Park guests at EPCOT are still enjoying the International Festival of the Arts right now, but the International Flower & Garden Festival is just around the corner! This is our favorite festival at EPCOT and we are excited by the “buzz” we’re hearing about the event. The festival will spring to life from March 3rd through July 5th, 2021. That is 125 days of topiaries, outdoor kitchens, a scavenger hunt and more. In 2020, Flower & Garden only ran a few weeks before WDW closed down due to the pandemic. When the parks finally reopened, part of Flower & Garden was incorporated into the Food & Wine festival. But the Epcot festival that celebrates flowers and gardens is thankfully returning this year, and on its own.
Disney says, “Our Disney Horticulture team is busy planting, pruning, and planning now for the kaleidoscope of bright blooms and floating gardens scattered throughout Epcot, with each one making a perfect backdrop for family photos.” Disney hasn’t released all of the details yet for this year’s Flower & Garden, but we do know a few tidbits. Epcot’s Future World is under construction right now. Entire sections of the front of the park are closed for reimagining, and it’s likely we’ll see a decrease in topiaries and flower beds up there as a result.
Character Topiaries
Throughout World Showcase and Future World, there are dozens of topiaries inspired by Disney characters and films. Many past photo worthy topiaries are back, including the following:
- Main Entrance: Sorcerer Mickey Mouse, Ostriches, Hippo and Mushroom
- Future World West: Woody, Bo Peep and her sheep
- Between Future World & World Showcase: Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Goofy
- Between Future World and World Showcase: Pluto and Chip ‘n Dale
- Showcase Plaza: Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Huey, Dewey and Louie
- Future World East Mission: SPACE – Buzz Lightyear
- Future World West near Imagination! Figment
- Future World West: Topiary Butterflies
- Mexico Pavilion: The Three Caballeros
- Norway: Anna and Elsa and Troll
- Japan Torii Gate Dragon
- China: Pandas
- China Pavilion in front of Nine Dragons: China Zodiac Topiary Garden
- Future World West: Simba, Rafiki, Mufasa and Sarabi
- Germany: Snow White and Dopey
- Italy: Lady and the Tramp
- France: Beauty and the Beast and Remy
- Between United Kingdom and Canada: Kermit and Miss Piggy
- United Kingdom:Peter Pan and Captain Hook, Winnie the Pooh and Friends (Rabbit, Eeyore, Piglet and Tigger), Tinker Bell and Fairy Houses
- Future World East near Mouse Gear: Bambi and Friends
Outdoor Kitchens
It just wouldn’t be an EPCOT festival without delicious food and drink. World Showcase will host over 20 food and beverage booths, with some new and old favorites returning. The 2021 Outdoor Kitchens include:
- Bauernmarkt: Farmer’s Market — “Venture to Germany for Bavarian bites sure to sate foodies of all ages—every dish is köstlich!”
- Cider House (Located in World Showplace) — “Behold buzz-worthy ciders and artisanal provisions that are sure to hit the spot.”
- The Citrus Blossom — “Treat your taste buds to the subtleties of lemon, orange, and lime—turning delicious dishes even more delish!”
- Festival Favorites (Located in World Showplace) — “Discover Guest-favorite dishes, microb
- Flavor Full Kitchen Hosted by AdventHealth — “Discover the many flavors of healthy cuisine in this delightful eatery, featuring vegetables straight from the garden!”
- Fleur de Lys — “Indulge in haute cuisine and boissons that’ll make you fall in ooo-la-la-love with this palate-pleasing Parisian pop-up!”
- Hanami — “Journey to Japan for innovative plates crafted with culinary Zen.”
- Jardin de Fiestas — “Take a food-tastic tour of the Mexico Pavilion… these tantalizing tastes will add some spice to your day!”
- The Honey Bee-stro Hosted by National Honey Board — “Quell cravings with an incredible menu of all-natural food and drink infused with the nectar of the gods!”
- La Isla Fresca — “Nibble on Caribbean-seasoned dishes that’ll send appetites swaying to the island beat!”
- Lotus House — “Sink your teeth into authentic Chinese eats filled with morsels of good fortune!”
- Magnolia Terrace — “Get a nice, cozy feeling with some comfort food inspired by the Gulf region.”
- Northern Bloom — “Please discriminating palates with fantastic fare from our Great White North neighbor… O Canada!”
- Pineapple Promenade — “Get your tropical fruit fix from tart ‘n’ tangy to the sweetest frozen treats!”
- Primavera Kitchen — “Mangiare hearty helpings of Old-Country dishes served with a glass of vino… now that’s amore!”
- Taste of Marrakesh — “Intoxicate taste buds with the exotic flavors of this North African mecca—mysterious Morocco!”
- Trowel & Trellis Hosted by Impossible Foods — “Delight in some of your favorite foods—created from innovative recipes with some impossibly delicious twists!”
Delight your appetite with mouthwatering morsels, nibbles and noshes from year-round food stops. The following locations are included:
- Refreshment Port
- Refreshment Outpost
- Cool Wash
- Funnel Cake
- Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company
Entertainment
When it’s time to take a break from all the beautiful topiaries and delicious food options, there will be live entertainment for guests to enjoy. Disney has announced four entertainment acts scheduled to perform at the Flower & Garden Festival. The times and schedules for these performers are all still to be determined:
- Over at the Canada Mill Stage in the Canada pavilion, guests will tap their feet to the beat of the Jammin’ Gardeners (AKA JAMMitors).
- At the America Gardens Theatre at the America pavilion, you’ll be able to listen to some amazing vocal performances from the Voices of Liberty. These performances will celebrate “America’s spirit and beauty.” The group is currently performing a set called “The Disney Songbook”.
- Mariachi Cobre will also be back at the America Gardens Theatre. They will perform some world-famous, traditional folk music during the Flower & Garden Festival. You can catch these groups right now during the Festival of Arts as well.
- At World Showplace (the building located between the Canada and United Kingdom pavilions), you’ll be able to relax and listen to a pianist play some seasonal songs. This is another returning form of entertainment that we’ve seen at other festivals.
Special Gardens & Exhibits
- There will be 20 different garden areas all across EPCOT, including floating gardens on the waters of Future World, a bamboo garden in China, a tropical rainforest garden in Mexico and the English Tea Garden by Twinings in the United Kingdom, where you can also take a Self-Guided Tea Tour.
- At Outdoor Escapes, you can unwind in refreshing spaces that show you just how easy it is to create an outdoor escape for family and friends.
- The Goodness Garden Butterfly House returns this year, combining butterflies and fairy topiaries. View a kaleidoscope of butterflies up close, in all their extraordinary color. This exhibit will display itself in a new location between The Land and Imagination. This butterfly house is always fun, as butterflies fly all over the place and land on willing guests.
- Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration scavenger hunt is returning. Follow Spike the Bee on his pollination trail, where he will “bee” busy collecting nectar and pollinating gardens at Epcot.
Festival Merchandise
We are very excited for the return of the Flower & Garden Festival and have high hopes for this year. Hopefully they bring back the Violet Lemonade so we can wear our favorite festival ears! Don’t worry if you don’t have them! There will be new exclusive festival merchandise for you to commemorate your visit with. Official event merchandise will include apparel, headwear, drinkware and more. It will feature Orange Bird, Figment, Minnie Mouse and Spike the Bee. We will update you on the merchandise once it is announced.
We’ll be on the lookout for all the new information about the Flower & Garden Festival and will bring it to you as soon as we see more updates! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all the latest information. Are you a fan of the International Flower & Garden Festival? We would love to hear what you enjoy and what is not on your to do list. Comment below or contact us on the “Contact Us” page.