For the past several years, my family as made it a point to take the trip to EPCOT for one of our favorite annual special events. EPCOTS’s International Flower and Garden Festival, presented by HGTV, is an amazing time for everyone. It features character topiaries throughout the grounds, HGTV and DIY Network Presentations, themed weekends, special areas just for kids and the fantastic Flower Power Concert Series!
I could honestly go on and on about how amazing this festival is, and walk you step by step through every part of it, but figure, the highlights will inspire you to make it to EPCOT – if not this year, maybe next year.
Topiaries:
Explore all of EPCOT in search of more than 100 topiaries, including over 75 different Disney characters. You’ll find favorites from Toy Story and Cars mixed in with classics like Bambi, Pooh and Friends, and Mickey, Minnie and the whole gang strategically placed around the park.
Designer Presentations:
HGTV and DIY Network television personalities will be on hand to share their magic and help inspire you to head home and create the garden of your dreams. Some of the featured presenters include Jason Cameron – DIY Network’s Desperate Landscapes; Brandon Johnson – My Yard Goes Disney; Meg Caswell Holladay – HGTV Design Star Winner; Monica Pedersen – HGTV Dream House 2012; Antonio Ballatore – HGTV Design Star Winner and Genevieve Gorder – HGTV Superstar and host of Dear Genevieve.
Additionally, nationally recognized gardening personalities will be hosting classes in the Festival Center. The wide range of topics are sure to engage everyone, with some of the options including Night Gardens, Orchids, Butterflies, Gardening with Bamboo and Container Gardens, just to mention a few. EPCOT has brought together an amazing variety of presenters who have so much to offer to everyone from beginning gardener to garden club presidents!
Themed Weekends:
This year, featured themes include Art in the Garden, Animal Kingdom Specialists, Floral Arrangements from the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, and Fresh from Florida – featuring home grown favorites from around the state.
Fun for Kids:
Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden is a favorite spot for 2 – 5 year olds to take a break in a shaded play area. There are amazing topiaries of Tinkerbelle and all her fairy friends, as well as hidden birdhouses found within the trees.
Bambi’s Butterfly House is an aviary with hundreds of butterflies fluttering around a variety of topiaries of Bambi and his friends.
Backyard Play Garden is an area promoting outdoor play as well as healthy eating.
Flower Power Concert Series:
Every year, the Flower and Garden show features classic bands from the 1960’s & 1970’s. All concerts are on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights with three shows. Some of the scheduled performers include The Guess Who (American Woman), Chubby Checker (The Twist) and Micky Dolenz, of the Monkees, who stepped in for Davy Jones, who was one of my favorites every year.
All of the events that are a part of the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival are included with a general admission ticket to EPCOT. Space is limited and first come, first served. All of the events are subject to change without notification.
That being said, roll up your sleeves and get ready to be inspired to play in the dirt when you get home from the Happiest Place on Earth! The event takes place March 7, 2012 through May 20, 2012. Find out more here.
– Erin
