Ilana Robinson | @disneymom2.0
Epcot’s Festival of the arts is currently running through February 20, 2023 and it’s my favorite festival of the year! There is so much to take in, and such a short time to experience it all. So let’s jump right in to the top 5 things to do at the Festival of the Arts!
Paint by Number Mural
On your way into the World Showcase stop by the Expression Section: A Paint by number mural, to pick up your very own paint brush, and assigned paint color. You get to be a part of the artwork hanging at Epcot!
The little container of paint you are assigned will have a number on top that corresponds to tiny squares on the mural. Taking your paint brush, you may apply paint to the corresponding numbered square - up to five squares. Then, as you exit, you’ll be handed a bookmark with the finished painting depicted so that you can see what the finished product will look like. Be sure to check back throughout the day to assess the progress!
Figment’s Brush with the Masters Scavenger Hunt
The main character of the Festival of the Arts is, of course, Figment. Each festival has it’s own hunt, so it’s no surprise that you are hunting Figment during this festival. You can purchase the hunt map/guide in any of the shops for $9.99, and on the back are stickers that you have to assign to each location based on what you see Figment holding in his hands at each location throughout the World Showcase. This year the prize for completion is a ceramic character figurine and you can choose either Figment, Mickey, Minnie or Goofy shaped.
Animation Academy
All year long you can visit the Animation Academy in Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Rafiki’s Planet Watch, but during the Festival of the Arts you can learn to draw your favorite Disney characters at Epcot, with a class taught by Disney artists, in the America Gardens Theatre in the World Showcase. The sessions are only from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm daily, so be sure to plan ahead!
Art in many forms: Paintings for sale, Chalk Art Installations, Defying Gravity, Disney on Broadway
There are many, many art booths available for your perusal at the Festival because, well, it is the Festival of the ARTS, after all. I always walk out with new pieces by some of my favorite artists including Thomas Kinkade Studios, Jason Ratner, Rob Kaz, Joey Chou, Ashley Taylor, Jerrod Maruyama, Fenway Fan and many, many more.
Chalk Art can be seen down the center “runway” leading in to the World Showcase. You can spot Disney characters, as well as chalk versions of famous paintings, and interactive art (where you can participate). A crowd favorite is the 3D chalk art by Nate Baranowski that allows you to step into the chalk painting and photograph yourself with some of your favorite Disney characters.
You can witness an acrobatics style performance that includes incredible feats of strength and agility four times per day (11:00, 11:40, 1:15 and 2:45) in the World Showcase Plaza.
Every evening, three times each evening (5:30 pm, 6:45 pm and 8:00 pm), there is a Disney on Broadway concert featuring show stopping numbers from Disney musicals, straight from Broadway! The concerts are performed by Broadway stars from musicals like Newsies, Tarzan, Aladdin, Frozen, The Lion King, and more! Each night there are two performers featured, and the performers change every fews days - which means that the concert is never the same! Make sure to check the My Disney Experience app for show times, and that day’s performers.
Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine - Food as Art
Inside of the Festival Passport there are certain menu items notated (7 in total), that if you purchase those particular dishes, you earn a stamp. Once you have purchased 5 out of the 7 dishes, you can bring your stamped Festival Passport to the Deco Delights booth to receive your complimentary Artist Palette Cookie - a cookie that looks like an actual artists’ palette!
There are so many opportunities at this festival to becomes the artist, connect with artists, and witness amazing performances. No matter the medium of art that you prefer, you will find something at this festival that suits your palette (pun intended).
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Headed to the Festival of the Arts this year? We have the perfect tees to make your time that much more magical!