Walt Disney World has announced that the 2024 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival will return on February 28th. This beloved springtime event will transform Epcot with vibrant gardens, unique topiaries, tasty bites, and lively entertainment. Guests can look forward to these festival highlights:
Colorful Topiary Displays
The festival features over 100 Disney-themed topiaries including:
- New topiaries of Encanto’s Mirabel, Antonio, Isabela and Luisa near the park entrance
- Fan favorites like Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Snow White and more scattered throughout World Showcase
- Anna & Elsa in Norway, Belle & Beast in France
- The debut of a Tiana topiary in the America Gardens Theatre
- A 20-foot dragon topiary composed entirely of succulents in Japan
Topiaries are the stars of the festival. Keep an eye out for your favorite characters and discover new ones as you explore the park!
Rockin’ Garden Rocks Concert Series
The Garden Rocks concert series returns in 2024 with a fantastic lineup of talent. Concerts take place at the America Gardens Theatre from late afternoon into the evening. You can catch acts like:
- Former Journey frontman Steve Augeri
- Rock band Daughtry
- Pop group Plain White T’s
- R&B legends The Commodores
- Many more local, national, and international performers
With concerts happening daily throughout the festival, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy live music with Epcot as your backdrop.
Fresh Flavors at Outdoor Kitchens
A highlight for many guests is the Outdoor Kitchens food booths located around World Showcase. These booths serve up delicious bites, sweet treats, and refreshing drinks themed to the Flower & Garden Festival. Menu items change each year, but popular options have included:
- The Butterfly Koi: Fruity white sangria with melon liqueur and pear vodka
- Spicy Hot Dog with pineapple chutney and red pepper ketchup
- Crispy citrus chicken with orange aïoli and baby greens
- Chocolate pot de crème with fresh raspberries
With 15+ booths to choose from, you’re sure to find new flavors to love. Keep an open mind and sample something new!
Family Fun
While the concerts and food booths cater more to adults, families will find plenty to enjoy at the festival too. Kid-friendly activities include:
- Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration scavenger hunt
- Play areas like Bo Peep’s Playtime Training Ground
- Special festival-themed train displays
- Hands-on gardening seminars at the Goodness Garden Butterfly House
Have fun completing the scavenger hunt, playing in the fresh air, and learning how flowers and gardens grow. The festival offers entertainment options for all ages to take part in. The 2024 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival promises beautiful sights, catchy tunes, delicious bites, and family fun. With an extra early kickoff this year, you have even more time to soak up the floral magic at Epcot!
Topiary Displays
The EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is best known for its whimsical topiary displays. Every year, Disney horticulturists create over 100 topiaries of beloved Disney characters using plants and natural materials. From Mickey Mouse to Snow White, Mirabel to Elsa, you never know which familiar faces you might spot at the festival! Here are some of the most popular topiaries to look out for:
Near the Park Entrance
- Mirabel, Antonio, Isabela & Luisa (Encanto): These newcomers greet guests as they enter Epcot with colorful flowers and butterflies surrounding them.
- Mickey & Minnie: No festival would be complete without Mickey and Minnie dressed in their spring best.
- Donald & Daisy: Donald and Daisy bring their own unique style to these classic character topiaries.
In World Showcase
- Snow White & Dwarfs (Germany): Snow White dances with her forest friends, who are always up to some hi jinks.
- Belle & Beast (France): Beauty and the Beast romance it up with a tale as old as time at this topiary display.
- Anna & Elsa (Norway): The forever popular Frozen sisters never fail to draw a crowd in their beautiful Norway home.
- Princess Tiana (America Gardens Theatre): Tiana makes her festival debut in 2024 looking lovely in front of the concert stage.
Future World & More
- Woody, Bo Peep & Sheep (Near Land): Rootin’ tootin’ Woody and Bo Peep topiaries stand ready for adventure with their sheep in tow.
- 20-Foot Dragon (Japan): Composed entirely of succulents, this towering dragon topiary is an unexpected surprise in Japan.
- Butterfly Topiaries: Colorful butterfly topiaries can be spotted fluttering throughout multiple festival locations.
Be sure to pick up a festival map to pinpoint all the topiary locations and start your scavenger hunt! Part of the fun is wandering and finding new displays along the way.
Garden Rocks Concert Series
The Garden Rocks concert series brings chart-topping musical talent to perform on the America Gardens Theatre stage daily throughout the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival. The 2024 concert lineup features new and returning artists spanning decades and genres. Local Orlando bands play earlier sets on weekdays, with bigger headliners taking the prime time slots Friday through Monday.
Notable Performers
- Steve Augeri (former Journey): Journey’s iconic former frontman kicks off the first weekend.
- Daughtry: Early American Idol standout Chris Daughtry rocks the stage with his band.
- Plain White T’s: “Hey There Delilah” pop rockers Plain White T’s make their Garden Rocks return.
- The Commodores: Motown legends The Commodores bring soul and funk to Epcot.
- Casting Crowns: Contemporary Christian group Casting Crowns makes their festival debut.
Concert Schedule
Most concerts take place at 5:30 pm, 6:45 pm or 8:00 pm daily. Arrive early to secure a good spot, especially for popular acts.If you want guaranteed seating without the wait, book a Garden Rocks dining package for lunch or dinner, plus priority concert access. Just remember to make dining reservations at least 2.5 hours pre-show. With big names and music styles for all tastes, the Garden Rocks concert series has tunes the whole family can enjoy. Check the performance schedule online or in the My Disney Experience app to plan your concert days.
Food & Drink Options
A highlight of the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is the food and drink available across 15+ Outdoor Kitchens locations. These festival booths serve up bite-sized dishes, sweet treats and refreshing beverages themed to spring. Menu items change each year, but expect options like:
Food Dishes
- Crispy citrus chicken with orange aioli
- Charcuterie cone with cured meats, cheeses, and fig conserve
- ImpossibleTM farmhouse meatball with lentil bread crumbs and herb sauce
- Lobster tail with Meyer lemon emulsion
Sweet Treats
- Orange cream cheese mousse with orange jelly and shortbread crumble
- Berry basket with mixed berries, lemon curd and vanilla mascarpone
- Carrot cake with cream cheese icing and candied carrots
- Passion fruit cake with coconut Swiss meringue
Beverages
- Orange grove mimosa with orange juice and sparkling wine
- Dragon berry refresher with Bacardi dragon berry rum and brown sugar syrup
- Hibiscus hefeweizen with hibiscus and coriander
- Frozen desert violet lemonade with blackberry liqueur
Menus pull inspiration from the festival’s focus on gardens, nature and sustainability. Expect unique ingredients like edible flowers, herbs, fruits and vegetables. With so many kitchens and options, you’re bound to find new tantalizing tastes to try at the 2024 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival.
Conclusion
The 2024 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival promises to delight guests with its colorful charm and springtime spirit. For over 90 days from February 28th through May 28th, Epcot will transform into a floral wonderland. Whimsical topiaries, rockin’ concerts, family fun, and fresh bites give you plenty of ways to enjoy the festival. Wander through World Showcase and discover new photo-worthy displays around every corner.
Sway along to the tunes from fan favorite bands and local artists. Fuel up on tasty snacks like lobster tails, impossible meatballs, and sweet berry treats in between rides on Soarin’ or Frozen Ever After. With so much to see and do, you’ll want to visit Epcot multiple times to experience it all. Or stay for an evening to catch the brilliant, Harmonious fireworks show after an afternoon of Flower & Garden Festival fun. Either way, get ready to celebrate the season at this beloved Disney event. The 2024 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival has all the ingredients for your next magical spring getaway. So come join the floral festivities this February through May!
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