The holiday spirit is slowly spreading around EPCOT at Walt Disney World, as additional festive decorations have recently been installed throughout the World Showcase neighborhood of the park. The seasonal garnishments come in preparation for the 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, which is scheduled to commence on November 24.
2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays Decorations
The 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays will bring several seasonal offerings to the park, including the Candlelight Processional, festive storytellers, and several Holiday Kitchens serving unique dishes. Full food and beverage menus were released for the upcoming event earlier this month.
We first noticed festive decorations installed around EPCOT on November 18, with more going up in recent days.
Canada Pavilion
Taking a right in World Showcase Plaza will lead us to the Canada Pavilion, where garland and ornaments have been added to the green arch near the entrance of Le Cellier Steakhouse. Snowflakes, bows, ornaments, and flora are hung from the garlands in addition to reindeer decorations. Each arch post contains a large Santa figurine.
The Northwest Mercantile gift shop has also received a bit of holiday cheer, as decorated garlands have been hung from the store’s roof and above its entryway.
The decorations contain bows, jingle bells, and Santa ornaments, among other trinkets.
Garland has been wrapped around the wooden ceiling joist inside the store.
Garland has also been added beneath the signage on The Mill Stage.
There’s also a snow-capped sign for The Canadian Holiday Voyageurs on the left-hand side of the stage.
Flanking the other side of the stage are two poinsettia-filled barrels and Canada’s 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays scroll.
The sign details different holiday traditions and celebrations from across Canada’s provinces and territories.
United Kingdom Pavilion
We noted the first holiday decorations going up in the United Kingdom Pavilion in our previous update, but a significant number of additional trinkets have been added in recent days.
Garlands are now hung atop doorways, archways, and railings in several shops throughout the pavilion.
The garlands contain different ornaments and decorations attached to them. Some hold jingle bells and horse figurines, while others contain reindeer and photos of royals.
Wrapped gifts have also been placed throughout some of the shops as decorations.
Christmas trees and garlands have been placed inside the Lords and Ladies shop.
They contain ornaments, roses, and silver deer figurines.
Speaking of Christmas trees, the pavilion’s primary tree has gone up near its gazebo. It contains large candy canes and elf decorations, among other trinkets. It’s surrounded by poinsettia arrangements and wrapped gifts.
The United Kingdom’s 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays scroll is at its side.
It, too, details the country’s festive celebrations and traditions.
France Pavilion
Like the United Kingdom Pavilion, decoration-adorned garland has been hung on most building façades in the France Pavilion. There are also decorations inside the area’s shops.
Some of the garland is themed depending on the particular area or store it’s in. The garland in Les Vins de France, for example, has grapes.
Some of the more unique 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays decor is in the France Pavilion, like this red and green peppermint swirl around a lamp post.
The pavilion’s ‘Christmas’ tree is fashioned out of leaves.
The pavilion’s festival scroll highlights the country’s holiday traditions.
Garland has been hung from the gazebo near the Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure attraction.
Nearby lamp posts have been decorated with garland.
This ‘mini tree’ atop a lamp post contains tassels, leaves, and a poodle figurine; the poodle is the national dog of France.
The pavilion’s 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays food booth has also received its signage.
A sign for “Le Marche de Noel Holiday Kitchen” has been added to the booth. The station will serve three food items, with the Crème de Saumon Fumé en Brioche à l’Aneth, Concombre and the Bûche de Noël au Pain D’Épices, Ganache Chocolat au Lait et Noisettes being its new offerings.
Hanukkah Stage
Located between the France and Morocco Pavilions is the Hanukkah stage, where the Hanukkah storyteller will perform during the 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.
The storyteller’s performance times are listed.
The stage’s signage includes the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays logo and an icon of a menorah.
A festival scroll details the history of Hanukkah.
Japan Pavilion
While we didn’t spot any holiday decorations in the Japan Pavilion, we did see the new signage for Shi Wasu, the pavilion’s 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays kitchen.
The booth will serve the Sushi Tree, New Year Celebration Soba, and the new Sweet Potato Mochi Cake.
The American Adventure
Garland has been hung above the Regal Eagle Smokehouse in The American Adventure.
Garlands and wreaths have been added to the building’s exterior and inside the attraction’s pre-show area.
Branding has also been added to booths that will serve as a Holiday Market and as an information kiosk for the Candlelight Processional, which will take place at America Gardens Theatre.
Decorations have also been added to the Block & Hans beer booth and the Funnel Cake kiosk.
Italy Pavilion
Garlands now hang from several building façades in the Italy Pavilion, including from a staircase railing behind a recently installed wine cart.
Garlands have also been added to the interior of several buildings and shops, though these decorations do not appear to be as themed as some of the garlands seen in other pavilions.
The Italy Pavilion’s 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Holiday details the Eve of Epiphany and Befana, an elderly witch who is similar to Santa Claus.
Germany Pavilion
We detailed the gingerbread men-adorned garlands on the exterior of buildings in the Germany Pavilion in our last update. Holiday decorations have spread inside the buildings in recent days.
The light-lined garlands are visible in several shops.
There are festive nutcracker displays inside Die Weihnachts Ecke, which is to be expected; “Die Weihnachts Ecke” translates to English as “The Christmas Corner.”
Some additional exterior garlands have been added throughout the Germany Pavilion, including these gingerbread men wreaths in the upper windows of Karamell-Kuche.
The pavilion’s stage has also received a festive facelift.
A nutcracker stands next to its festival sign.
The scroll shares the history of the seasonal toy.
China Pavilion
As Christmas is not widely celebrated in China, we did not spot too many holiday decorations in the China Pavilion. The area’s scroll shares the history of the Lunar New Year.
We did, however, spot a tree with panda and yin and yang ornaments inside House of Good Fortune. The ornaments are available for purchase.
We also spotted signage for Shanghai Holiday Kitchen, the China Pavilion’s 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays booth.
Guests will be able to try the Chicken Skewer with creamy peanut sauce, Beef and Noodle Soup Bowl, and Vegetable Spring rolls with citrus sauce.
Norway Pavilion
There are some holiday decorations to check out as you go to purchase a Viking Coffee, as garlands and wreaths now hang from the exterior of the Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe building in the Norway Pavilion.
The decorations contain flora and bows.
The Fjording has also received bow-adorned holiday decorations.
These decorations wrapped around lamp posts contain candles and rocking horse figurines.
Garlands and other holiday decorations have also been added inside several buildings inside the Norway Pavilion.
Mexico Pavilion
Few exterior decorations have been put up in the Mexico Pavilion since our last update, with this festive garland in the Donald Duck meet and greet area being the only addition we noticed. It contains multi-colored ornaments, bows, and poinsettias.
The interior of the Mexico Pavilion’s iconic pyramid has received some festive care, with garlands being added to the exterior of the San Angel Inn Restaurant and around the building’s several shopping areas.
Signage has also been added for Las Posadas, the pavilion’s holiday kitchen for the 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.
Guests will be able to choose from three food options at the booth; the Giant Tostada de CHorizo, Tamale de Baracoa, and the Dulce de Leche Churro.
The 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays will run through December 30.
Are you excited for the 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays? Let us know in the comments.
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