2023 Guide to Holiday Storytellers & Santa at Epcot

If you’ve ever dreamt of spending the holidays in another country, Epcot gives you a taste of what that is like courtesy of World Showcase Storytellers & Entertainers.

During the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays (which typically runs from Thanksgiving to the end of December), you can find a range of international celebrations being shared throughout Epcot.

Thinking of visiting? Here are the Storytellers, Santas, and Entertainers that you can expect find at Epcot during the holiday season.

The 2023 Festival of the Holidays runs from November 24 through December 30. Unless otherwise noted, you can meet Santas and Storytellers through the end of the festival. You can find showtimes for the performers in the My Disney Experience app. Be sure to double-check showtimes when you’re visiting.

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Epcot World Showcase Santas, Storytellers, and Entertainment

What makes the Festival of the Holidays so special is the chance to learn about how different cultures celebrate their holiday season.

To make that happen, Disney stations Santas and other Storytellers unique to each country in the World Showcase pavilions. There, they narrate their respective holiday traditions from various parts of the world.

For each country, you can also find signage that highlights the customs and traditions surrounding their holidays, like this one in Morocco:

In addition to the storytellers, you’ll find lots of other entertainers and performers, plus special food and drinks, decorations, activities, the Candlelight Processional, and so much more.

Note: In addition to the seasonal entertainment below, many of the regular World Showcase entertainers are still performing, so be sure to check your My Disney Experience app for those performance times and locations!

Here’s what you can find and where:

Odyssey Pavilion (Santa Claus)

Santa will once again meet inside the Odyssey Pavilion (between Test Track and Mexico).

You’ll be able to say hello to Santa here through December 24.

Santa will be available every day for 60 minute windows at the following times:

11 a.m.
12:30 p.m.
2 p.m.
3:30 p.m.
5 p.m.
6:30 p.m.

In 2022, Santa Goofy made appearances here beginning December 25 through the end of the festival. And we expect he will do the same in 2023.

See where else you can meet Santa at Walt Disney World

World Showcase Plaza (JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season)

JOYFUL! is back again to celebrate the joy of Christmas and Kwanzaa through song.

They perform daily on the World Showcase Plaza stage.

1:15 p.m.
2:30 p.m.
3:25 p.m.
4:30 p.m.

Mexico Pavilion (Las Posadas Celebration)

In the Mexico Pavilion, the Las Posadas Celebration features dancers, piñatas, and the music of Mariachi Cobre.

Las Posadas Celebration world showcase storytellers

Performances are 25 minutes and happen Sundays through Thursdays.

11:05 a.m.
11:55 a.m.
12:45 p.m.
2:45 p.m.
3:50 p.m.
4:55 p.m.

Norway Pavilion (Barn Santa)

barn santa norway epcot world showcase storyteller

In the Norway pavilion, a mischievous magical Barn Santa visits Sigrid, an unsuspecting Christmas storyteller.

You can find the Barn Santa performing 15-minute shows daily:

11:35 a.m.
12:20 p.m.
1:10 p.m.
2:05 p.m.
4:15 p.m.
5:20 p.m.
6:15 p.m.
7:10 p.m.

Norway Holiday sign explaining holiday traditions.

China Pavilion (Chinese Lion Dancer)

You can watch a Chinese Lion Dancer showcasing a colorful performance that brings good fortune and happiness in the Lunar New Year.

chinese lion dancer world showcase storyteller epcot

You can catch 15-minute performances in the China Pavilion daily.

12 p.m.
1 p.m.
2 p.m.
3 p.m.
4 p.m.

Germany (Tanzhaus Johann band)

The Germany Gazebo comes alive with holiday tunes during the Festival of the Holidays.

For 2023, you can find Tanzhaus Johann with their brass band playing holiday music there in a wide mix of styles.

Catch them on select dates between November 24 and December 30, 2023.

12:40 p.m.
1:30 p.m.
2:35 p.m.
3:55 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
6:05 p.m.

Italy Pavilion (La Befana)

You can listen to the tale of La Befana, a kind-hearted witch who visits sleeping children on the eve of the Epiphany.

She performs daily in the Italy Pavilion. Shows are 15 minutes long.

11:15 a.m.
12:15 p.m.
1:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m.
3:30 p.m.
4:15 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
5:50 p.m.

American Adventure pavilion (Dickens Carolers)

In addition to the stunning Candlelight Processional that happens nightly throughout the Festival of the Holidays, you can also find the much beloved Voices of Liberty performing.

Transformed into the “Dickens Carolers”, the Voices of Liberty will sweep you away with their renditions of holiday and seasonal favorites.

11:15 a.m.
12:00 p.m.
12:45 p.m.
1:30 p.m.
2:15 p.m.
3:00 p.m.
3:45 p.m.

Japan Pavilion (Daruma Storyteller)

The Daruma Storyteller tells the story of the Daruma doll and the Japanese customs of the New Year.

daruma storyteller japan epcot festival of the holidays

Shows are 15 minutes and occur daily in the Japan Pavilion.

11:35 a.m.
12:35 p.m.
1:40 p.m.
2:40 p.m.
4:20 p.m.
5:15 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
6:45 p.m.

Between France and Morocco (Hanukkah Storyteller)

Between the France and Morocco pavilions is the Hanukkah Storyteller, where a storyteller recounts traveling abroad to explore the diverse music and traditions of Hanukkah around the world.

This storyteller performs daily. Shows are 15 minutes long.

10:30 a.m.
11:40 a.m.
12:40 p.m.
1:35 p.m.
2:35 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
5:45 p.m.

France Pavilion (Père Noël)

You can visit with Père Noël in the France pavilion and rediscover the magic of Christmas through the letter of a delightful child.

You can find Père Noël performing 15-minute shows daily:

10:30 a.m.
11:40 a.m.
12:40 p.m.
1:35 p.m.
2:35 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
5:45 p.m.

United Kingdom Pavilion (Father Christmas)

Father Christmas makes an appearance in the United Kingdom pavilion and shares the traditions of the U.K. and good cheer.

You can find the Father Christmas performing 15-minute shows daily:

11:30 a.m.
12:30 p.m.
1:30 p.m.
2:25 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
5:10 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
6:45 p.m.

Canada Pavilion (Canadian Holiday Voyagers)

In the Canada Pavilion, Canadian Holiday Voyageurs explore holiday customs from the various regions of Canada on a musical tour of the Great White North.

Shows are 20 minutes and happen daily.