the Festival of the Arts without a bunch of rainbows and hidden Figments, y’all!)

We grabbed a festival passport first thing and checked it out to start scoping out our to-do list. These little booklets are available at the front entrance of the park, as well as at all the festival booths. They have a list of menus inside, as well as all the activities and entertainment that you can visit during the festival.

We also found a fun little “Amazing Animation” quiz inside the booklet. There are all kinds of interesting facts in here!

Each booth page includes photos, descriptions, and names for the items available. You’ll have to visit the booth itself to see the prices. (Or read our posts!)

There’s also an entire section on the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine — but more on that later!

And if you want to catch the Disney on Broadway Concert Series in the evenings, you can find information on who’s performing each night in the booklet.

It’s truly a handy dandy little book — definitely pick one up during your visit! (And you can keep it as a souvenir!)

Festival Passport acquired and we’re ready to get this party started! ?️?✨ pic.twitter.com/BUiHrD1B33

— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) January 13, 2023

Now that we’ve got that done, let’s head inside and see what’s up!

Crowds

The crowds today are pretty heavy, we’re not going to lie to you! They caught us off guard first thing this morning at the entrance…

…but then they were pretty hefty once we actually got inside! WOW.

And don’t even get us STARTED on the hoards of people inside Creations Shop. Looks like everyone is ready to shop that merchandise!

As we started to get around to the food booths, the crowds definitely picked up. This is prime lunch time, people!

The World Showcase generally gets busier as the day goes on, considering more people arrive to come eat dinner. Beware that you may have to wait in lines at food booths!

EPCOT may be a big park, but it still gets some bottlenecks!

Merchandise

Limited-edition merchandise is one of the things that make the EPCOT festivals so special! Let’s take a look at some of the must-haves you’ll find around the park.

Starting out in Creations Shop, we’ve got the Figment Chalk it Up to Something Magical Annual Passholder shirt. This colorful tee is available for $34.99.

There are also three different pins you can purchase this year. They’re all limited edition and feature Figment with his colorful rainbow style. This “Create Your Own Magic” pin is $17.99.

The tiny chalkboard-like pin is $19.99. You can add your OWN chalk art in the frame — how cool is that?!

And finally, there’s a Passholder pin available for $19.99 as well.

Of course, we can’t forget about the adorable Figment Munchling that’s new to the festival! These little scented plushes have been taking Disney World by storm, and you can snag the fig bar-inspired one for $19.99.

He’s so tiny and cute!

Figment Munchlings are here!! He’s so adorable we could eat him right up ?? pic.twitter.com/hURa1Mkf7X

— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) January 13, 2023

It wouldn’t be a festival without a new tumbler, and this one is COLORFUL. Grab it at Creations Shop for $44.99.

There’s also a new Figment mug, and it has a surprise on the backside…

…there’s a little chalkboard! Just like the pin, you can draw your own design inside the frame. Get it for $24.99.

And of course, we have to mention the STUNNING Festival of the Arts Spirit Jersey. We love the black merchandise with colorful accents this year — it really makes the design POP!

You can buy the jersey now for $79.99.

And finally in Creations Shop, there’s a Festival of the Arts MagicBand. You can buy it for $34.99.

Now that we’ve checked that out, let’s move on to the FOOD!

Food Studios

Of course, it wouldn’t be an EPCOT festival without all the food! And, we’ll be taking you around with us to each of the food booths around the park!

Moderne

Let’s head over to Moderne, which is a NEW booth to the Festival of the Arts. It’s located near Test Track and features seafood and salad dishes that take inspiration from the coast of California.

Because the booth is brand new, all of the food is too! So, you can try the new Compressed Watermelon Tataki with pickled watermelon rind, yuzu pearls, watermelon foam, and wasabi for $4.75…

…the Angry Crab: Whole crispy soft-shell crab with green papaya salad, mango-sriracha fluid gel, and coconut-lime foam with pomegranate and mango crush pearls for $7.25…

…or the Pan-seared Scallops with vanilla-butternut squash purée, brown butter cauliflower purée, and lime foam for $6.75. This is a returning item that was at The Artist’s Table last year. It’s also part of the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine this year.

We tried The Tropics: Lilikoi mousse, guava cake, coconut crémeux, compressed pineapple, and mango gel for $5.00.

And finally, we’ve got the Watermelon Mary featuring Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka. 

You can get this for $11.50. Overall, this was one of our favorite booths of the day!

Figment’s Inspiration Station

Next up we’re heading to what may be this year’s most popular spot — Figment’s Inspiration Station, located inside The Odyssey Pavilion.

Its menu offers Rainbow Beer and Cider Flights, Rainbow Cake, and Fruit Pizza. Just look at that colorful spread!

The Fruit Pizza is a new item this year and has Watermelon, compressed cantaloupe, berries, and berry balsamic and is plant-based and gluten-free.

Figment’s Imagination Station is also the new home for the popular Pop’t Art — a sugar cookie filled with blueberry filling, formerly at the Pop Eats Booth last year and part of the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine.

There are not one but TWO flights at this location. The Rainbow Beer Flight has 81Bay Brewing Co. Green with Envy Blonde Ale, 81Bay Brewing Co. Blue Butterfly Lager, Urban Artifact The Gadget Raspberry & Blackberry Midwest Fruit Tart. 

The Rainbow Cider Flight has 3 Daughters Brewing Black Cherry Hard Cider, 3 Daughters Brewing Blood Orange Hard Cider, and 3 Daughters Brewing Passion Fruit Hard Cider

And finally, we have the Rainbow Cake, which is made with freeze-dried SKITTLES bite-sized candies.

But there’s one IMPORTANT thing we can’t forget — this booth is also where you’ll pick up the Figment Popcorn Bucket! (Remember this little guy and all the chaos he caused last year?!) Now you can buy it through Mobile Order in the My Disney Experience app. 

In 2023, he comes with a new EPCOT 40th Anniversary strap!

Craftsman’s Courtyard

The next booth is Craftsman’s Courtyard, which can be found near Disney Traders and features some “heartier” fare.

There are some returning eats here that you might want to check out if you loved them in the past.

We’re at the Craftsman’s Courtyard booth! We got the Beef Wellington which has mushroom duxelles, prosciutto, and puff pastry with wine demi-glace and baby vegetables for $8.50. pic.twitter.com/Ngmai5nBBF

— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) January 13, 2023

If you’re a mussels fan, check out the Cast Iron-roasted P.E.I. Mussels with sautéed tomatoes, garlic, and fresh herbs for $7.50.

And finally, there’s a BrewDog Jet Black Heart Nitro Oatmeal Stout. It costs $6.50. This one is new!

That beef wellington was served at Artist’s Table last year, so don’t get confused if you see it on the menu here!

Deconstructed Dish

The Deconstructed Dish is another signature Festival of the Arts booth located near Port of Entry that is back this year, with a tried-and-true menu!

Even though there isn’t anything new on the menu, we had to taste them all to see if they’re as good as we remembered! Here you can order the Deconstructed French Onion Soup, the Deconstructed Key Lime Pie, and the Deconstructed BLT.

This is almost always a popular spot at the festival, so make sure to check it out!

The Painted Panda

Now it’s time for The Painted Panda, which is located in the China Pavilion!

First up we have the Silk Road Hard Lemonade with Smirnoff Vodka, lavender-coconut syrup, and lemonade. You can get it for $13.50.

Returning this year is the Sea Butterfly!

Returning to The Painted Panda is the Sea Butterfly: Butterfly Pea Flower-infused cocktail with Smirnoff Vodka, light rum, lychee syrup, and magic boba pearls! ? $13.75 pic.twitter.com/tpUVwI09y4

— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) January 13, 2023

For eats, we’ve got the Char Siu Pork Bun and the General Tso’s Chicken Shumai. Yum!

And here's the full spread from The Painted Panda! ?

General Tso’s Chicken Shumai $10.75
Char Siu Pork Bun $8.50
Silk Road Lemonade $13.50
Sea Butterfly $13.75 pic.twitter.com/htmpcghhk3

— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) January 13, 2023

Be warned — this booth sometimes gets a long line, so make sure to check it out early if you can!

Gourmet Landscapes

In Canada, you’ll find Gourmet Landscapes, which is serving eats like Wild Mushroom Risotto, Bone Marrow, and a Blood Orange-braised Beet Carpaccio.

We were big fans of the risotto and the bone marrow, but not so much on the beet dish. Try it out for yourselves and share your thoughts with us!

El Artista Hambriento

Over at the Mexico Pavilion, you’ll find El Artista Hambriento (which translates to “The Hungry Artist”). This returning booth had a couple of new selections this year for us to try!

It’s time to hop over to El Artista Hambriento, or The Hungry Artist, for brand new items this year! pic.twitter.com/8YZB9QmrOg

— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) January 13, 2023

Available for $10, the Carne Asada chipotle-marinated beef sirloin, sweet potato purée, and crispy-fried onions!

The Huarache de Champiñones is made with guajillo chile and corn masa huarache with pinto beans, oyster mushrooms, nopales, queso fresco, and pea tendrils! Available for $7.50, the dish is new at the booth this year.

Huarache de Champiñones ? Guajillo chile and corn masa huarache with pinto beans, oyster mushrooms, nopales, queso fresco, and pea tendrils! pic.twitter.com/57oGvlR462

— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) January 13, 2023

Finally, we tried the Flan de Coco for $6.50, a coconut flan with guava sauce and whipped cream.

Overall the booth was one of our favorites, with the Carne Asada a particular stand out!

Pop Eats

A returning favorite, we of course had to check out the Pop Eats booth located on World Showcase Plaza.

A fan-favorite booth is back this year at Festival of the Arts: Pop Eats! ?

Let's check out some new and returning items! pic.twitter.com/ZHsCfoFcWA

— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) January 13, 2023

This year we picked up the Tomato Soup with Pimento Cheese, Bacon, and Fried Green Tomato Grilled Cheese for $6.50, a delightful twist on the returning tomato soup and grilled cheese combo.

We also grabbed the returning Almond Frangipane Cake, part of the Wonderful Walk of Cuisine.

? You'll also get the indigo stamp at Pop Eats! for the Wonderful World of Colorful Cuisine ?

Just purchase the Almond Frangipane Cake layered with raspberry jam and Belgian chocolate for $4.75 and stamp acquired! pic.twitter.com/uDuzI4vHVZ

— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) January 13, 2023

Not only is this booth delicious, but the cans for the tomato soup also continue to be one of the most fun parts of the festival!

Tangierine Cafe: Flavors of the Medina

Over at the Morocco Pavilion, Tangierine Cafe has brought on a few special dishes for the festival.

For $4.25 you can get the Carrots Three Ways, chermoula-spiced grilled carrots, pickled carrots, and carrot ginger purée

We also picked up the house-made Crispy Almond Phyllo Pockets with white chocolate pomegranate and milk chocolate orange for $4.75.

Along with these dishes, you can get stone-baked Moroccan bread and Grilled Kebabs with carrot chickpea salad and garlic aioli.

Pastoral Palate

We found a few of our favorite dishes of the festival at the Pastoral Palate in the Germany Pavilion!

Available for $8.50, we loved the red wine-braised Beef Short Rib with parsnip purée, broccolini, baby tomatoes, and aged balsamic.

We also picked up the new Black Forest Cake, made with chocolate mousse with morello cherries and Chantilly cream for $4.75.

We also snagged the Wild Boar Cassoulet with duck confit, ham hock, and wild boar sausage for $9.

The new short rib was a surprise favorite for us, and one of the best new dishes we found at the Festival of the Arts.

L’Arte de Mangiare

L’Arte de Mangiare is located in the Italy Pavilion, and there we found some new menu items. (Albeit, pretty expensive ones!)

Who is ready for some PASSSTTAAA! We're headed to L’Arte di Mangiare in the Italy Pavilion to try some ALL NEW menu items ?

First up: Ravioli ai Funghi, Perle Tartufate. Wild mushroom-stuffed pasta with truffle butter and truffle pearls for $9.25 ? pic.twitter.com/clvRRnkKOc

— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) January 13, 2023

One of the most unique festival items we have this year is the Mozzarella Fritta, which is flash-fried breaded fresh mozzarella with artist palette condiments for $9.25. How cool is that?!

And of course, we have to round it off with dessert!

And wrapping things up in Italy with some dessert we've got the new Budino al Cioccolato! Which is a chocolate pudding with colorful chocolate décor – $8.00 ? pic.twitter.com/S7Vh4LN6S4

— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) January 13, 2023

Honestly, it all looks so delicious!

Goshiki

If you’re interested in some Japanese cuisine, head over to Goshiki, where we’ve got a combination of new and returning items.

The Sushi Donut is back for another year, but it’s joined by the Rainbow Katsu Sando and the Ichigo Daifuku this time around.

And for drinks, you can order the Purple Yuzu Sake Lemonade or the Sui Sui Watercolor Lager. 

Everything here is so colorful!

Vibrante & Vivido: Encanto Cocina

Did you know that the Festival of the Arts has an Encanto-inspired booth? It’s tucked away between the Morocco and France Pavilions this year.

The menu here features quite a few fruity items, including a few that are actually themed after Disney’s popular movie Encanto. Disney-goers with a gluten/wheat allergy can try the Spicy Ajiaco Soup with guajillo and árbol chili-spiced chicken, potato, avocado, corn, and crème fraîche for $6.75 and those completing the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine will need to stop here for the House-made Chorizo and Potato Empanada with turmeric aïoli and annatto aïoli. It counts as the yellow item and costs $6.75.

And, speaking of dishes that got an Encanto makeover, the Passion Fruit Mousse with Dragon Fruit Jam (which is also gluten/wheat friendly) is looking a little different this year! It costs $5.

L’Art de la Cuisine Francaise

Back in the France Pavilion, you can find the L’Art de la Cuisine Francaise booth. Whether you’re in the mood for a big bread bowl of cheese or something sweet, this booth is sure to have something that you’ll enjoy as a little pick-me-up as you make your way around World Showcase.

There are a lot of returning menu items here, like the Crème de Brie en Petit Pain, the Croissant à la Truffle Noir d’Hiver, and the Moelleux aux Noisettes et Chocolats Valrhona.

But there are me new items, too! Like the Mille-Feuille de Betteraves aux Herbes et Noix de Cajoux, which is plant-based napoleon with beets, cashew-herb filling, pepper-pine nut sauce, and balsamic vinegar caviar.

We also tried the Cîroc Sunset Citrus Vodka Spritz…

… and the Domaine Raphaël Sallet, Mâcon-Uchizy Les Maranches 2020, Chardonnay, Mâconnais, Burgundy. 

Wine, bread, cheese, and dessert! That’s the way France does it.

The Artist’s Table

Looking for something a bit more traditional? The Artist’s Table in the American Adventure pavilion may be just what you need!

This menu received an overhaul this year with a bunch of new items, like the Three-Meat Meatloaf with “Peas and Carrots”: Green pea pudding, carrot ketchup, shaved carrot salad, and snap peas for $6.50.

Or try the Duck and Dumplings — smoked duck breast, ricotta dumplings, petite vegetables, and duck jus for $7.00.

Prefer something sweeter? You can also find the Hummingbird Cake: Banana cake with pineapple, coconut, pecans, and cream cheese frosting with banana sorbet for $4.75 here.

They’ve got some classic American flavors here!

Deco Delights

Another returning favorite at the 2023 Festival of the Arts is Deco Delights. Deco Delights is located near Port of Entry and serves up some seriously pretty dishes!

First up is the super colorful Orange Mousse with lemon cake and raspberry meringues for $5.00. Plus, if you’re a chocolate fan, you’ll be able to choose between the Dulce Chocolate Mousse with chocolate crémeux and dark chocolate truffle for $5.25…

…and the Decadent Valrhona Chocolate with dark chocolate mousse, chocolate brownie, and cassis mousse for $5. Or, you can be like us and choose both!

And, if you fancy yourself something to drink, try out the Espresso Martini featuring Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka for $11.50.

This booth is a chocolate lover’s paradise!

Additional Locations

Aside from the 15 food booths, there are also a few select EXTRA locations where you can find specialty eats and drinks and, of course, we had to stop by!

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company

There are FOUR different Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company locations around EPCOT that each features a different flavored lemonade for the festival this year. At the World Discovery location (which is near Mission: SPACE), you’ll find the  Amber Frost: An artistic blend of frozen lemon ice, a splash of Minute Maid Premium Lemonade, blood orange, and orange popping boba pearls.

On your way into World Showcase (near Disney Traders), you’ll be able to find the Jade Frost: An artistic blend of frozen lemon ice, a splash of Minute Maid Premium Lemonade, green apple, and green apple popping boba pearls.

The Magenta Frost: An artistic blend of frozen lemon ice, a splash of Minute Maid Premium Lemonade, dragon fruit, and dragon fruit popping boba pearls at the Joffrey’s location in the Canada Pavilion…

…Cerulean Frost: An artistic blend of frozen lemon ice, a splash of Minute Maid Premium Lemonade, blue raspberry, and blueberry popping boba pearls  in the location at The American Adventure pavilion.

All of these special festival drinks cost $6.39 without alcohol or $13.99 with alcohol.

Refreshment Port

We can usually count on the Refreshment Port to have some specialty foods and this year is no different!

Here you can find the Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookie for $5.50, the Gnocchi Poutine with red wine-braised beef, cheese curds, basil, and burrata for $7.50, and the Soft-serve Waffle Cone with DOLE Whip, salted-caramel soft-serve, or swirl. 

Refreshment Outpost

Refreshment Outpost is also home to specialty eats and drinks for the festival as you make your way around World Showcase!

This spot is also home to the Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookie for $5.50, and if you’re looking for something plant-based, this is where you can find the Plant-based Bratwurst. It costs $9.50 and is made with spicy turmeric aïoli, coffee barbecue jackfruit, and slaw.

There is also a Soft-serve Waffle Cone with DOLE Whip Strawberry, DOLE Whip Lemon, or swirl.

Funnel Cake Stand

Near The American Adventure Pavilion, you’ll also want to be sure to stop at the Funnel Cake Stand for the Mocha Funnel Cake! This mini funnel cake with cappuccino ice cream topped with chocolate whipped cream and M&M’S chocolate candies.

You can order this sweet treat for $9.50.

Activities

Aside from eating and shopping, there are also quite a few things that you can do during the EPCOT Festival of the Arts that involve…well…art!

Chalk Full of Character

As you make your way around World Showcase, you might recognize some familiar faces! Each year, Disney hides some underrated characters throughout the pavilions as part of the Chalk Full of Character walk, and it’s back again.

You never know exactly who you will find, but each pavilion has at least one hidden character.

And, while there’s no official Disney prize for finding them all, you can at least claim bragging rights among your family.

It’s a fun activity to check out while you’re strolling around World Showcase.

Figment’s Brush with the Masters Scavenger Hunt

Also back for the festival this year is Figment’s Brush with the Masters Scavenger Hunt! This activity takes you all the way around World Showcase on the hunt for Figment hidden in famous pieces of art.

You can pick up the scavenger hunt maps at Creations Shop, Port or Entry, or World Traveler for $9.99 and, once you’ve found them all, you can head to Disney Traders or World Traveler to pick up your prize.

You get one prize per completed map!

Learn More About Figment’s Brush with the Masters Scavenger Hunt HERE!

Paint By Numbers Wall

Another free activity is the Paint By Numbers Wall that can be found as you enter the park through World Nature. Here you’ll pick up a paintbrush and paint and then find the number that corresponds with your color!

You can only paint a few squares, but eventually, all of the guests who pass through will have contributed to a HUGE masterpiece!

Chalk Art

The Festival of the Arts is also known for having some seriously awesome chalk art and it’s back again!

Depending on when you visit, you can watch artists bring small (and large) works of art to life on the sidewalk as you enter World Showcase through the center.

These wash away and then are replaced with something new throughout the festival, so you never know what you’ll see!

Photo Ops

And, lastly, you’ll want to be sure to stop at all the art-inspired photo ops around EPCOT this year where you get to become part of the picture yourself!

Some of these are really fun, so don’t skip out on them during your visit!

Entertainment

If you need a break from all the eating and drinking, you can also check out some of the Festival of the Arts entertainment! Throughout the day, you’ll find a variety of entertainment in World Showcase, World Discovery (like the Jammitors!), and on the stage in World Showcase Plaza. 

And the Disney on Broadway Concert Series has returned this year featuring performances from a variety of different Disney Broadway artists. The concerts can be seen at the America Gardens Theatre on select nights at 5:30PM, 6:45PM, and 8PM.

That’s a look at what you can expect from the EPCOT Festival of the Arts in 2023! If you’re visiting soon, make sure to check out our posts with menus, entertainment, and more to plan your visit.

And stay tuned to AllEars for all the Disney news and updates!

Are you planning on visiting EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts this year? Let us know in the comments!