Tuesday, May 6, 2025
HomeParks and ResortsSpring in Bloom: EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival 2016

Spring in Bloom: EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival 2016

Spring has arrived, and with it comes my favorite time of year at Walt Disney Worldโ€”the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival! This annual event, which started in 1993, transforms EPCOT into a colorful celebration of blooms, outdoor kitchens, and family-friendly fun. For 2016, the festival has expanded from 75 days to 90, running from March 2 to May 30, making it the perfect way to kick off spring.

Epcot Flower and Garden Festival - Mickey and Minnie Topiary 2015
Epcot Flower and Garden Festival โ€“ Mickey and Minnie Topiary 2015

As we get ready for the 2016 festival, letโ€™s take a look back at the highlights of 2015 before diving into whatโ€™s new and exciting this year.

The EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is a feast for the senses. With over 30 million blooms, 700 gardens, and 200 floating flowerbeds, every corner of EPCOT bursts with color and life. Topiaries of more than 70 Disney characters create picture-perfect moments, while butterfly gardens, hands-on exhibits, and outdoor kitchens offer something for everyone.

Epcot Flower and Garden Festival - Festival Blooms
Epcot Flower and Garden Festival โ€“ Festival Blooms

Topiaries and Gardens: Disney Magic in Full Bloom

The topiaries are always a fan-favorite, and for 2016, Disney has taken it up a notch with new additions and nighttime lighting that makes the displays a must-see day or night. Here are some of the character topiaries you can expect to see:

  • New for 2016: Fresh Food, Fun & Flowers at the Main Entrance: Featuring Donald, Daisy, Huey, Dewey, and Louie
  • Epcot Flower and Garden Festival - Bambi and Friends in Canada
    Epcot Flower and Garden Festival โ€“ Bambi and Friends in Canada

    New for 2016: Ranger Mickey & Friends In Future World East

  • Buzz Lightyear: in Future World East
  • Fantasia: Future World West
  • Phineas and Ferb: Future World East
  • Minnie, Mickey & Pluto: Showcase Plaza
  • Anna & Elsa: Norway
  • Bromeliad Dragon: China
  • Simba & Friends: African Outpost
  • Epcot Flower and Garden Festival - Beauty and the Beast Topiaries in France
    Epcot Flower and Garden Festival โ€“ Beauty and the Beast Topiaries in France

    Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Germany

  • Lady and The Tramp: Italy
  • Woodyโ€™s: American Adventure
  • Beauty and the Beast: France
  • Winnie the Pooh and Friends: United Kingdom
  • Peter Pan, Captain Hook, and the Croc: United Kingdom
  • Bambi & Friends: Canada

If youโ€™re traveling with children, donโ€™t miss the interactive play areas. The new Harmony Garden Musical Playground and Cactus Road Rally featuring Mater and Lightning McQueen let kids be part of the fun while learning how desert plants survive the heat.

Epcot Flower and Garden Festival - Cactus Road Rally with Mater and Lightning McQueen
Epcot Flower and Garden Festival โ€“ Cactus Road Rally with Mater and Lightning McQueen

Outdoor Kitchens: Fresh Flavors and Culinary Adventures

Food lovers are in for a treat as outdoor kitchens return for another year. These kitchens bring fresh flavors from around the world to EPCOT. Hereโ€™s whatโ€™s new for 2016:

  • La Isla Fresca โ€“ World Showcase Promenade
  • Cider House โ€“ United Kingdom
  • Urban Farm Eats โ€“ Walkway near Imagination!
Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Outdoor Kitchen
Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Outdoor Kitchen

Returning favorites include the Pineapple Promenade, Bauernmarkt in Germany, and The Smokehouse at the American Adventure. With so many options, itโ€™s hard to pick a favorite. Whether youโ€™re in the mood for savory barbecue or something sweet and refreshing, the festivalโ€™s outdoor kitchens offer plenty of choices.

Themed Weekends at the Festival Center

In addition to the gardens and food, the Festival Center is the hub for presentations, workshops, and merchandise. Open Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Festival Center features themed weekends that offer unique experiences:

  • Art in the Garden Weekend (April 1-3)
  • Outdoor Family Fun Weekend (April 8-10)
  • Earth Day Weekend (April 22-24)
  • Florida Fresh Weekend (April 28-May 1)
  • Florida Federation of Garden Club (May 6-May8)

Each weekend features special presentations by Disney horticulturists and local experts, along with activities for the whole family. The โ€œMaking of the Flower & Garden Festivalโ€ video inside the Festival Center is a must-watch for any fan interested in learning how Disney creates this incredible event.

Epcot Flower and Garden Festival - Festival Center included the history of the festival
Epcot Flower and Garden Festival โ€“ Festival Center included the history of the festival

Garden Rocks Concert Series: Music and Memories

Music lovers wonโ€™t want to miss the Garden Rocks Concert Series, which brings a variety of bands to the American Gardens Theatre. This yearโ€™s lineup includes classic acts like STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas, the Little River Band, and Night Ranger. These concerts are included with park admission and take place every weekend throughout the festival.

  • Sams Disney Diary Frozen Around World Showcase - Garden Rocks with the Village People
    Garden Rocks with the Village People

    March 4โ€“6: The Orchestra starring former members of ELO โ€œEvil Womanโ€

  • March 11โ€“13: STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas โ€œWe Built This Cityโ€
  • March 18โ€“20: Little River Band โ€œReminiscingโ€
  • March 25โ€“27: Village People โ€œY.M.C.A.โ€
  • April 1โ€“3: Hermanโ€™s Hermits starring Peter Noone โ€œIโ€™m Henry VIII, I Amโ€
  • April 8โ€“10: The Guess Who โ€œAmerican Womanโ€
  • April 15โ€“17: NEW! Blood, Sweat and Tears โ€œSpinning Wheelโ€
  • April 22โ€“24: NEW! โ€œBad Company former lead singerโ€, BRIAN HOWE โ€œCanโ€™t Get Enoughโ€
  • April 29โ€“May 1: NEW! Georgia Satellites โ€œKeep Your Hands to Yourselfโ€
  • May 6โ€“8: Gin Blossoms โ€œHey Jealousyโ€
  • May 13โ€“15: NEW! Darlene Love โ€œWait Till My Bobby Gets Homeโ€
  • May 20โ€“22: NEW! Night Ranger โ€œSister Christianโ€
  • May 27โ€“ Monday, May 30: The Spinners โ€œWorking My Way Back To Youโ€

Butterfly House: A Guest-Favorite Experience

Butterflies also take center stage at โ€œButterflies on the Go,โ€ where you can learn about the migration of monarch butterflies and even get up close with them. At the end of the festival, the butterflies are released into the wild, adding a beautiful conclusion to this magical experience.

Inside the 2015 EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival Butterfly Houseโ€”where vibrant blooms and fluttering monarchs created a magical, up-close experience for guests.

Special tours are available for those looking to take a deeper dive into the festival. Options include the English Tea Garden Tour, Gardens of the World Tour, and Behind the Seeds Tour. Annual Passholders can also collect exclusive Flower & Garden Festival prints featuring Donald Duck, Goofy, and Mickey Mouse throughout the season.

Epcot Flower and Garden Festival - Cactus Road Rally with Mater and Lightning McQueen
Epcot Flower and Garden Festival โ€“ Cactus Road Rally with Mater and Lightning McQueen

With so much to see and do, the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is the ultimate springtime celebration. Whether youโ€™re a first-time visitor or a seasoned festival-goer, this yearโ€™s expanded offerings promise to make 2016 the best festival yet.

Get all the details at www.freshepcot.com and thanks for visiting, watching, and reading SamsDisneyDiary!


The Ultimate 2015 EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival Photo Drop

Flower and Garden 2020 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival Top 20, Jammin Gardeners 2019Flower and Garden  2018  Night Ranger, Behind the Scenes  2017 Epcot  Flower and Garden Festival 2015Epcot Flower and Garden Festival 2012, Garden Rocks: Jon Anderson of YES (2019)

12 COMMENTS

  1. Epcot is beautiful all year around, but never as much as the Flower and Garden Festival. It is so colorful and picturesque. I love it. Thanks for sharing these awesome pictures!

  2. Seriously, I watched the video and never realized how much I had missed. I loved the walkthrough showing how they made the topiaries.

  3. Iโ€™ve never been to the Flower and Garden Festival, but it looks like there are a lot of great things to see! Iโ€™d love to take the English Tea Garden Tour and also see the new Donald, Daisy, Heuy, Louie, and Dewey topiary!

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

LEGO Brand Retail
13,789FansLike
5,480FollowersFollow
57,042SubscribersSubscribe

Free Disney Coloring Pages

Most Popular

All