Through May 27, the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival at Walt Disney World Resort is blooming with gorgeous floral displays, tasty dishes and fun entertainment.
A popular event for tourists and local alike, the festival began in 1994 with its stunning displays of colorful topiaries and gardens installed throughout the park.
An annual favorite, topiary sculptures of Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters once again will grace the park. New this year, Asha, Valentino and Star characters from the Disney film “Wish” will be at the main entrance, and Groot from “Guardians of the Galaxy” will be at World Discovery, near Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Returning characters are Huey, Dewey and Louie, as well as Donald Duck, Kermit and Miss Piggy, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Global Gardens in the park, such as the Songbird Meadow presented by Wild Birds Unlimited, highlight EPCOT’s mission to raise awareness about the environment and sustainability.
Floral displays include a community garden, Connections Conservatory Garden, Prehistoric Plants, Tropical Rainforest Garden, Desert Garden, Orchids, a Bonsai collection and Floating Gardens.
Other gardens highlight cultures, such as the new Gnome Garden at the Germany Pavilion that features topiary versions of gnomes from German folk tales and a Bonsai Collection at the Japan Pavilion.
What would a festival be without music? Throughout this event, the Garden Rocks Concert Series includes the Champagne Orchestra April 23, 24 and 25; Starship featuring Mickey Thomas April 26 and 27; Herman’s Hermits with Peter Noone April 28 and 29; Southbound April 30, May 1 and 2; Monsieur Periné May 3; Raul Acosta & Oro Solido with Luisito Ayala y la Puerto Rican Power May 4 and 5; and Fonseca May 6. For a full list of performers, visit https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/entertainment/epcot/flower-garden-rocks-concert-series.
The event also features a wide variety of tasty food and drink options, with multiple culturally themed Outdoor Kitchens around the World Showcase pavilions, such as the Lotus House at the China pavilion, and other non-culture-specific options, such as the Citrus Blossom, for example, which celebrates citrus fruits.
In addition, guests can use their Festival Passport for a fun food stroll featuring several tasty dishes. After trying at least five Garden Graze items and collecting a stamp for each, go to Pineapple Promenade to receive a specialty treat.
Kids of all ages can enjoy Butterfly Landing, presented by AdventHealth, and observe many species of butterflies up close in a kaleidoscope of color, located near Imagination! in World Nature.
Scavenger hunts ($9.99) are also part of the fun, with Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration, which has participants following Spike the Bee along his pollination trail as he’s busy collecting nectar and pollinating gardens.
Tickets to EPCOT and its annual festival can be purchased online. Visit https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/epcot/epcot-international-flower-and-garden-festival.
