2015 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Details

Today is the first day of the 75 day Epcot Flower & Garden Festival, which lasts through May 17. This year marks the 22nd year of the Festival and the event’s main purpose is to celebrate everything that’s wonderful about horticulture and spring.
Each year the Festival offers guests the opportunity to see beautiful gardens, topiaries, and butterfly gardens; listen to special presentations; enjoy the smooth sounds of the Garden Rocks Concert Series; and try delights from garden-themed food booths! The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival is really one of the most gorgeous times of the year to visit, as the park is completely FULL of color. It is simply a glorious time to visit Epcot.
Today, I’m going to share what’s new and what’s changed for this year’s Festival.
What’s New
Of course, the main focus of the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival is the gorgeous topiaries that can be found around property. These incredible plants are shaped and molded to create works of art that resemble Disney characters. Each year brings about some new designs, and of course 2015 is no exception. You didn’t think Disney could hold an event now without the Frozen sisters present, did you? Both Anna and Elsa are being introduced and can be found in the World Showcase Plaza.

Each year, Disney also creates a new main entrance topiary display, as well. This year’s display will be called “Goofy About Spring” and will include topiary Goofy, Daisy and Pluto, plus new for this year will be topiary versions of Chip n’ Dale! (My favorites!)
Also new for 2015, there will also be 10 mini-gardens that will be sprinkled throughout the park. Each of these mini-gardens are all designed with a storytelling element behind them. The gardens are:
- Prehistoric Plants
- Trial Garden
- Disney’s Inside Out Emotion Garden
- Health and Healing Garden
- Pepper Fire Garden
- Pizzeria Garden
- Japanese Mini Garden
- Pollinator’s Paradise
- Bold Bromeliads
- Shakespeare Garden
In addition, another new full garden will be debuting, the Southwest Desert Garden, which will be a thriving desert ecosystem.
Of course, there are always going to be those things that are staples to the festival, however, this year, they have been changed up, just a little bit. These include:
Garden Rocks Concert Series
For those of you who love music from the 1960s through 1990s, then the Garden Rocks Concert Series is for you! The concert series was formerly called the Flower Power Concert Series, but given how few artists from the 60s and 70s actually are still performing, the name was changed and the breadth of artists was increased. Each weekend, a new act will perform at the America Gardens Theatre. Showtimes are at 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 8:00 p.m.
Outdoor Kitchens
One of the newer aspects for the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival are the Outdoor Kitchens. These kiosks sell unique tapas-sized dishes and beverages that focus on fresh flavors. This year, there are 11 different kitchens guests can stop and nosh from. They include:
Jardin de Fiestas (Mexico Pavilion)
Food |
Drinks |
Tacos al pastor – Corn tortilla filled with achiote-marinated pork, garnished with grilled diced pineapple, onions and cilantro | Tecate draft beer |
New-Vegetarian Quesadilla | White Mexican sangria |
Flan de chocolate Abuelita – Mexican chocolate custard | New-Blueberry Pomegranate Margarita |
New-Tequila Liquer Flight |
Lotus House (China Pavilion)
Food |
Drinks |
Beijing-style candied strawberries | Oolang bubble tea |
New-Kung Pao Chicken Bun | Kung Fu Punch – Vodka and triple sec with mango and orange juice |
Vegetable spring rolls | South Sea Storm – Guava juice with light and dark rum |
Plum wine | |
Tsing-Tao beer | |
Honey Mango Wine Cooler |
Florida Fresh (Germany Pavilion)
Food |
Drinks |
Watermelon salad with pickled onions, BW Farm baby arugula, feta cheese, and balsamic reduction | Watermelon passion fruit slush featuring Simply Lemonade |
Shrimp and stone ground grits with andouille sausage, sweet corn, tomatoes, and cilantro | New-Key Lime Sparkling Wine |
New– Florida Blueberry and Lemon Curd Tart | New-Channel Marker Red Ale |
Blonde Ale, Orlando Brewing Company | |
Feast of Flowers Farmhouse Ale, Florida Beer Company | |
Jai Alai | |
Beer Flight – Featuring Florida Craft Beers |
Primavera Kitchen (Italy Pavilion)
Food |
Drinks |
New-Pinwheel of Mozzarella, Proscuitto, Ciabatta Bread | White peach bellini – Prosecco and white peach puree |
Three cheese manicotti – Egg pasta stuffed with ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, tomato sauce and béchamel | Strawberry rossini – Prosecco and marinated strawberries |
New-Lemon Panna Cotta | Frozen Italian primavera – Assorted fruit slushy with limoncello and vodka |
Placido Pinot Grigio | |
Placido Chianti | |
Bosco del Merlo Prosecco | |
Moretti Lager | |
Moretti La Rossa |

The Smokehouse: Barbecue and Brews (American Adventure Pavilion)
Food |
Drinks |
Pulled pig slider with cole slaw | New-Floridian Hefeweizen |
New-Beef Brisket Burnt Ends Hash – with white cheddar fondue and pickled jalapeños | Category 3 IPA |
New-Smoked Debreziner Sausage | New-Maple Bacon Stout |
“Piggylicous” bacon cupcake with maple frosting and pretzel crunch featuring Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Bacon | Billy’s Chilies, Twisted Pine Brewing Company |
New-Frozen Lemonade – with optional Palm Ridge Reserve Whiskey | |
New-R.C Sweet Tea – made with Twinings Cold-Brewed English Classic Tea |
Hanami (Japan Pavilion)
Food |
Drinks |
Frushi – Fresh pineapple, strawberries and melon, rolled with coconut rice, topped with raspberry sauce, sprinkled with toasted coconut and served with whipped cream on the side | Yuzu Plum Win Slush |
New-Teriyaki Curry Bun | Stawbettery Nigori |
New-Salmon Sushi | Kirin draft beer |
Taste of Marrakesh (Morocco Pavilion)
Food |
Drinks |
New-Falafel Pocket – with Cucumber Tomato Salad and Tahini Sauce | Desert Rose – Sparkling wine with pomegranate liqueur |
Harissa chicken kebab with couscous salad | White sangria |
New-Pistacio Baklava | Mint Iced Tea |
Guerrouane red |
New – Botanas Botanico
Food |
Drinks |
Seafood Ceviche | Polar Beer |
Cachapa con Queso | La Tizana |
White Corn Arepa | Monte Paschoal Reserve Tannat |
Coconut Tres Leches | Monte Paschoal Natural Brut White Sparkling Wine |
Fleur de Lys (France Pavilion)
Food |
Drinks |
Gnocchi Parisien à la Provençal – Parisian-style dumplings with vegetables and mushrooms | La Vie en Rose frozen slush – Vodka, Grey Goose Orange, St. Germain Liquor, and white and red cranberry juice |
Confit de canard, pommes de terre Sarladaise – Pulled duck confit with garlic and parsley potatoes | Kir Imperial – Sparkling wine, Chambord and black raspberry liquor |
New-Macaron Guimauve à la Fraise – a Strawberry Marshmallow Macaron | New-Ice Pop – Combination of French Peach Iced Tea, Grand Marnier Peach Raspberry Liqueur, and Vodka |
Kronenbourg Blanc 1664 – Fruity white beer with citrus notes |
Pineapple Promenade (Canada Pavilion)
Food |
Drinks |
New-Spicy Hot Dog – with Pineapple Chutney | Frozen desert violet lemonade featuring Simply Lemonade (nonalcoholic) |
Pineapple Soft Serve | New-Ace Pineapple Hard Cider |
New-Pineapple Soft Serve – with Sammy’s Beach Bar Red Head Macadamia Nut Flavored Rum | Sparkling Pineapple Wine |
Pineapple Soft Serve – with Parrot Bay Coconut Rum | Berry Tea Cocktail with Twinings Cold-Brewed Mixed Berry Tea |
Urban Farm Eats
Food |
Drinks |
New-Kale Salad with Dried Cherries, Almonds, and Goat Cheese | New-Urban Mary – Spicy Tomato Juice, Lime Juice, and Worcestershire with a shot of vodka (optional) |
New-Quinoa Vegetable Naanwich with Arugula Pesto and Oven-Dried Tomatoes | Hess Shirtail Creek Vineyard – Chardonnay |
Ghost pepper-dusted tilapia with crisp winter melon slaw and mint oil featuring The Original Sauce Man’s Kick It Up Rub | King Estate Acrobat – Pinot Noir |
Crispin Blackberry Pear Cider |
Intermissions Cafe (Festival Center)
Food |
Drinks |
Grapes | Hurricane Class 5 White Sangria, Florida Orange Groves |
Fruit & cheese plate | Hess Shirtail Creek Vineyard Cardonnay |
Vegan trio | Estate Acrobat Pinot Noir |
Southwest chicken wrap | Zonin Prosecco |
Tuna salad with pita | Floridian Hefeweizen Funky Buddha Brewery (Oakland Park, FL) |
Side salad | Crispin Blackberry Pear Cider |
Asian tuna salad with noodles |
Fun Fresh Weekends
One of the more unique aspects of the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival is that you can learn from gardening experts. This is Epcot after all — the edu-tainment park! Each Fun Fresh Weekend features fascinating seminars and workshops from Disney gardeners in the Festival Center. (The former location of Wonders of Life.) Each weekend features hands-on presentations at the Greenhouse Stage at 11:00 a.m. and at 2:00 p.m. and live demonstrations on the Fresh Epcot Stage at 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. The Festival Center will also include special merchandise, as well as select dining offerings, but keep in mind, that the Center is only open on the weekends.
In addition, some weekends are special themed weekends. Those are:
- March 13-15: Spring into Spring Weekend Presented by Joffrey’s Coffee
- March 16-17:St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at the American Adventure
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March 27-29: Art in the Garden Weekend – From 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., see nature through the eyes of “Plein Air” artists, along with one-of-a-kind works of art in our Guest Artist booths—all located throughout World Showcase.
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April 17-22: Earth Day Weekend – April 17 through 19, meet specialists from Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Then on April 22, hear about conservation efforts to protect coral reefs, sea turtles, sharks and more at The Seas with Nemo & Friends and see the grand reveal of the finalized sand sculpture based off the Disneynature film Monkey Kingdom.
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April 24-26: Florida Fresh Weekend – From 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., head for the Festival Center and discover why Florida is one of the top agriculture producing states in the nation!
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May 1-3: See a stunning display of hibiscus in a wide array of colors at the Hibiscus Show.

Of course, with all the new, some fan favorites are also returning. The butterfly garden will be returning, but with a new name-Butterflies on the Go. In addition, the kiddos will be able to play in two different play areas, one themed after Monster’s University, called Mike and Sulley’s Monstrous Garden, and the other themed after Cars, called Cactus Road Rally.
The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival is a great time for the whole family. There’s lots to learn, lots to see, and lots to eat. If you are curious about everything the festival has to offer, make sure to take a look at the special park map. The best part of all? The festival is included with your admission to Epcot!
Thank you for posting the menus! As usual, the TP blog is my go-to place for getting the info I’m looking for when planning a trip!
Who at EPCOT’s festival management that decided the Festival Center is only to be open on weekends? Meeting the Horticultural staff and other local experts DURING the week was a highlight of the festival!!!