Don’t Miss This at EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival

There’s no bad time to visit Disney’s EPCOT theme park. In fact, EPCOT is our very favorite Park to visit whenever we’re in Walt Disney World.  

Guests can explore nature, the future, and everything in between at EPCOT’s World Discovery, World Nature, and World Celebration. You can travel around the globe without ever leaving Orlando at EPCOT’s World Showcase.  And of course, you can ride fabulous attractions like Soarin’ Around the World, Test Track, and Frozen Ever After.  

From March to July, there’s another reason to visit – the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival.  Here’s what to expect.

What and When

The EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival is a celebration of spring featuring spectacular flowers, gardens, and topiaries.  But there’s so much more to the festival than fabulous flora!  Guests can also enjoy special eats and beverages, merchandise, and live entertainment.

You’ll have plenty of time to catch the festival because it’s on for four months.  If you’re planning a trip to Walt Disney World anytime between March 2 and July 4, 2022, allow some time in your schedule to catch all the exhibits and special events at the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival – it’s included in your Park admission.

Global Gardens

The main attraction at the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival?  The magnificent, multicolored Global Gardens you’ll discover throughout EPCOT’s World Discovery, World Nature, and World Celebration and World Showcase.  The best part?  No green thumb is required. 

Meet some colorful butterflies emerging from chrysalises at Bambi’s Butterfly House in World Nature.  Explore the biodiversity of the rainforest and discover your favorite color of orchid at the Mexico Pavilion.  Wander through the Bamboo Garden and check out your zodiac sign-in garden form at the China Pavilion.  Or go back to the Mesozoic Era when you check out the Prehistoric Garden at World Discovery.

Take your time exploring the Global Gardens, because they often include fascinating bits of information or interactive exhibits you’ll want to take a look at.

Topiaries

Much more than just pretty flowers, the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival specializes in colorful topiaries crafted especially for Guests by an incredibly talented team of Disney horticulturists.  

If you’ve never seen your favorite Disney character in topiary form, you’ve come to the right place.  There are too many magical creations – in every corner of EPCOT Park – to list here, but that’s ok because we wouldn’t want to rob you of the experience of discovering these beauties for yourself!  A few examples to whet your appetite include Buzz Lightyear near Mission: SPACE, Beauty and the Beast in the France Pavilion, a dragon at the Japan Pavilion, and a Walt Disney World 50^th Anniversary Celebration Cake at EPCOT’s entrance.

If you’ve been to the festival before, you’ll likely recognize many of the topiaries from previous years, but keep an eye out – they may have been moved to new locations, and there are always new creations added to the mix!

Outdoor Kitchens

Sure, this is a garden festival, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some celebratory treats while you’re enjoying smelling the roses!  Head to EPCOT’s World Showcase where you’ll find Outdoor Kitchens in nearly every pavilion offering exclusive global dishes, desserts, and drinks that will leave you wanting more.  

Sweet Sausage Fried Risotto Balls with Pomodoro Sauce, La Vie en Rose Frozen Slushy, Sugar Cane Shrimp Skewer, Maple Popcorn Shake, Local Wildflower Honey-Mascarpone Cheesecake – the options are endlessly creative, and oh-so-tantalizing.

There are also additional locations beyond EPCOT’s World Showcase, so be sure to check online for details to plan your day.

Entertainment

You have a signature drink in hand, you’re munching on a savory or sweet treat, and you’re soaking up all the topiary and garden splendor of the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival.  What could be better?

Well, what if Disney adds some live entertainment to the mix?  The Garden Rocks Concert Series takes place throughout the festival’s run, at the America Gardens Theatre in the American Adventure Pavilion.  The Guess Who, The Pointer Sisters, Simple Plan, Rick Springfield, and Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone are just a few of the artists performing from March to the end of June.

Like other festival exhibits, performances are free with EPCOT Theme Park reservation and admission, but Guests can opt to purchase a Garden Rocks Dining Package that covers a meal and guaranteed seating for your chosen concert.  The full schedule is online, so check it out for details.

Merchandise

What better way to commemorate your experience at EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival than with a special memento?  There are several exclusive merchandise collections available throughout the Park, including the Mickey Mouse Home Garden collection (who wouldn’t be a better gardener with Mickey-themed garden tools?), Orange Bird keepsakes, and the ever-popular Figment-themed dishes and apparel.

Especially for Kids

Gone are the days when EPCOT was dismissed as a Park with nothing to offer younger Guests.  If you have little ones with you at the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival, they may enjoy Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration, where they’ll follow Spike the Bee around the gardens of EPCOT on a springtime scavenger hunt.

Bottom Line

If your Walt Disney World vacation coincides with one of EPCOT’s annual festivals, it’s time for a happy dance!  And if you’ll be at WDW from March to early July (lucky you!), you’ll want to explore the topiaries, gardens, outdoor kitchens, live entertainment, and merchandise offered only during the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival.