MARCH/APRIL 2018 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 159
The Epcot
International
Festival of the
Arts is held each
year in January
and February.
Specialty dishes such as this
help to make the culinary arts
part of this festival.
The princesses of Frozen are one of the biggest draws at
the Norway Pavilion in the World Showcase at Epcot.
The Festival of the Arts also featured the galleries
and cultural displays of Epcot’s Canada, Mexico,
Norway, China, Germany, Italy, America, Japan,
Morocco, France and the United Kingdom. You can
see totem poles from Canada’s First Nations and the
Gian Lorenzo Bernini-inspired fountains of Italy,
and experience Mexico’s celebration of the Dia de Los
Muertos and the decorative arts of personal adornment
in Morocco. The influence of art in each of these lands
is utterly captivating. And no day is ever complete at
Epcot without the nighttime IllumiNations: Reflections of
Earth show in the lagoon.
At the festival, there were workshops and seminars,
photo opportunities, musical performances and
character greetings that ranged from Belle in France to
Anna and Elsa in Norway. We enjoyed a presentation
by Mindy Johnson, the author of Ink and Paint-The
Women of Walt Disney’s Animation, who discussed
the significant role women played in the Disney
organization, particularly during the early years.
Be sure to put Disney’s all-inclusive celebration of
the arts on your calendar for next January/February.
It is an exciting extravaganza of phenomenal artists,
gourmet fare, music, amazing acts and a spectacular
salute to the arts. 9
NORAA