Springtime at Walt Disney World is one of the most beautiful times of the year. One of the major highlights of the season is the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival. If you’re looking to see and experience the spring season in all its glory, this festival is a must.
In my opinion- Flower and Garden is the best festival of the year because it’s just so beautiful. It’s got the best of all worlds, it’s got food booths, it’s got flowers, it’s got colors. What is not to like? In this post, we will give you a complete guide to the 2023 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival.
What is EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival?
The EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival celebrates all the beautiful things that Spring has to offer. The Flower and Garden festival is similar to the other festivals held at EPCOT throughout the year and offers many of the same elements including outdoor kitchens, scavenger hunts, decorations, and entertainment. This year the festival runs from March 1, 2023, through July 5, 2023.
The great news is that there isn’t an additional charge to attend the festival. As long as you have a park ticket and a park pass reservation to get into EPCOT then you’ll be able to enjoy the Flower and Garden festival included in that cost. Of course, there is an additional charge for any food, drinks, or merchandise you choose to purchase throughout your visit.
Outdoor Kitchens at Flower and Garden Festival
Of course, we’ll start out with my favorite- the food! Similar to the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival or the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays, you’ll be able to sample culinary treats from around the world at different booths throughout the World Showcase. During this festival, the food and drinks have a fresh springtime theme.
2023 Lineup of Outdoor Kitchens
- Bauernmarkt: Farmer’s Market -Germany
- BRUNCHCOT -Near Test Track
- The Citrus Blossom -The Odyssey
- EPCOT Farmers Feast -Near Test Track
- Fleur de Lys -France
- Florida Fresh -Near Disney Traders
- Hanami -Japan
- The Honey Bee-stro – Near Port of Entry
- Jardin de Fiestas -Mexico
- La Isla Fresca -Between Morocco and France
- Lotus House -China
- Magnolia Terrace -America
- Northern Bloom -Canada
- Pineapple Promenade -Near Port of Entry
- Primavera Kitchen -Italy
- Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina -Morocco
- Trowel & Trellis– Near Port of Entry
You can check out more details and menus here.
Garden Graze Food Stroll
Pick up a festival passport when you enter the park and you can participate in this food stroll around the world showcase. There will be a list of items for you to try as you tour the outdoor kitchens. Once you collect 5 stamps from purchasing different items you can show your passport at Pineapple Promenade to get a special treat.
Gardens and Topiaries
The signature feature of the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival is of course – the flowers and the gardens! Throughout the park, you can view beautiful and elaborate character topiaries and stunning garden displays.
Topiary Displays
You can see some of your favorite Disney characters and animals created from plants. Here is a list of the displays you can expect at the 2023 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival:
- Encanto – Main Entrance
- Mickey, Minnie, and Friends – Bridge to World Showcase
- Woody, Bo Peep and Her Sheep – Near The Land Pavilion
- Goofy – World Showcase
- Tiana – American Adventure Pavilion
- Buzz Lightyear – Near Mission: SPACE
- Donald and Daisy – Near Connections Café
- Figment – Near Imagination!
- The Three Caballeros – Mexico
- Anna and Elsa – Norway
- Troll – Norway
- Dragon – Japan
- Pandas – China
- Simba and Friends – Between Imagination! and The Land Pavilion
- Pumbaa and Timon – Between Imagination! and The Land Pavilion
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – Germany
- Lady and the Tramp – Italy
- Beauty and the Beast – France
- Lumiere and Cogsworth – France
- Kermit and Miss Piggy – Between France and Morocco
- Peter Pan, Captain Hook and Tick Tock Croc – Between UK and Canada
- Winnie the Pooh and Friends – UK
- Tinker Bell’s Fairy House Garden – UK
- Bambi and Friends – Near Imagination! and Refreshment Port
- Geese – Canada
- Butterflies – Main Entrance, Scentsy Garden, Butterfly House, and World Showcase
Global Gardens
In addition to the topiaries you can find throughout the park, you can also explore beautiful gardens and learn more about gardening and floral design. Here are the gardens you visit around the park:
Bamboo Garden – China Pavilion
Blossoms of Fragrance – World Showcase Bridge
Bold Bromeliads – The Land Pavilion
Bonsai Collection – Japan Pavilion
Bouquet Garden – France Pavilion
Butterfly Landing – World Nature Near Imagination!
China Zodiac Garden – China Pavilion
Community Garden – World Celebration
Connections Conservatory Garden – Connections Eatery
Desert Garden – Mexico Pavilion
English Tea Garden Presented by Twinings® – United Kingdom Pavilion
Family-Friendly Garden Presented by OFF!
Festival Blooms – World Celebration
Floating Gardens – World Nature
Garden Italiano – Italy Pavilion
The Honey Bee-stro – Near Imagination!
Kokedema Garden – Japan Pavilion
Miniature Garden – Germany Pavilion
Prehistoric Garden – Near Mission: SPACE
Shakespeare Garden – United Kingdom Pavilion
Shishi-odoshi – Japan Pavilion – NEW!
Spice Garden – Morocco Pavilion
Songbird Meadow – World Discovery.
Topiary Heritage Garden – United Kingdom Pavilion
Tropical Rainforest Garden – Mexico Pavilion
Garden Rocks Concert Series
One great form of entertainment at the Flower and Garden Festival is the Garden Rocks concert series. You’ll get to experience performances from various popular bands and musicians. Concerts will be held at 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM, and 8:00 PM at the America Gardens Theatre. Here is the lineup for the 2023 Garden Rocks series:
- March 3-4 – Journey former lead vocalist STEVE AUGERI
- March 5-6 – Daughtry
- March 10-11 – Tommy DeCarlo
- March 12-13 – Smash Mouth
- March 17-18 – Mike DelGuidice
- March 19-20 – Blue Oyster Cult – NEW
- March 24-25 – Berlin
- March 26-27 – The Pointer Sisters
- March 31 – Luis Figueroa – NEW
- April 1-2 – Piso 21 – NEW
- April 3 – Melina León
- April 7-8 – STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas
- April 9-10 – Don Felder, formerly of the Eagles
- April 16-17 – Switchfoot – NEW
- April 21-22 – A Flock of Seagulls
- April 23-24 – Jo Dee Messina
- April 28-29 – Ambrosia with Peter Beckett, The Voice Of Player
- April 30, May 1 – Kool and the Gang
- May 5-8 – Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
- May 12-15 – The Orchestra starring former members of ELO
- May 19-20 – A.J. Croce: Croce Plays Croce – NEW
- May 21-22 – Casting Crowns – NEW
- May 26-27 – Jason Scheff, longtime lead singer of Chicago – NEW
- May 28-29 – Rick Springfield
- June 2-5 – Plain White T’s
- June 9-10 – The Spinners
- June 11-12 – The Commodores
- June 16-17 – Vertical Horizon
- June 18-19 – Tony Orlando
- June 23-26 – Simple Plan
- June 30, July 1 – Living Colour
- July 2-3 – Wang Chung
You can also book a Garden Rocks dining package which includes dinner at a participating location, and a guaranteed seat to one of the concerts on the same day.
Scavenger Hunts at Flower and Garden Festival
No EPCOT festival would be complete without a scavenger hunt to keep you (and the kids) busy while you’re touring the World Showcase. The Flower and Garden festival just happens to have two for a portion of 2023.
Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration
To participate in this fun scavenger hunt, you can purchase a map for $9.99 at several different merchandise locations. You’ll be searching for Spike the bee all around EPCOT. Once you complete your hunt you can turn in your map at World Traveler or Disney Traders for a surprise.
Egg-Stravaganza Scavenger Hunt
Because Easter falls during the Flower and Garden festival there is also a second scavenger hunt that is available starting March 13th. It works the exact same way except you are looking for oversized Disney character-themed Easter Eggs.
EPCOT Flower and Garden festival is one of my favorite times to visit Walt Disney World. Since this festival lasts several months, there is plenty of opportunity to plan a trip to coincide with the festival dates. Just be sure to plan ahead for crowds, especially if you’re planning to visit the festival on a weekend.
Have you visited the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival? Leave a comment and let us know- what is your favorite EPCOT festival?
