Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Arts 2021: A Look Back

Are you getting ready for the 2022 Festival of the Arts? Let’s take a moment to reflect on last year’s Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Arts. Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, EPCOT kept the festival’s spirit alive with a scaled-back yet creative celebration.

How EPCOT Adapted the Festival During COVID-19

The 2021 Taste of EPCOT Festival was uniquely designed to accommodate health and safety guidelines. While some performances and activities were limited, the festival still featured:

• Outdoor galleries showcasing stunning artwork from talented artists.
• Food studios serving creatively crafted dishes from around the world.
• Live art demonstrations bringing creative processes to life.
• Interactive experiences like paint-by-number murals, adjusted for safety.

Despite its smaller scale, the festival successfully maintained its vibrant atmosphere and artistic spirit.

Exclusive Cast Member Insights and Festival Highlights

Our video, “Sam’s Disney News Festival of Arts 2021”, includes interviews with EPCOT cast members who shared behind-the-scenes details:

• Chef Kevin highlighted the festival’s uniqueness by blending Performing, Culinary, and Visual Arts into a cohesive celebration.
• The Culinary Arts section introduced two new food studios, including Vibrante & Vivido, a tribute to Mary Blair that focuses on turning food into art.
• Chelsea Florig discussed how culinary specialists transformed dishes into works of art. She also emphasized family-friendly activities like the inspiration paint-by-numbers mural, artful photo opportunities, and the popular Figment-themed scavenger hunt.
• Courtney Jackson from the food and beverage team discussed the Artists’ Table, where chefs create stunning dishes by interpreting famous paintings.
• Edgar Montero revealed his favorite dish at the Masterpiece Studio: the mushroom risotto, a crowd favorite.

The video also features festival merchandise, including Figment-inspired collectibles celebrating the 5th anniversary of the Festival of the Arts, plus chalk art displays that brought walkways to life.

More Sam’s Disney Diary from the Epcot Festival of the Arts:  2018, Top 20 of 2020, Victor Espinola, Suroit in Canada, Trevor Carlton Visual Arts, Lebendig Rocking Germany, and Disney on Broadway.