By Nicole Nalty
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is back! Blooming through Epcot from March 1 to May 29, this 90-day festival will feature terrific topiaries, delicious eats, awesome entertainers… need we say more? Read on to plan your visit to this year’s festival—we’re telling you right now, you’re going to need more than one day!
The Topiaries
Disney topiaries are truly spectacular, and the sculpted shrubbery never disappoints during Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Make sure to say “Bonjour!” to a brand-new Belle topiary in the France Pavilion. Joining a new generation of princess topiaries (Snow White, Anna, and Elsa made their debut last year), this topiary will have sculpted facial features. Enchanté! Speaking of Anna and Elsa, be sure to stop by their topiaries when the sun sets—Elsa’s snowy garden is designed to sparkle after dark. This year’s festival also marks the topiary debut of everyone’s favorite imaginary dragon, Figment. Each year we look forward to a new topiary garden at the entrance to World Showcase, and this year we’ll be greeted by Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Daisy, and Pluto in “Welcome Spring Fun, Food and Flowers,” a garden inspired by a vintage Walt Disney short film. Keep your eyes peeled as you make your way through the festival—there are nearly 100 topiaries!
The Eats
What would a festival at Epcot be without amazing eats? This year, two new kitchens—Northern Bloom and The Berry Basket––bring the grand total of Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Outdoor Kitchens to a whopping 15—you’re going to need more than one day to take it all in! Topping our list of must-eats? Macaron Chocolate Framboise from Fleur De Lys, Home-Made Falafel from Taste of Marrakesh, and Seared Scallops (pictured above) from Northern Bloom. Yum! Check out the full list of eats here.
The Beats
Garden Rocks, the festival’s weekend concert series, returns every Friday through Monday with a can’t-miss line-up of 1960s, ‘70s, ’80s, and ‘90s bands, like the Gin Blossoms (pictured above). “We’re so excited” for the three back-to-back weekends featuring The Pointer Sisters (see what we did there), Simple Plan, and the Plain White T’s, respectively. Check out the full line-up here. (P.S. You can reserve seating and dining for select weekends during the festival––see available dates here).
The Take-Home Treats
How cute are Minnie and Mickey in this Flower & Garden-exclusive design? Keep an eye out for that feisty Figment, too! Pin traders will be delighted by these limited-edition and limited-release options (we love the Mickey and Minnie-inspired butterflies). See the full spread here.
Will you be attending Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival this year? Be sure to use #FreshEpcot on your foodie and floral pics!
