EPCOT Festival of the Holidays Starts Today: Full Guide to 2025 Offerings

The 2025 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays is officially underway, bringing seasonal entertainment, global traditions, and holiday flavors to the park from November 28 to December 30.

Photo: WDWMAGIC2025 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

The 2025 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays brings back the full slate of seasonal offerings, including the nightly Candlelight Processional, Holiday Storytellers in each World Showcase pavilion, JOYFUL! performances, Holiday Kitchens with new and returning dishes, the Cookie Stroll, and the Glimmering Greenhouses overlay on Living with the Land. CommuniCore Hall features Santa Claus, the Gingerbread Spaceship Earth display, and the Celebration Countdown light show, while the Odyssey hosts Glittering Grove and Santa Goofy. Holiday décor, merchandise, and Olaf's scavenger hunt round out the park's seasonal lineup.

Photo: WDWMAGIC2025 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

Storytellers Around World Showcase

You can learn holiday traditions from around the world as the Storytellers return to World Showcase. Performers share cultural tales and ceremonies throughout the day.

Photo: WDWMAGICEPCOT Holiday Storytellers 2021 - Norway pavilion

Here's where you can stop and listen:

• Mexico - Las Posadas Celebration
• Norway - A mischievous Barn Santa
• China - Chinese Lion Dancer
• Italy - La Befana
• Japan - Daruma Storyteller
• Morocco-France walkway - Hanukkah Storyteller
• France - Père Noël
• United Kingdom - Father Christmas
• Canada - Canadian Holiday Voyageurs

Showtimes update daily in the My Disney Experience app.

JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season

JOYFUL! mixes gospel, jazz, and R&B with holiday music in a lively show performed by D'Vine Voices. You'll hear upbeat arrangements of Christmas and Kwanzaa songs throughout the day.

Photo: WDWMAGIC2025 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

Holiday Kitchens

Food is a major part of the 2025 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays, with Holiday Kitchens serving a wide range of seasonal dishes and drinks. Some kitchens return, and others bring new dishes to try.

You can see the full menus here, including returning favorites and new creations.

Cookie Milk Shake

Cookie Stroll

You can join the Holiday Cookie Stroll by buying any five designated cookies and collecting stamps in your Festival Passport. When you complete the stroll, you can pick up a special surprise at Holiday Sweets and Treats.

A fan favorite returning this year:

• Coffee-Mocha Cookie with coffee-infused buttercream, cocoa nibs, and chocolate-covered espresso beans.

Photo: WDWMAGIC2025 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

Holiday Fun at CommuniCore Hall

Photo: WDWMAGIC2025 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

CommuniCore Hall becomes a holiday hub with several festival-only offerings:

• Meet Santa Claus throughout the day
• Gingerbread Spaceship Earth display, a large-scale gingerbread version of EPCOT's icon
• Celebration Countdown presented by CITIZEN, a light show running every 15 minutes
• Experimental Prototype Cookies of Tomorrow, where you can try cookies like:
  • Prototype Cookie: sugar cookie with orange-cranberry icing and dark chocolate
  • Ginger-Molasses Cookie with cream cheese icing
  • Gingerbread Milk Shake
  • Hot Cocoa by Joffrey's

Photo: WDWMAGICGingerbread Spaceship Earth

Odyssey Pavilion

Odyssey features more seasonal moments, including:

• Glittering Grove presented by Balsam Hill, a display of illuminated faux trees
• Santa Goofy, greeting you in his holiday outfit
• Holiday Hearth Desserts, serving sweets like:
  • Red Velvet Cake Pops
  • Reindeer Chow with M&M'S Holiday Blend
  • Cocoa Peppermint Warmer with peppermint schnapps

Candlelight Processional

You can end your evening with the Candlelight Processional at America Gardens Theatre. A full orchestra, herald trumpets, and choirs retell the nativity story with classic hymns joined by a clebrity narrator.

• Shows: 5:00pm, 6:45pm, 8:15pm
• Runtime: ~50 minutes
• First-come, first-served seating
• Dining packages available for reserved seating

Photo: WDWMAGICEPCOT Candlelight Processional

2025 Candlelight Processional Celebrity Narrators

• Nov. 28-29 - Constance Wu (NEW)
• Nov. 30-Dec. 2 - Jordan Fisher
• Dec. 3-4 - Susan Egan(NEW)
• Dec. 5-6 - Ashley Eckstein
• Dec. 7-8 - Ralph Macchio
• Dec. 9-10 - Leslie Uggams (NEW)
• Dec. 11-13 - Marlee Matlin
• Dec. 14-15 - Henry Winkler (NEW)
• Dec. 16-17 - Lauren Daigle (NEW)
• Dec. 18-19 - Gary Sinise
• Dec. 20-22 - Brendan Fraser
• Dec. 23-24 - Luis Fonsi
• Dec. 25-26 - Joel Smallbone (NEW)
• Dec. 27-28 - Brie Larson (NEW)
• Dec. 29-30 - Sheryl Lee Ralph (NEW)

Scentsy Festive Fragrances

You can walk through Festive Fragrances along the path between Imagination! and World Showcase. Holiday-themed ornaments release familiar scents like Perfect Peppermint, Christmas Cottage, Sleigh Ride, and Silver Bells.

Photo: WDWMAGICEPCOT 2025 Christmas Tree Arrival

Olaf's Holiday Tradition Expedition

Olaf returns with a scavenger hunt across EPCOT. You can buy a map and stickers, then look for Olaf in 13 locations. Complete the hunt and redeem a gift at Creations Shop or World Traveler.

Living with the Land - Glimmering Greenhouses

Living with the Land adds holiday lights, décor, and seasonal narration. It's a calm seasonal ride and a good way to take a break from the crowds.

Photo: WDWMAGICLiving with the Land Glimmering Greenhouses 2024

Where to See Santa

You can meet different versions of Santa across World Showcase:

• France Pavilion - Père Noël
• Norway Pavilion - Barn Santa
• CommuniCore Hall - Santa Claus, 10:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM, 2:30 PM and 4:00 PM.

Photo: WDWMAGICEPCOT Holiday Storytellers 2021 - Père Noël France pavilion