Festivals. Concerts. Food. (That's our personal fave!) It seems like there's always one occasion or another to visit. Events are some of the biggest reasons to visit Walt Disney World Resort! While some of Disney World's special events occur during what was once considered more "off-peak" times in spring and fall, others hoppen during very busy times. Many of the Disney World events have become so popular that they bring more people to the parks! Here is the full schedule of Disney World events in 2022 and beyond to help you plan your visit.

While 2021 featured some modified events, things continue to open up around the resort in 2022. We continue to see entertainment return, plus we have the ongoing Disney World's 50th Anniversary Celebration to enjoy! And in perhaps the biggest news so far this year — Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party are back! We update this post throughout the year as new event details are released and dates are added.

For those of you who have already picked your dates, this post also serves as a guide for what will be hoppening while you're there. You'll find all of the Walt Disney World events in 2022 and beyond on our Crowd Calendar. You can also see crowd levels and park recommendations on the days that events are taking place. We've even got a whole post detailing some of the very best times to plan a Disney World trip in 2022. Be sure to bookmark this page if you've got a trip coming up to stay up-to-date on all of the exciting events to come!

Full Schedule of Events at Disney World in 2022

Disney World's 50th Anniversary Celebration — Oct. 1, 2021, to March 31, 2023

It's the big 5-0! "The World's Most Magical Celebration" kicked off Oct. 1, 2021, and will run through March 31, 2023! Guests can take in special entertainment, including a new cavalcade at Magic Kingdom, and new nighttime spectaculars with "Harmonious" at EPCOT and "Disney Enchantment" at Magic Kingdom. Disney's Animal Kingdom debuted a new daytime performance, "Disney KiteTails." And each of the park's icons become "beacons of magic" each evening, in addition to featuring special EARidescent decor, lighting and more. Characters don their best party attire, and several new additions will open as the event progresses. The very first? Remy's Ratatouille Adventure opened Oct. 1 in EPCOT, and most recently, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opened on May 27!

AUGUST - DECEMBER

Disney H2O Glow After Hours

After a two-year hiatus, Disney H2O Glow After Hours returned to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park in 2022! The water park is hosting the after hours parties every Saturday night from May 28 to Aug. 27. This separately ticketed, tadpole-friendly evening event features DJ dance parties, specialty food and drink, and a chance to enjoy your favorite water attractions glowing at night. We soaked up all the fun at the first event of the season — check out our guide to H2O Glow After Hours for all the hoppin' details!

EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival — July 14 to Nov. 19, 2022

The popular EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival returned this year and is running from July 14 to Nov. 19, 2022. If you're looking for Disney World events with plenty of food and drink, this is one of them! The festival features more than 25 international marketplace kiosks, which offer tapas-sized portions of regional specialties, as well as recommended wine and beer pairings.

The Eat to the Beat! Concert Series also returned in 2022, along with Mariachi Cobre, JAMMitors and Voices of Liberty. This is a major event, and we recommend using our EPCOT Food & Wine Festival guide to help you make the most of it! EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is included with regular theme park admission.

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party — Aug. 12 to Oct. 31, 2022

Boo to you — Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party has returned to Magic Kingdom Park! This separately ticketed event offers guests the opportunity to stay after normal park hours in their costumes to enjoy unique characters, attraction overlays, treat stops, photo opportunities and specialty food and drink. Enjoy exclusive entertainment like Mickey’s Boo-To-You parade, Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular stage show and Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks. Head over to our not-so-scary guide for all the details for the 2022 parties!

Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend — Nov. 4 to 7, 2022

The Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend combines the magic of a runDisney race with the festivities of the Food & Wine Festival. Races usually include the Disney Fall Feast 5K, Kids Races and the Half Marathon. Half-marathoners and Disney Two-Course Challenge participants can celebrate at an exclusive post-race party at the Food and Wine Festival.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party — Nov. 8 to Dec. 22, 2022

Celebrate the holiday season with Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, returning to Magic Kingdom Park on select nights Nov. 8 to Dec. 22! This special event occurs after regular park hours and requires a separate party ticket to enjoy all its exclusive offerings. Running from 7 p.m. to midnight on select nights, the party features rare characters, special entertainment, jolly-good treats, ride overlays and more! There is even “snowfall” on Main Street intermittently throughout the night.

Returning are big highlights such as Mickey's Once Upon A Christmastime Parade, Mickey's Most Merriest Celebration castle stage show and Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks. There are also plenty of opportunities to meet your favorite Disney characters, some of whom are decked out in their holiday finest. Check out our festive party guide for all the exciting details!

While Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is a separate event, there are still many festive holiday Disney World events. Each one brings merriment with the right touch of Disney. Let our complete guide to Disney World holiday events be your holiday planner! (Consider it our gift to you.)

EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays — Nov. 25 to late December 2022

EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays takes place each winter; in 2021, the festival ran from Nov. 26 to Dec. 30. The festival is confirmed to return Nov. 25, 2022. Storytellers from many of the countries, such as La Befana at the Italy pavilion, recount holiday customs from their respective countries. Santa Claus even makes special appearances too! There's also seasonal food from each country available for purchase. Buon appetito!

The Candlelight Processional returned in 2021 and will continue to serenade us in 2022! The show tells the story of Christmas with a celebrity narrator, accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and mass choir. Last year, instead of hosting choirs from the community, the cast member choir expanded. The Candlelight Processional is typically performed three times nightly. Much like other EPCOT festivals, the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays is included with regular admission to EPCOT. We have tips on all of these festivities (and yes, the food too) in our full guide!

Holiday Celebrations at Disney's Animal Kingdom — Nov.11 to late December 2022

Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park starts celebrating the jolly season Nov. 11, 2022. Guests can wave at favorite characters in their holiday best, as well as Santa, in Festive Flotillas along Discovery River. The Merry Menagerie, life-size animal puppets of penguins, foxes, polar bears and more, create a winter wonderland at Discovery Island. At night, guests could check out the Tree of Life Awakenings — Holiday Edition, during which the tree shimmers and sparkles along to a musical score. There were also special seasonal decorations and food to enjoy around the park!

Holiday Celebrations at Disney's Hollywood Studios — Nov. 11 to December 2022

The holidays at Disney's Hollywood Studios begin Nov. 11, 2022. Share a meal with Santa Goofy, Minnie Mouse and friends at Hollywood & Vine for a Christmas feast. Sunset Season's Greetings lights up Tinseltown as snow falls and dazzling projections light up the Hollywood Tower Hotel to tell special holiday tales from your favorite characters. Enjoy a special holiday finale to the Frozen Sing Along, featuring our favorite snowman, Olaf. Plus guests can catch Santa driving by in a special seasonal motorcade!

Holiday Celebrations at Disney Springs — November 11 to December 2022

Holidays at Disney Springs is a special event that replaced Festival of the Seasons at Downtown Disney (the previous name for the entertainment area). Holiday decorations include the Disney Springs' Christmas Trail, a trail of trees decorated and themed as Disney characters. In the evening, guests visiting Town Center encounter a magical snowfall. Jock Lindsay's Holiday Bar returns again with holiday decor and a limited-time menu. Holidays at Disney Springs is a free Disney World event to enjoy throughout your day.

JANUARY AND FEBRUARY

Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend — Jan. 4 to 8, 2023

The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend features Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge, Dopey Challenge, runDisney Kids Races, Walt Disney World 5K & 10K, Walt Disney World Half Marathon and the headlining race, the Walt Disney World Marathon. The courses of the longer races take runners through all four Walt Disney World Resort theme parks. In 2021, the event moved to a virtual race for the health and safety of participants, but it resumed in person in 2022 (though some races had virtual counterparts).

If you're planning a trip that overlaps with a race, you should know that Disney races are some of the Disney World events that will bring in heavy crowds. Crowd levels are usually affected by the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend since the event brings in thousands and thousands of runners and spectators each year. Traffic around the resort is also affected by the Walt Disney World Marathon. When visiting during this special event, expect travel time between the Disney parks to take longer. We have a separate post on what to expect at the Disney World Marathon if you want to start planning!

EPCOT International Festival of the Arts — Mid-January to late-February 2023

Grab a paintbrush, and let your imagination flow! This EPCOT festival celebrates visual, performing and culinary arts. There are usually gallery exhibits, living statues, artist appearances and much more that take place during the festival. The 2022 festival ran from Jan. 14 to Feb. 21 and saw the return of the Disney on Broadway Concert Series, which was unavailable during the modified 2021 festival.

EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is included with admission to the park, but there may be separately ticketed events within the festival itself if you are looking for additional experiences such as culinary classes or art workshops. Here is our full guide to the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts to inspire you.

Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend — Feb. 23 to 26, 2023

Inspired by the Disney Princesses, this event celebrates strong, determined women. Weekend events include the Disney Princess 5K, Disney Princess Enchanted 10K, Disney Fairy Tale Challenge and the headlining event, the Disney Princess Half Marathon. The half marathon takes runners through Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. Traffic around the parks is typically affected by this race every year.

MARCH - JULY

EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival — Early March to Early July 2023

As the second event in the lineup of the EPCOT festivals, the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival blossoms each spring. This festival features tons of topiaries spread throughout the park. There is an abundance of food offerings at the outdoor kitchens scattered around World Showcase and Future World to enjoy while admiring the character topiaries. The 2022 festival ran from March 2 to July 4.

Guests can also delight in the hundreds of butterfly species residing at the festival's screened butterfly house. Plus the Garden Rocks Concert Series was back at the America Gardens Theatre on select nights. EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is included with regular admission to EPCOT. This is one of the most colorful and popular Disney World events!

runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend — April 13 to 16, 2023

Formerly the Star Wars Rival Run Half Marathon, this all-new runDisney event offers up a new theme each year. The 2022 races featured returning classics, including the Expedition Everest 5K (a nighttime run with a scavenger hunt!), the Race for the Taste 10K and the Tower of Terror 10-miler. Enjoy Sunrise Yoga for a relaxing morning with a magical backdrop — Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom! Stay tuned —the 2023 theme will be Pixar themed!

We hope you found this list of Disney World events hopful as you plan your visit. By now you've realized that the parties, festivals and events are some of the best reasons to visit! If you're looking for more tips, check out the When to Visit Orlando page on our Orlando Planning Timeline! 

Related: Complete Guide to Disney World Holiday Events

Hoppy planning!