Full guide to the 2020 Epcot International Festival of the Arts
The 2020 Epcot International Festival of the Arts at Walt Disney World kicks off its annual celebration of visual, culinary and performing arts on Jan. 17 and this year will last 39 days through Feb. 24, 2020.
The event features dozens of artists, hundreds of pieces of art, over 40 different types of specialty foods, concerts, performance art, interactive exhibits, classes and special photo ops.
Here’s what to look for.
Artists at the Epcot Festival of Arts
First and foremost, the true centerpiece of the festival is the ability to meet the many artists who create the art you find in the stores around Disney. This is your chance to meet, speak with, purchase art and get that worked signed by these talented people make sure you take your time walking around to look and appreciate the work that these people do. Ask them about their inspirations, their technique and their style.
More than four dozen artists will be available on a daily basis throughout the park from Jan. 17 to Feb. 24. There are artist tents in front of each of the countries, as well as in Future World West, Showcase Plaza and the Art of Disney.
Here is a look at the schedule of artists for the start of the festival.
Disney on Broadway Concert Series
The popular Disney on Broadway Concert Series returns to America Gardens Theatre with three daily performances, 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 8 p.m. headlined by Broadway stars who reprise favorite songs from past performances in award-winning shows.
Lineup early for the performances. You can get guaranteed seating by reserving a Disney on Broadway Dining Package, which guarantees seating for one show on the day of the dining experience. Visit ArtfulEpcot.com or call (407) WDW-FEST to make a reservation.
Here is the schedule of performances:
- Jan. 17, 20, 21 and 24 – Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald White (“The Lion King”)
- Jan. 18, 19, 22 and 23 – Heidi Blickenstaff (“The Little Mermaid”) and Gavin Lee (“Mary Poppins”)
- Jan. 25 – Special performance featuring Simmons, White, Blickenstaff and Lee
- Jan. 26, 28, 29; Feb. 1, 2, 5 and 6 – Kara Lindsay (“Newsies”) and Kevin Massey (“Tarzan”)
- Jan. 27, 30, 31, Feb. 3, 4, 7 and 8 – Liana Hunt (“Newsies”) and Adam Jacobs (“Aladdin”)
- Feb. 9 – Special performance featuring Lindsay, Massey, Hunt and Jacobs
- Feb. 10, 12, 13, 18, 19, 22 and 23 – Ashley Brown (“Mary Poppins”) and Josh Strickland (“Tarzan”)
- Feb. 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20 and 21 – Syndee Winters (“The Lion King”) and Michael James Scott (“Aladdin”)
- Feb. 24 – Special performance featuring Brown, Strickland, Winters and Scott
Food Studios Serve up Artful Foods
Twelve festival Food Studios plus additional food and beverage locations will take culinary arts to the next level with scrumptious, imaginative dishes – artistically sculpted and ready for camera closeups. New this year is the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine featuring a culinary reward – guests who collect a stamp in their festival passports for each menu item purchased along the Wonderful Walk will fill their “palette” and receive a delicious technicolor treat.
Curious whats being served? Here are the full menus for the food booths.
Special Photos ops
Special photo booths will be available in Mexico, Italy, The American Adventure, France and United Kingdom where you can have a photo of you inside a painting. Here are the paintings:
- Homage to Frida Kahlo in Mexico
- Mona Lisa – Leonardo da Vinci
- The Scream – Edvard Munch
- Washington Crossing the Delaware – Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze in the American Adventure
- Cafe’ Terrace at Night – Vincent Van Gogh
- Sunflowers – Vincent Van Gogh
- Luncheon of the Boating Party – Pierre-Auguste Renoir
- Peter Pan Storybook
Fun for the Family
There are a variety of events for the entire family to participate in.
- Join Figment’s Brush with the Masters, a scavenger hunt where the friendly dragon has painted himself into famous pieces of art in each World Showcase pavilion. There is an extra cost for this, or you can just look on your own.
- Explore the Green Landing Family Play Zone where Wall-E and Eve invite the entire family to enjoy a lush, green environment built for exploring. Hours are Parks open to dusk.
- Get creative with friends, family and other guests at the interactive Expression Section: A Paint-by-Number wall mural in Future World open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Kids, create your own chalk masterpiece at Future World West from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- See the Chalk Art Galleries as chalk artists draw throughout the day on the bridge from Future World to the World Showcase.
- Can you find the chalk art? Throughout the World Showcase are hidden drawings of Disney characters that are tucked away in corners throughout the countries. See how many you can find.
- At the Animation Academy in the American Gardens Theatre learn to draw Disney characters in this complimentary drawing class. Learn to draw a Disney Character at 12:30 p.m. Learn to draw and advanced Disney Character at 1:30 p.m.
Festival entertainment schedule
Throughout the festival there will be acrobats, musical performances and visual performances. Check the daily schedule for changes.
- Statues come to life at Future World East daily from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Art Defying Gravity, acrobatic performances will held at 1:05, 2, 3:15 and 4:30 p.m.
- A Disney artist will take you on a high-energy onstage performance as he paints Disney Characters at noon and 3:45 p.m.
- Top high school bands will perform jazz and pop music at 9:25 and 10:25 a.m.
- Victor Espinola, an internationally renowned Paraguaya harpist performs 12:40, 1:30 and 2:20 p.m.
Festival Workshops
There are a number of different workshops, each costing $45 per class, per person. The workshops take place at the World Showplace Events Pavilion only on Saturday and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. You can call (407) WDW-FEST or (407) 939-3378 to reserve a spot.
Here is the schedule:
Ink & Paint Animation
Presented by Lynn Rippberger, Disney Animation Ink and Paint Artist, on Saturdays at 10 a.m.
Each week, you’ll paint a different Disney character:
- Saturday, January 18, 2020 – Mickey Mouse
- Saturday, January 25, 2020 – Minnie Mouse
- Saturday, February 1, 2020 – Donald Duck
- Saturday, February 8, 2020 – Pluto
- Saturday, February 15, 2020 – Goofy
- Saturday, February 22, 2020 – Mickey Mouse
Disney 3D Paper Crafting
Presented by Dave Avanzino, Dave Avanzino Designs, Inc., on Sunday, Jan. 19 at 10 a.m.
You will create your own dimensional paper artwork. Learn techniques to cut, fold and add spacers to your work to create 3D Disney shadowbox art. You will have the opportunity to make your own framed magical masterpiece.
Gesture Drawing Basics: “Story Telling Drawings”
Presented by Todd Bright, Bright Animation
- Sunday, January 26, 2020, at 10 a.m.
- Sunday, February 16, 2020, at 10 a.m.
Come learn the art of quick sketching from a former Disney animator whose credits include “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” “Mulan,” “Tarzan,” “Lilo & Stitch” and “Brother Bear.” During this workshop you will create your own sketch to take home.
Animation 101: Flip Book Fundamentals
Presented by Todd Bright, Bright Animation
- Sunday, February 2, 2020, at 10 a.m.
- Sunday, February 23, 2020, at 10 a.m.
Create your own moving magic and watch your drawings come to life during this animated workshop.
Doodling with Viz
Presented by Gregg “Viz” Visintainer, Owner of Viz Art Ink and WonderGround Artist, Sunday, February 9, 2020 at 10 a.m.
Experience doodling to the next level. Learn, watch and draw your own doodle with hidden pictures and words to create a Viz Art Ink masterpiece.
Festival Merchandise
The merchandise for this year’s festival will again feature figment. There will be a variety of shirts, hats, pins and tumblers brought to you by the Figment Color. Co.. In addition, there will be special Annual Passholder merchandise as well.
