EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival: The Complete 2027 Guide
If you ask me what the most beautiful time of year to visit EPCOT is, the answer is easy: the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival, without question. The park transforms in a way that is genuinely breathtaking. More than 60 Disney character topiaries bloom throughout the grounds, gardens and floral displays fill every corner of World Showcase, the Outdoor Kitchens serve up fresh spring-inspired food, and the Garden Rocks Concert Series brings live music to the America Gardens Theatre every evening. It is the kind of festival that makes you slow down and actually look at your surroundings, which is a rare thing at a theme park.
Whether you are a lifelong gardener, a Disney foodie, or just someone who wants to visit EPCOT during one of its most stunning stretches of the year, here is everything you need to know about the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival in 2027.
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Planning a Walt Disney World vacation? Be sure to check out my guides to Walt Disney World in 2026 and Walt Disney World in 2027!
What Is the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival?
The EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival is Walt Disney World’s annual spring celebration of horticulture, food, and live music, running each year from early March through early June. It is one of EPCOT’s four annual festivals and, in many ways, the most visually spectacular of the four. The topiaries alone are worth a visit.
The festival features Disney character topiaries and elaborate garden displays throughout the park, Outdoor Kitchen food booths serving spring-inspired dishes, the Garden Rocks Concert Series at the America Gardens Theatre, family-friendly scavenger hunts, interactive gardens and exhibits, and exclusive festival merchandise. It celebrates nature, creativity, and the arrival of spring in a way that feels uniquely EPCOT.
Like all EPCOT festivals, the Flower and Garden Festival is included with regular EPCOT park admission. Outdoor Kitchen food items, paid activities, and merchandise are purchased separately, but the topiaries, garden displays, concerts, and most of the festival atmosphere come with your ticket.
2027 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Dates
Official dates for the 2027 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival have not yet been announced. Based on previous years, the festival typically runs from early March through early June. The 2026 festival ran March 4 through June 1, and 2027 dates are expected to follow a similar pattern. Disney typically announces festival dates and initial details in the winter before the festival begins. I will update this post as soon as 2027 details are confirmed!
Topiaries and Garden Displays
The topiaries are the heart and soul of the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival, and they are every bit as impressive as they sound. Each year, more than 60 Disney character topiaries are placed throughout the park, crafted from living plants and maintained with extraordinary care throughout the festival. Past topiaries have featured characters from Toy Story, The Lion King, Monsters, Inc., Lilo and Stitch, Cars, and of course Mickey and his friends, among many others. The specific characters change from year to year, which gives returning guests something new to discover each spring.
Beyond the topiaries, the festival features over 30 individual garden and floral displays scattered throughout EPCOT. These range from immersive butterfly habitats and fragrance gardens to pollinator exhibits and tea gardens. Some are purely decorative, others are educational, and a few are hands-on experiences for kids. Together they make the Flower and Garden Festival one of the most rewarding festivals to simply walk through and explore at your own pace.
The 2027 topiary lineup and garden display details have not yet been announced. I will update this post as soon as Disney reveals what is coming!
Outdoor Kitchens
The Outdoor Kitchens are the Flower and Garden Festival’s version of the Global Marketplaces at Food and Wine, and they bring the same concept of grazing your way around the park with a fresh, spring-forward twist. Dishes lean toward lighter, seasonal flavors: think fresh seafood, citrusy salads, spring vegetables, tropical drinks, and floral cocktails. It is a distinctly different culinary experience from the heartier fare at Food and Wine or the holiday comfort food at the Festival of the Holidays, and that contrast is part of what makes each festival feel special.
Past Outdoor Kitchen highlights have included conch fritters and strawberry shortcake at Florida Fresh, honey-inspired chicken and waffles at The Honey Bee-stro, DOLE Whip and tropical treats at Pineapple Promenade, duck confit and caramel beignets at the France-inspired booth, frushi and curry bread at the Japan booth, and scallops and beef tenderloin from Canada. The specific booths and menus change each year, and Disney will release a full Foodie Guide closer to the 2027 festival opening. I will update this post with the complete details as soon as they are available.
Garden Graze
Like the food strolls at other EPCOT festivals, the Flower and Garden Festival has its own stamp-collection activity called the Garden Graze. Using your Festival Passport, purchase designated items from the Outdoor Kitchens and collect a stamp for each one. Once you have accumulated five stamps, head to Pineapple Promenade to redeem your passport for a special festival-exclusive treat. You do not need to complete it in a single visit, making it a fun multi-day activity if your schedule allows.
Garden Rocks Concert Series
The Garden Rocks Concert Series is the Flower and Garden Festival’s answer to the Eat to the Beat Concert Series at Food and Wine, and it is a wonderful way to spend a spring evening at EPCOT. Held nightly at the America Gardens Theatre in the American Adventure Pavilion, the series features a rotating lineup of popular artists performing throughout the festival. Past performers have leaned toward classic rock, pop, and nostalgia acts, with names like Rick Springfield, Air Supply, 98 Degrees, The Commodores, Sugar Ray, Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone, and many more taking the stage over the years.
Shows typically take place three times nightly at 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM, and 8:00 PM, with performers rotating every few days. The 2027 lineup has not yet been announced. I will update this post as soon as it is released!
Getting a seat at Garden Rocks is generally manageable without a dining package, especially compared to the Candlelight Processional during the holidays. Arriving 20 to 30 minutes before showtime is typically enough for most performances. That said, popular performers and weekend evenings can draw larger crowds, so arriving a little earlier on those nights is a good idea.
Garden Rocks Dining Packages
A Garden Rocks Dining Package includes a meal at a participating EPCOT restaurant plus guaranteed seating in a priority section at one concert performance. Dining package guests enter the theatre through a dedicated queue and are seated in the front rows of the theatre. Packages are typically available Fridays through Mondays only.
Participating restaurants and pricing for 2027 have not yet been announced. In past years, restaurants that have offered the package include Le Cellier Steakhouse, Rose and Crown Dining Room, Biergarten Restaurant, Garden Grill, Coral Reef Restaurant, La Crêperie de Paris, La Hacienda de San Angel, Nine Dragons Restaurant, Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya, Teppan Edo, Tutto Italia Ristorante, Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria, Spice Road Table, Chefs de France, and Regal Eagle Smokehouse. Adult prices in past years have ranged from approximately $36 to $99 depending on the restaurant, with child prices ranging from approximately $21 to $45. I will update this section with confirmed 2027 details as soon as they are available.
*Regal Eagle Smokehouse has historically offered same-day dining packages only, subject to availability, on Fridays through Mondays. Child prices are for ages 3-9 and do not include tax or gratuity. Most restaurants use one table-service dining plan credit; Le Cellier Steakhouse uses two.
Festival Activities and Scavenger Hunts
Beyond the topiaries and the Outdoor Kitchens, the Flower and Garden Festival offers a range of activities and interactive experiences that make it especially enjoyable for families.
Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration Scavenger Hunt
This family-friendly scavenger hunt sends guests around World Showcase in search of hidden items tied to the festival’s garden theme. Purchase a map at select merchandise locations and search the pavilions for the designated objects, collecting stickers as you go. Once your map is complete, you can redeem it for a festival-themed prize. Even if you do not finish the entire hunt, you can still turn in your map for a small reward, just be sure to do so before the festival ends.
Egg-Stravaganza Scavenger Hunt
Running for a limited time during the Easter season portion of the festival (while supplies last), the Egg-Stravaganza sends guests hunting for oversized Disney character-themed eggs hidden throughout World Showcase. Like the Pollen-Nation hunt, you purchase a map and match what you find to the corresponding spots, then redeem your completed map for a prize. It is a fun Easter tradition that has become a popular part of the festival for families with younger children.
Photo Opportunities
The EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival offers some of the best photo opportunities of any Disney event, simply because the entire park looks so extraordinary during this time of year. Disney PhotoPass photographers are stationed near many of the most impressive topiaries, and exclusive Magic Shots are available at select locations throughout the festival. If you are visiting with a family, budget some extra time for photos. The topiaries make for genuinely stunning backdrops.
Tips for Visiting the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival
This is one of the best times of year to visit EPCOT. Spring in Florida means warm but not oppressively hot weather, and the festival runs right through the heart of the most pleasant months. If you have any flexibility in your travel dates, the Flower and Garden Festival window is one of the easiest recommendations I can make for a great EPCOT day.
Weekdays are less crowded than weekends. The festival draws local Florida residents in large numbers, particularly on weekend evenings for the Garden Rocks concerts. Monday through Wednesday offer the lightest crowds at the Outdoor Kitchens and the best chance of a walk-up concert seat.
Slow down and explore. This is the festival that most rewards guests who are willing to wander. The topiaries and garden displays are spread throughout the entire park, including some tucked into corners of World Showcase that guests sometimes rush past. Give yourself more time than you think you need and let yourself get a little lost in it.
Plan your Outdoor Kitchen route. The Foodie Guide, released by Disney before the festival opens, lists every booth, every menu item, and which dishes count toward the Garden Graze. Reading through it before your visit helps you prioritize the dishes you most want to try and build a logical route through the park.
Visit Butterfly Landing early. If the butterfly habitat is returning in 2027 (as it has in many past years), visit early in the day when the butterflies are most active. It gets warm inside the habitat later in the day and the experience is noticeably better in the cooler morning hours.
Stay for the evening concert. A Garden Rocks show at the America Gardens Theatre on a warm spring evening, with a drink from a nearby Outdoor Kitchen booth, is one of the most pleasant ways to end a day at EPCOT. Do not rush out of the park after dinner. Catch at least one performance before you go.
For the most up-to-date information on dates, performers, dining packages, and festival details, be sure to visit the official Walt Disney World website.
Planning your first Walt Disney World vacation? Be sure to visit my step-by-step planning guide to get started!
Ready to Keep Planning?
Here are some resources to help!
- Guide to Walt Disney World in 2026
- Guide to Walt Disney World in 2027
- EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival Guide
- EPCOT Festival of the Holidays Guide
- EPCOT Festival of the Arts Guide
Walt Disney World Resort Guides:
- Disney Value Resort Hotels
- Disney Moderate Resort Hotels
- Disney Deluxe Resort Hotels
- Disney Deluxe Villas
Walt Disney World Dining Guides:
Walt Disney World Attraction Guides:
