Marking its 23rd year, Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival will be longer than ever in 2016, increasing from 75 days to 90 days.
“Adding 15 extra days to this year’s Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival gives park guests more time to enjoy all the variety our festival has to offer,” says Melissa Valiquette, Epcot vice president. “The festival has become a spring tradition for many who can’t wait to try fresh flavors at our Outdoor Kitchens, dance in their seats at Garden Rocks concerts, explore stunning garden exhibits, grab photo ops with colorful Disney character topiaries and experience memory-making family fun.”
Epcot's 2016 International Flower and Garden will begin on March 2 through to May 30 2016.
Appearing for the first time in topiary form at the 2016 Flower and Garden Festival will be Huey, Dewey and Louie - Donald Duck's nephews. They'll be joining Donald and Daisy at the park's main entrance in a scene inspired by the 1943 Donald Duck comic "The Victory Garden."
Honoring the 100th anniversary of the National Parks Service, Ranger Mickey Mouse will also be appearing in topiary form in a Future World garden with Spaceship Earth as the backdrop.
The Outdoor Kitchens will return for their 4th year, selling garden and spring inspired food and drink.
New culinary creations at the festival’s Outdoor Kitchens will take guests on a Caribbean tour at La Isla Fresca with flavors like Jamaican Braised Beef with Pigeon-Pea Rice and Jerk-Spiced Grouper or Chicken with Mango Salsa. At the new Cider House, a Field Greens salad with greens harvested from The Land pavilion, heirloom apples, Stilton cheese and dried blueberries will pair well with a blueberry hard cider from Plant City, Fla. Dozens of new food and beverage flavors will debut, as well, at the festival’s 11 other Outdoor Kitchens: Urban Farm Eats, Pineapple Promenade, Fleur de Lys, Florida Fresh, Taste of Marrakesh, Hanami, THE SMOKEHOUSE: Barbecue and Brews, Primavera Kitchen, Lotus House, Bauernmarkt and Jardin de Fiestas.
A new Fab Five play garden will debut with musical instruments built into the children's playground - along with topiaries of Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto and Donald.
Anna and Elsa topiaries will move to Norway from their location in World Showcase Plaza last year, and will appear in a scene inspired by the movie 'Frozen.'
The Garden Rocks concert series returns to the America Gardens Theatre, with the performer line-up still to be announced.
The butterfly garden "Butterflies on the Go" will once again tell the story of the Monarch's journey across the continent and a closeup look at their life.
Future World's Festival Center will be home to the Gardening Seminars, with experts on-hand to offer tips and advice on outdoor living.
“We work hard every year to bring new features and fresh fun to our festival,” says Eric Darden, festival horticulture manager. “We’re telling new stories with our flowers and plants, and every year there are surprises for our guests including new Outdoor Kitchen tastes.”
The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival is included with regular theme park admission.
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