by Beth Keating
News
DisneyBizJournal.com
October 21, 2021
While the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival, currently running through November 20, is the longest of Disney’s festivals, the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is one of the shortest, lasting just over a month. And that’s a pity because the Festival of the Arts has so much to offer.
This year, the Festival of the Arts will run from January 14 - February 21, 2022. This celebration of the performing, culinary and visual arts is perhaps one of the most engaging of the Festivals, offering face to face visits with working Disney artists, wonderful live music as the DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series returns this year following a COVID pause, and opportunities to sample some of the most creative and beautiful food dishes you will see throughout the Disney parks.
The free Disney on Broadway Concert Series takes place at America Gardens Theatre, where entertainers showcase beloved Disney songs. You might just catch a performer belting out a tune they’re known for bringing to life on the Broadway stage in New York! Disney will release a list of performers and schedules as the new year comes closer.
As with each of the other EPCOT Festivals, there will be a myriad of food booths to enjoy. With this Festival, Disney chefs try to outdo each other to present guests culinary delights from the Food Studios around World Showcase that are as gorgeous as they are tasty. “The Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine,” a food stroll featuring five sweet and savory treats, will be returning this year as well.
The Festival of the Arts gives park guests a chance to participate in the art experience, rather than just watch things happen. A wall-sized paint-by-number mural will be on display, allowing guests to pick up a paint brush and join in the creation process. Photo ops where guests can step into the scenes of famous pieces of artwork will be scattered throughout the park for creating unique vacation memories from the Festival. “Figment’s Brush with the Masters scavenger hunt” invites guests to take their time searching through World Showcase for Figment and his paintbrush.
In addition, chalk artists will be turning walkways into amazing landscapes and portraits, and visitors will be able to watch their progress throughout the day. Stand at different spots for completely different perspectives on the artwork.
Disney artists, animators and illustrators will be on hand at various locations, with some artists available to sign their work. Guests can watch the work as the creator shapes the scene right in front of their audience, while also being able to chat with the artist and ask questions along the way.
In addition to being able to purchase work from the Disney artists appearing at the festival, guests will, of course, be able to buy Festival merchandise. It wouldn’t be a Disney Festival without the merch with the special logo!
Additional information about artists’ schedules will be released closer to the new year. A reminder to guests who would like to attend the Festival of the Arts: You need to have a valid theme park admission and a park reservation for the same date in order to attend the Festival.
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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.
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