The 17th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival has its earliest start ever during 2010. The 75 day festival begins on March 3rd and will run through May 18th, 2010.


By moving the start more than 2 weeks earlier they will be able to offer some different flowers than they’ve previously been able to display. These color filled varieties include: petunias, violas, snapdragons, and other hardy flowers.

Festival horticulture manager Eric Darden states, “By starting earlier and going through mid-May, it allows more guests than ever to experience the festival and to plan ahead for their spring and summer gardening.”

Donald Duck will headline the main topiary display near the front entrance to celebrate the Great Outdoors. It will feature a North American theme, complete with a live waterfall and pond. You will be able to see Goofy attempt to go fly-fishing, Daisy Duck by a campfire roasting marshmallows, and Pluto in his own tent.

Over 70 topiaries will be on display throughout Epcot during the event, which is the premier springtime festival at Disney World.

Festival Highlights:

• A larger butterfly house featuring over 700 butterflies in the new 3,500 sqft Bambi’s Butterfly House where guests can walk amongst the free flying butterflies.
• Flower Power Concert Series – Each Friday through Sunday a favorite musical act from the 60’s or 70’s will perform their classic songs 3 times per night in a free concert.
• Thousands of flower blooms fill Epcot in the many gardens create for the festival.
• Disney Gardening at Home presentations – Disney horticulturists will share gardening tips and lead guests in a hands-on, take-home activity.
• The Great American Gardeners series – Gardening celebrities and authors from across the country will reveal their gardening secrets. Opening weekend, Robert Bowden, author and director of lush Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando, kicks off the series.
• The Garden Town Festival Center – Guests can shop for festival merchandise, attend speaker presentations and demonstrations and ask gardening questions of the experts.

FREE with Admission to Epcot
Another great aspect of the festival is that all gardening programs and exhibits are included in regular Epcot admission.  This festival is a great time to visit Epcot and Disney World to see all of the great flowers, topiaries, and gardens that are created for the event.