The Annual Epcot Flower and

Garden Festival

By Courtney Moody

History of the Flower and Garden

Festival

The Flower and

Garden Festival has

been held at the Walt

Disney World Resort

in Epcot since 1993.

The festival

celebrates springtime

with fabulous flower

displays and

exhibitions.

In 2011, Home and

Garden Television,

(HGTV), sponsored the

Flower and Garden

Festival for the first time,

featuring weekend

appearances from

acclaimed HGTV

landscapers.

Educational Opportunities

HGTV designers and Disney gardeners often give free educational classes. Past class topics have included “Mobile Gardens” and “Gardening with Kids.” People who attend often receive free plants and seeds.

The

booths, located

all around

Epcot, also

provide

educational

opportunities.

The Disney

Gardener’s

booth and the

University of

Florida Master

Gardeners’

booth are just a

few.

ConcertsFlower Power concerts are a major reason to attend the

Flower and Garden Festival. These free concerts are

performed by music artists from the

50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s.

Two of the bands that performed this year were the Turtles

and the Village People.

The Fairy GardenThe Fairy Garden invites guests to take a step into Pixie Hollow, the magical world of Tinker Bell and her friends. Tiny fairy houses are hidden everywhere. Within the garden is Fawn’s Butterfly House. This life-size butterfly house is home to numerous species of butterflies, such as the zebra long wing, black swallowtail, and cloudless sulphur butterflies.

Special Gardens

There are many different gardens around Epcot during

the Flower and Garden Festival. Each country around

the World Showcase features a different themed

garden. One of them is the English Tea Garden.

Teacups can be found in this quaint garden, filled to the

brim with plants that are used to make tea.

Additional Highlights

There are many other gardens throughout Epcot, each

holding something exciting. New gardens are

introduced every year, along with other new features.

The Walt Disney Company announced this year that

one of the new additions would be lit-up

gardens, among other new features.

Something For Everyone

The Flower and Garden Festival is something that

should not be missed. It provides fun for both the young

and the young-at-heart. It is a magnificent event for all

to enjoy.

Works Cited

“Disneyworld – Annual festival of flowers and gardens.” The Traveling Gardener. N.p, n.d. Web. 19 Feb 2013.

“Fun Facts Bloom Across 305 Acres of 2011 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival.” Mouse Info. N.p. 24 Feb. 2011. Web. 19 Feb 2013.

“Fun in the Sun.” Orlando: Walt Disney Publishing, 2008. Print.

“HGTV Sponsors 18th Epcot Flower and Garden Festival and Brings HGTV Stars to Epcot.” WDW Magic. N.p. 9 Feb. 2011. Web. 19 Feb. 2013.

Peterson, Debra. “Flower Power Concerts at 2010 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.” Examiner. N.p. 27 Feb. 2010. Web. 19 Feb 2013.

Walt Disney Company. “Epcot Entrance Music.” YouTube. N.p, n.d. Web. 29 April 2013.

Walt Disney Company. Online posting. Walt Disney World, 2013. Web. 19 Feb. 2013.