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Disney fans have one big sign for the coming of spring, and it has nothing to do with a certain ceremonial groundhog. Nope, it’s something much more floral. Once the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival has kicked off, we know that spring is coming.
Of course this is a bit of a cheat; as I said last year, the festival takes place in Orlando. That means it’s nice and warm for them year round. Oh, I know that some Orlando residents complain of the chilly 50-degree weather they sometimes get in the winter, but the rest of us living in colder climates don’t have much sympathy for that.
Perhaps it’s just the length of the festival: it kicks off in late February or early March and lasts until late May, encompassing more or less all of the season. It basically feels that if the Flower & Garden Festival is currently happening, it means warmer weather is either just around the corner or here to stay.
But enough philosophizing, I know what you green-thumbed Disney lovers want to hear: what’s the lineup for the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival this year? Well, it’s much the same as any other year: Designer Presentations from HGTV stars, the Flower Power Concert Series from artists from the 60s and 70s, and of course, the topiaries: over 100 this year, more than 75 of which will feature Disney characters.
HGTV luminary appearances will include John Gidding from “Curb Appeal,” Jason Cameron from “Desperate Landscapes” and “Man Caves,” and Genevieve Gorder from “Dear Genevieve” and “HGTV Design Star.” These are all familiar faces to the Flower & Garden Festival, but there are a number of new guests this year. The most obvious, of course (I was even looking for this one, it seemed inconceivable for someone not to appear) is Brandon Johnson from “My Yard Goes Disney.” Other new guests include Monica Pedersen from “HGTV Dream Home 2012” and Meg Caswell Holladay from “Meg’s Great Rooms.”
If the music is instead your thing, check out this year’s Flower Power Concert Series Lineup. The Guess Who, Chubby Checker & The Wildcats, The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie, The Orchestra (featuring former members of ELO & ELO Part II), and Starship Starring Mickey Thomas will be among the acts rocking out among the beautiful flora this year.
Of course there is more to the Flower & Garden Festival than just music, design celebrities, and a multitude of Disney-themed foliage. Those are just the three most popular draws. All through the festival’s many months there will be daily panels giving gardening and home design tips, themed weekends (including Art in the Garden and Florida Federation of Garden Clubs), and special displays featuring butterflies and sustainable gardening. Officially the first thing that’s ever really drawn me personally to the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival is an English Tea Garden sponsored by Twinings.
This year’s Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival runs from March 8 to May 20. The entrance fee is the admission just to the Epcot Park, and the majority of the events come with that admission. For specific details on who’s presenting and playing and when, visit the official Disney Epcot website.
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*(This image by mhowry is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.)
