Get ready: The EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival is coming back for another year of fun, with a whole array of exciting new additions.
If you’re a huge festival fan, we’ve got some exciting news: As soon as the 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts winds down on February 20, you’ll only have a few more days until you can explore the next exciting arrival! Disney has just announced that the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival will return on March 1 and run through July 5, 2023.
Headed to the festival? Make sure to grab our 2023 EPCOT Flower & Garden ebook before you visit! Click below to discover this year’s menus, our top festival picks, and so much more.
But we’ve also learned more than just the festival dates! Find out about the new entertainment, experiences, and Disney magic coming to the 2023 Flower and Garden Festival at Walt Disney World below.
Brand-New Character Topiaries Will Appear
Photo courtesy of Disney
It’s no secret that Encanto is one of the most beloved recent movies from Walt Disney Animation Studios. Well, this year, the characters of Encanto will be making their first-ever appearance in the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival as topiaries.
You’ll be able to spot Mirabel, Antonio, Isabela, and Luisa from Encanto in a prime spot near the EPCOT entrance. It’s definitely going to be a must-stop photo spot!
But these aren’t the only new characters you’ll catch dotting EPCOT’s scenery during the festival. There will also be a new Princess Tiana topiary in The American Adventure. And, of course, returning favorites like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, Captain Hook, and Tick Tock Croc; Figment; and Anna and Elsa will all appear in topiary form.
The Garden Rocks Concert Series Returns
You’ll be able to hear your favorite tunes during the always-popular Garden Rocks Concert Series at the 2023 EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival. This live entertainment series will be back for another year.
The complete lineup isn’t yet available, so check back before the festival kicks off to learn more!
Taste Food from 15 Outdoor Kitchens
Photo courtesy of Disney
One of the most exciting parts of any Walt Disney World festival? The food! This year, the Flower and Garden Festival will be filled with treats to try, no matter what your taste buds are in the mood for. You’ll have 15 different Outdoor Kitchens (or food booths, as Guests call them) to try, each with a specialty menu of food and beverages.
And if you stopped by Figment’s Inspiration Station at The Odyssey during the Festival of the Arts, you’ll be thrilled to see this spot in action again. During the Flower and Garden Festival, The Odyssey will be home to The Citrus Blossom, with all-new menu items to try.
We’ll share a list of our must-try picks from the Outdoor Kitchens at the 2023 Flower and Garden Festival as soon as the booth names and menus are released!
Join Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration
If you love a good festival scavenger hunt, good news: Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration is coming back for 2023. Guests of all ages will be able to follow Spike the Bee’s pollination trail, looking for him in the gardens along the festival trail and collecting stickers along the way.
We’ll have your guide to completing this fun festival scavenger hunt when the Flower and Garden Festival opens!
Explore the Blossoms of Fragrance Presented by Scentsy
Photo courtesy of Disney
Get in a springy mood at the festival and take a walk through Blossoms of Fragrance presented by Scentsy! This fan-favorite experience, which is located on the bridge leading to World Showcase, features sights and scents associated with the arrival of springtime. You’ll be surrounded by butterfly topiaries and can follow your nose to six different scent stations.
Along the way, this fragrant activity will teach you how scent is tied to forming memories. For more info, check back here closer to the festival’s opening date.
More Flower and Garden Festival News is Still to Come
As the 2023 EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival draws closer, we’ll learn plenty more about the unique offerings available this year. As the weather warms up and the colorful flowers begin to bloom, you can be certain that the festival will feature stunning gardens, impressive topiaries, plenty of live entertainment, must-have merchandise, and of course some amazing food and drinks!
Check back soon for our 2023 festival guide so you don’t miss a moment of the Flower and Garden fun!
