EPCOT’S 2015 FLOWER AND GARDEN FESTIVAL – By Guest Author Josh Snyder

Photo by Disney Travel Advisor & Theme Park Concierge – Ramon Rodriguez

EPCOT’S 2015 FLOWER AND GARDEN FESTIVAL  March 4 – May 17 2015

Every spring, EPCOT comes to life in brilliant colors and topiaries as it welcomes the Flower and Garden Festival. This year will be no exception, as the festival celebrates “Fresh EPCOT” as the theme. Aside from the amazing topiary displays (over 100 ranging from simple Hidden Mickey’s to life sized characters like Anna & Elsa from Frozen), not many people know what to expect from the Flower & Garden Festival. Let’s take a stroll through EPCOT as we enjoy all of the sights, sounds, and tastes of the 2015 Flower & Garden Festival.

* LIVE MUSIC – every year, EPCOT extends invitations for musicians from all generations to perform in the American Gardens Pavilion. Concerts are Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 5:30pm, 6:45pm and 8:00pm. This year’s list includes:

March 6-8: Gin Blossoms (“Hey Jealousy”)

March 13-15: Pablo Cruise (“Love Will Find a Way”)

March 20-22: En Vogue (“Free Your Mind”)

March 27-29: Starship (“We Built This City”)

April 3-5: The Orchestra starring former members of ELO (“Evil Woman”)

April 10-12: Village People (“Y.M.C.A.”)

April 17-19: Jon Secada (“Just Another Day”)

April 24-26: The Guess Who (“These Eyes”)

May 1-3: Taylor Dayne (“Tell It to My Heart”)

May 8-10: Little River Band (“Lady”)

May 15-17: Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone (“I’m Henry the VIII, I Am”)

Photo by Disney Travel Advisor & Theme Park Concierge – Ramon Rodriguez

AMAZING FOOD – just like EPCOT’s renowned Food & Wine Festival, the Flower & Garden Festival is home to some amazing outdoor kitchens, including:

Botanas Botànico Seafood Ceviche (located between Morocco & France pavilions)

* Cachapa con Queso

* White Corn Arepa

* Coconut Tres Leches

* Polar Beer

* La Tizana

* Monte

* Paschoal Reserve Tannat

* Monte Paschoal Natural Brut White Sparkling Wine

Urban Farm Eat (located in front of World Showcase Promenade on the Canada side)

* Kale Salad

* Quinoa Vegetable “naanwich”

* Ghost Pepper dusted Tilapia

* Cucumber Lemon Spa Water with a sprig of fresh Mint

* Hess Shirtail Creek Vineyard, Chardonnay

* King Estate Acrobat Pinot Noir

* Urban Mary

* Crispin Blackberry Pear Cider

Pineapple Promenade (located in front of World Showcase Promenade on the Canada side)

* Spicy Hot Dog with Pineapple Chutney

* Pineapple Soft-Serve with Sammy’s Beach Bar Red Head Macadamia Nut Flavored Rum or Parrot Bay Coconut Rum

* Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade

* Berry Tea Cocktail with Twinings Cold-Brewed Mixed Berry Tea

* Sparkling Pineapple Wine

* Ace Pineapple Hard Cider

Jardin de Fiestas (located in Mexico area)

* Achiote marinated pork taco

* Veggie Quesadilla

* Mexican Chocolate Custard

* Blueberry/Pomegranate Margarita

* Tecate with Patrón Citrónge

* Mexican Sangria

* Tequila Flight

Lotus House (located in China area)

* Kung Pao Chicken Bun

* Beijing Style Candied Strawberries

* Vegetable Spring Roll

* Oolong Peach Bubble Tea

* Kung Fu Punch

* South Sea Storm

* Honey Mango Wine Cooler

* Tsingtao Beer

* Plum Wine

Florida Fresh (located in the Germany area)

* Watermelon Salad

* Shrimp and Stone Ground Grits

* Florida Blueberry and Lemon Curd Tart

* Watermelon Passion Fruit Slush

* Key Lime Sparkling Wine

* Blonde Ale

* Channel Marker Red Ale

* Feast of Flowers Farmhouse Ale (Festival exclusive)

* Jai Alai

* Beer Flight

Primavera Kitchen (located in Italy area)

* Pinwheel of Mozzarella

* Prosciutto, Ciabatta Bread

* Cheese Manicotti

* Lemon Custard with Raspberries

* Pinot Grigio

* Chianti

* Prosecco

* Corbinello

* Moscato

* Bellini

* Rossini

* Frozen Italian Primavera

* Moretti Lager and La Rossa

Espresso, Coffee and Pastries at The American Adventure (in front of American Adventure Pavilion)

* Chocolate Stout latte featuring Monin chocolate, caramel and hazelnut with milk and espresso

* Iced Bailey’s latte featuring Bailey’s Irish Cream liqueur with milk and espresso over ice

THE SMOKEHOUSE: Barbecue and Brews (located to the side of the American Adventure Pavilion)

* Pulled Pig Slider

* Beef Brisket Burnt Ends Hash

* Smoked Debreziner Sausage

* “Piggylicious” Bacon Cupcake

* Floridian Hefeweizen

* Category 3 IPA

* Maple Bacon Stout

* Billy’s Chilies

* Beer Flight

* The Original Rib Shack Red Wine

* Frozen Lemonade

* Frozen Lemonade with Palm Ridge Reserve Whiskey

* R.C. Sweet Tea made with Twinings Cold-Brewed English Classic Tea

Hanami (located in the Japan area)

* Frushi

* Teriyaki Curry Bun

* Salmon Sushi

* Kirin Draft

* Yuzu Plum

* Wine Slush

* Strawberry Nigori

* Karatamba Sake

Taste of Marrakesh (located in the Morocco area)

* Harissa Chicken Kebab

* Falafel Pocket with cucumber tomato salad and Tahini Sauce

* Pistachio Baklava

* Desert Rose

* White Sangria

* Guerrouane Red

* Mint Iced Tea

Fleur de Lys (located in the France area)

* Parisian style dumpling with vegetables and mushrooms

* Pulled Duck confit, with garlic and parsley potatoes

* Large Strawberry marshmallow macaroon

* Ice Pop Peach Grand Marnier Cocktail

* La Vie en Rose St-Germain Vodka Slush

* Kir Imperial with Sparkling Wine and Chambord Liquor

* Beer Kronenbourg Blanc 1664

Photo by Disney Travel Advisor & Theme Park Concierge – Ramon Rodriguez

SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS – Take time to enjoy some amazing seminars and workshops in the Festival Center (located in the Golden Dome between The Universe of Energy and MISSION: Space). These are hosted by experts in all fields of gardening.

SPECIAL GARDENS AND PLAY AREAS – Some perennial favorites that are worth taking the extra time include the amazing Tinkerbell & Friends Butterfly House, the Hummingbirds at Home area located by TestTrak, and the Monstrous Garden hosted by Mike & Sulley from Monsters, INC and Monster University. New to the 2015 Flower & Garden Festival are the Southwest desert garden, ten new “mini-gardens”, a Healing & Health Garden located by The Land Pavilion, and A Shakespeare Garden located in the United Kingdom Pavilion.

SPECIAL FLOWER AND GARDEN EXCLUSIVE TOURS – each year, special tours are offered to Flower and Garden guests that want a little bit more from the Flower & Garden experience. These tours do fill up fast, so call to reserve yours today. The tours are:

EPCOT Gardens Of The World Tour:

3 hour tour hosted by a local EPCOT horticulturalist. Hosted Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays and going from 9:00am until noon. Price is $64.00 plus tax per person and is limited to guests age 16 and older. Call 407-WDW-TOUR for more information and to sign up.

English Tea Garden presented by Twinings of London Tea:

Free tour lasting approximately 20 minutes. Takes place in the United Kingdom Pavilion. Guests can sign up by visiting The Tea Caddy.

THE BEST FOR LAST – I’ve saved the best thing for last. The joy of seeing so much color and natural beauty is amazing, but down deep at the heart of it, this festival is meant to bring the whole family together and encourage them to enjoy nature and the wonders around them. Your children, grandchildren, and family members will be talking about this festival for years to come.