The cast and crew of EPCOT are getting ready for the 2025 Festival of the Holidays, which begins in just a few days. More decorations and signs have been installed, including signs for the Holiday Storytellers.
Festival of the Holidays Preparation
- Joyful Stage
- Playground
- Mexico Pavilion – Las Posadas Celebration
- Norway Pavilion – A Mischievous Magical Barn Santa
- Germany Pavilion – Adventskalender
- Miniature Village
- Italy Pavilion – La Befana
- United States of America
- America Gardens Theatre
- Japan Pavilion – Daruma Storyteller
- Morocco Pavilion
- Hanukkah Storyteller
- France Pavilion – Père Noël
- United Kingdom Pavilion – Father Christmas
- Canada Pavilion – Canadian Holiday Voyageurs
Joyful Stage
The stage for Joyful! A Celebration of the Season was installed at CommuniCore Plaza earlier this month but is now decorated for the show. The lighting towers have yellow-orange-purple wraps. Matching decorations are on the stage.
“Joyful” signs are now to either side of the stage. The musical performance is a tribute to Christmas and Kwanzaa. It will take place daily during the festival at 2:00 p.m., 3:05 p.m., 4:05 p.m., and 5:10 p.m.
Playground
Elements of the Harvest Hollow playground remain following the conclusion of the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. There are additional autumnal details like fallen leaves and bear tracks in the grass. Plus, the shade supports are wrapped in peppermint stripes.
Mexico Pavilion – Las Posadas Celebration
The location of each Holiday Storyteller in World Showcase has a scroll about that country’s traditions. Mariachi Cobre will perform with dancers and piñatas to celebrate Las Posadas at the Mexico Pavilion. This will take place Sundays through Sundays at 11:05 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 12:50 p.m., 2:35 p.m., 3:40 p.m., and 5:15 p.m.
Norway Pavilion – A Mischievous Magical Barn Santa
Due to construction at the pavilion, the Norway storytellers may be in a different spot this year. Construction walls currently block the usual location of their stage, so the scroll and poinsettias are along a nearby walkway. Sigrid and Barn Santa return to the Norway pavilion daily at 11:40 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:25 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 4:10 p.m., 4:55 p.m., 5:45 p.m., and 6:30 p.m.
Germany Pavilion – Adventskalender
New this year is Micha’s Adventskalender Puppetry at the Germany pavilion. This “magical puppet theatre adventure” takes place Fridays through Tuesdays at 12:40 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:35 p.m., 3:55 p.m., 5:00 p.m., and 6:05 p.m. The stage is decorated with oversized numbered blocks.
Miniature Village
The tiny village at the Germany pavilion has decorated for the festival.
There are now tiny Festival of the Holidays banners on the village’s lampposts.
Italy Pavilion – La Befana
La Befana the Christmas Witch will tell her story about the Eve of the Epiphany daily at the stage in the center of the Italy pavilion. Performances will be at 11:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:00 p.m., 1:55 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 5:00 p.m., and 5:40 p.m.
United States of America
The American Adventure doesn’t have a Holiday Storyteller but there is a U.S.A. scroll in front of the pavilion’s Christmas tree.
America Gardens Theatre
The tiered Christmas tree-inspired stands have been installed at the America Gardens Theatre for Candlelight Processional. Check out the list of celebrity narrators for the show.
Japan Pavilion – Daruma Storyteller
A Japanese storyteller talks about the history of the Daruma doll in front of the Japan pavilion’s pagoda. This will be daily at 10:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 1:35 p.m., 2:35 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 5:00 p.m., and 5:45 p.m.
Morocco Pavilion
The Morocco pavilion doesn’t have a storyteller but there is a small display about the country’s various festivities.
Hanukkah Storyteller
The Hanukkah storyteller will perform daily between the Morocco and France pavilions. The stage has been set with a giant menorah. Performance times will be noon, 1:00 p.m., 1:50 p.m., 2:50 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 5:05 p.m., 5:50 p.m., and 6:30 p.m.
France Pavilion – Père Noël
Père Noël, the French version of Christmas, will recite his story daily at 10:00 a.m., 11:05 a.m., 12:10 p.m., 12:50 p.m., 2:20 p.m., 3:25 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 5:15 p.m. A small stage for the storyteller, set with red flowers and wrapped presents, is located in front of the maze garden.
United Kingdom Pavilion – Father Christmas
Father Christmas will ring in the season at the back of the U.K. pavilion, near the gazebo. There is a small Christmas tree in the area. He will perform daily at 11:45 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:20 p.m., 2:05 p.m., 3:50 p.m., 4:45 p.m., 5:35 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Canada Pavilion – Canadian Holiday Voyageurs
Canadian Holiday Voyageurs will take guests on a “musical tour of the Great White North” during performances at the Mill Stage next to the pavilion. They will perform daily during the festival at 3:25 p.m., 4:35 p.m., 5:35 p.m., 6:40 p.m., 7:40 p.m., and 8:40 p.m.
Holiday Kitchens throughout EPCOT have also been prepped for the festival, which runs from November 28 through December 30. Check out our first look at this year’s festival map.
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