The Epcot International Festival of the Arts debuts today offering a mix of visual, culinary and performing arts for the next six weekends.
More than 50 artists will showcase their work during the festival that runs Fridays-Mondays through February 20. Young artists can create a paint-by-numbers scenic wall or participate in an artwork-inspired scavenger hunt with Figment, Epcot’s animated dragon.
Broadway talent will perform songs from some of Disney on Broadway’s award-winning shows, including The Lion King, Newsies, and Aladdin. Broadway actors Josh Strickland, who was the original title character in Tarzan and Ashley Brown, the original onstage Mary Poppins are two of the featured artists. The singers will perform four shows, three times a night at the America Gardens Theater.
The food offerings will also get fancy. Festivalgoers can order caviar, a sugar cookie decorated to look like a mini easel and a Roy Lichtenstein-inspired beverage with cranberry-filled pearls.
Visitors can sign up for interactive workshops like the Gesture Drawing Class, led by former Disney animator Todd Bright. Other workshops include watercolor painting, mixed media art, calligraphy and floral arrangements. Each cost $39 plus tax.
The festival replaces the Pageant of the Masters art festival, which ran for one weekend at Downtown Disney, now known as Disney Springs.