First Look: 2022 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival Now Blooming!
Originally published at Disney Parks News
How often do we stop to marvel at the wondrous spring display that Mother Nature cultivates every year?
Not enough, I would say! If you’re like me, you want to savor every single sight, smell, taste, and experience that springtime offers. That’s why the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is my all-time favorite perennial event. The perfect celebration of nature, discovery, international flair … and a little Disney magic!
Opening today, the 2022 festival showcases a bounty of fun experiences, lush gardens, fragrant blossoms, seasonally inspired flavors and the exciting return of the Garden Rocks Concert Series. Many new offerings have sprouted up alongside returning festival favorites to offer a bloomin’ great time for the entire family to grow fresh memories together.
We’re on site at the festival today to give you this first look:
Nearly 100 topiaries, breathtaking garden spaces, exciting exhibits and more are waiting to be explored through the park.
Among the Disney Character topiaries is a new main entrance display.
Featuring Goofy with a special birthday cake celebrating the Disney World 50th Anniversary. Don’t forget to snap a selfie using hashtags #FreshEpcot and #DisneyWorld50 to commemorate your visit during The World’s Most Magical Celebration.
Near the Germany pavilion, Snow White and new topiaries.
Featuring the Seven Dwarfs will have you whistling “heigh-ho, heigh-ho” all the way around World Showcase.
Returning favorites include Lumiere and Cogsworth topiaries in the France pavilion. Peter Pan, Captain Hook and Tick Tock Croc between United Kingdom and Canada pavilions. The Troll in the Norway pavilion; and Pumbaa and Timon near Imagination!
Also new this year, follow your nose to the Blossoms of Fragrance Presented by Scentsy.
Surrounded by vibrant butterfly topiaries, six scent stations – floral, fruity, citrus, spice, woods and fresh – will help you form lasting memories with the help of unforgettable aromas. In the newly expanded France pavilion in World Showcase, you can explore the France Bouquet Garden. To admire blooms perfect for a bouquet of cut flowers, beside a topiary of Chef Remy! And another can’t-miss experience, Bambi’s Butterfly House, lets you view a kaleidoscope of butterflies up close to learn about their life cycles and observe their extraordinary colors and beauty.
For all live music lovers, the Garden Rocks Concert Series has returned this year! You won’t want to miss this guest-favorite. Featuring internationally recognized artists performing on the America Gardens Theatre stage Friday through Monday and local bands rocking the house Tuesday through Thursday. Acts newly added to the already stellar lineup include “American Pie” singer Don McLean, contemporary Christian band MercyMe, genre-crossing WAR, Latin hitmakers Melina Leon and Claudia Leitte, and rock powerhouse Daughtry. Visit FreshEPCOT.com to make a Garden Rocks Dining Package reservation for Friday through Monday concerts.
Whether it’s on the plate or in the glass, nearly 20 Outdoor Kitchens showcase the finest of spring’s bounty.
Offering a variety of tasty dishes, desserts and specialty sips. This year you’ll have the chance to savor more than 50 brand-new offerings. For example, EPCOT Farmers Feast presents an abundance of flavor. With a rotating seasonal menu that will change three times throughout the festival.
Also bursting with intriguing new flavors and herbal-inspired delights will be The Citrus Blossom, La Isla Fresca, Magnolia Terrace, Cider House and Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina. Check out the complete Flower & Garden Festival Foodie Guide to plan your palate-pleasing adventure.
If you like to shop, then you’ll be buzzing with delight to discover five new merchandise collections found at Festival Markets throughout EPCOT:
Orange Bird Collection, Mickey Mouse Home Garden Collection, Spike The Bee Collection, Figment’s Garden Collection and the whimsical Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse Collection. For a sneak peek, check out the Flower & GardenFestival Merchandise Reveal. To see what might catch your eye. Merchandise can be found at festival retail locations across EPCOT. With additional pieces debuting throughout the festival. Select items are also available on shopDisney.com
Other ways to explore include the Garden Graze!
A food stroll highlighting five sweet and savory offerings in the Festival Passport. Complete the graze to receive a special prize. And Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration is a scavenger hunt for kids of all ages. Purchase a map and stickers at select merchandise locations. It’s available while supplies last and complete it to receive a special prize.
New experiences introduced as part of the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration offer even more ways to cultivate fresh memories. Enjoy Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and join Chef Remy on a daring and epic culinary journey as you zip, dash and scurry through Gusteau’s bustling Paris restaurant. And watch “Harmonious,” one of the largest nighttime spectaculars ever created for a Disney park.
To experience the 2022 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, you will need both a valid park admission and a park reservation for EPCOT on the same date. Visit FreshEpcot.com for more details. Happy spring!
