The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival is one of my personal favorites. Thinking of spring and warmer weather brightens my day right up. From February 28 through May 27, 2024, guests can experience the beauty and magic of this “blooming good” festival.
Will kids enjoy it? Absolutely! The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival is a perfect addition to any family vacation. This guide is packed with all the details to make your family’s visit memorable.
Ultimate Guide to Epcot Flower and Garden Festival
Epcot is becoming Walt Disney World’s premiere park for festivals. One of the most magical is the Spring Flower and Garden Festival.
This year’s festival will be stunning. From scrumptious outdoor kitchens to beautifully manicured topiaries to that incredible Disney magic we’ve all come to know and expect, it will undoubtedly be a feast for the senses.
Each section of this post is broken down into these categories:
- What is the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival?
- What to Eat at Epcot Flower and Garden Festival
- Epcot Flower and Garden Festival for Kids
- Who is Playing the Garden Rocks Concert Series?
Rest assured, this comprehensive guide to the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival will equip you with all the necessary information. You’ll feel confident and prepared for your visit, knowing exactly what to expect and how to make the most of your time.
What is the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival?
First, let’s begin with an explanation. You may be curious about what it is if you’ve never attended this festival. Do you need to be a gardener? Do you need to have a green thumb? Not at all! An appreciation for natural beauty and an appetite for good food are the only things you need to have a great time.
At the festival, you will see, hear, and experience the following:
- Outdoor kitchens offering delectable bites and libations
- Dozens of world-renowned, Disney-themed topiaries
- Stunning garden spaces and wildlife habitats
- Inspirational exhibits
- Outdoor entertainment
Pro Tip: Remember to grab your “Garden Passport” at the entrance to the World Showcase to plan your day more effectively.
Dazzling Topiaries
Honestly, the star(s) of the show are the plethora of displays throughout Epcot. From delightful characters to stunning floral displays, this festival has no shortage of eye candy.
I’m partial to the flower beds around the water features near the bridge to the World Showcase. It’s stunning to see the bright colors and hard work that went into planning the design and planting those flowers!
What to Eat at the Festival
Now to my favorite part of this guide: the food!
Unlike the plethora of kiosks at the Food & Wine Festival, there are just over a dozen spots at Flower and Garden. These are the 2024 Outdoor Kitchens:
- Bauernmarkt: Farmer’s Market (Germany)
- Brunchcot (near Test Track)
- Epcot Farmer’s Feast (near Test Track)
- Fleur de Lys (France; this is where you can find “La Vie en Rose” martini slush)
- Florida Fresh (near Disney Traders)
- Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company
- Hanami (Japan; this is where the famous “Frushi” is found)
- Jardin de Fiestas (Mexico)
- Lotus House (China)
- Magnolia Terrace (American Adventure)
- Northern Bloom (Canada)
- Pineapple Promenade (Refreshment Port; this is where the popular “Violet Lemonade” is found)
- Primavera Kitchen (Italy)
- Tangerine Café: Flavors of the Medina (Morocco)
- La Isla Fresca (between Morocco and France)
- The Honey Bee-stro (located near the front of the World Showcase)
- Trowel & Trellis (near Port of Entry, featuring all plant-based foods)
- The Land Cart (near The Land Pavilion)
- The Citrus Blossom (Odyssey Pavilion; find the souvenir Orange Bird sipper here)
Use that festival passport to mark the ones you like, the ones you don’t like, and the ones you want to try next time!
Pro Tip: Outdoor Kitchen portions are small. You can snack around the festival, but don’t be surprised if you fill up fast! As a result, if you truly want to sample everything, find a buddy to split items with so you don’t have a stomach ache later!
Festival Activities for Kids
Next, let’s talk about the kids. What can families do at this festival? Tons! Even in a not-so-typical year, there are several activities to choose from.
Butterfly Landing
Located near Imagination! in World Nature, enjoy seeing butterflies up close and personal. Learn about the butterfly’s life cycle and enjoy being immersed in its habitat.
Family-Friendly Garden
Play structures encourage kids to jump, play, and climb. Find this play area right outside of the Creations Shop before you get to Test Track.
Explore Around the World Showcase
The ever-popular scavenger hunt, Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration, returns this year.
Throughout the festival, have fun with “Spike’s Pollen Nation Exploration.” Guests can purchase a map and sticker set for $9.99 (plus tax) to guide them on their hunt for Spike the Bee on flowers all over the World Showcase.
When you’ve found them all, show your completed map to a Cast Member at the store of purchase to receive a prize!
ProTip: If you don’t want to return to the store, ask the Cast Member for the prize when you purchase the map to present to your child during the scavenger hunt.
Egg-Stravaganza Scavenger Hunt
For a limited time, beginning March 13, search for Disney-themed eggs hidden throughout the World Showcase. Purchase a map and sticker set for $9.99, and complete the map for a surprise at the end of your day.
Flower & Garden Festival Entertainment
Finally, the adults in the group probably want to know what they can do during the festival. I love that Epcot festivals bring music, activities, and the arts together.
Garden Rocks Concert Series Returns for 2024
This year, the Garden Rocks concert series is returning with new and repeat musical acts. These shows are included in Epcot admission, but if you want reserved seating, consider booking a Garden Rocks Dining Package.
The dining package includes options to eat lunch or dinner at a specific restaurant and guaranteed seating per person. Concert time will be assigned at the time of booking. Participating restaurants include:
- Biergarten Restaurant (Germany)
- Coral Reef Restaurant (near The Living Seas Pavilion)
- Garden Grill Restaurant (inside The Land Pavilion)
- Rose & Crown Dining Room (UK Pavilion)
Seating is guaranteed for the assigned show, 5:30 pm, 6:45 pm, or 8 pm, but seats in the reserved section are not assigned.
Musical Acts Performing at Garden Rocks
The lineup for the 2024 Garden Rocks show has lots of artists and genres to choose from. Check out the list below:
- The Vybe-February 28 and 29
- Jason Scheff, Longtime Lead Singer of Chicago-March 1 and 2
- Richard Marx-March 3 and 4
- Evolution Motown-March 5, 6, and 7
- Berlin-March 8 and 9
- Rick Springfield-March 10 and 11
- Dian Diaz-March 12, 13, and 14
- Modern English—NEW-March 15 and 16
- The Commodores-March 17 and 18
- Foreigners Journey-March 19, 20, and 21
- The Orchestra– March 22, 23, 24 and 25
- Funkafied-March 26, 27, and 28
- Mike DelGuidice-March 29 and 30
- The Pointer Sisters-March 31 and April 1
- The Female Collective-April 2, 3, and 4
- Blue October– April 5 and 6
- Crowder—NEW-April 7 and 8
- The Hooligans-April 9, 10, and 11
- Jo Dee Messina-April 12 and 13
- A Flock of Seagulls-April 14 and 15
- The M-80’s-April 16, 17, 18
- Plain White T’s– April 19, 20, 21, 22
- The Champagne Orchestra-April 23, 24, and 25
- Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas-April 26 and 27
- Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone-April 28 and 29
- Southbound-April 30, May 1 and 2
- Monsieur Perine– May 3
- Raul Acosta and Oro Solido—NEW-May 4
- Raul Acosta and Oro Solido with Magic Juan—NEW-May 5
- Fonseca—NEW-May 6
- Gilly and the Girl Band– May 7, 8, and 9
- Simple Plan– May 10, 11, 12, and 13
- Element-May 14, 15, and 16
- The Spinners– May 17 and 18
- Sister Hazel-May 19 and 20
- Epic Live!– New!-May 21, 22, and 23
- Lit—NEW-May 24 and 25
- Casting Crowns– May 26 and 27
Pro Tip: All of the entertainment opportunities are included in the price of your Epcot admission.
Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival is the park’s longest-running festival. See it for yourself until May 27, 2024!
I’m Sarah, and you’ve landed on my website, On the Road with Sarah. This is where I share travel stories, tips, and so much more!
