Epcot Flower and Garden Show

Spring in Florida, ah, there's nothing better. At Disney World spring means the Epcot Flower and Garden show comes to town. Or, if you want to be technical, The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival comes to Walt Disney World.

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Disney has some of the most interesting flora and fauna on the planet. Disney gardeners can take a normal everyday bush and turn it into a work of art. But in the spring Epcot flowers really come to life. Add in HGTV, some great music and you have the makings of a really great show.

Epcot Flower and Garden Show

Photo by readontheroad

HGTV Sponsorship

Again the 2012 festival will be sponsored by HGTV (Home and Garden Televison). What does that mean? It means that HGTV celebrities come and speak. This years list -

John Gidding - March 9 – 11
Sabrina Soto - March 16 – 18
Jason Cameron - March 23 – 25
Camille Styles - March 30 – April 1
Dan Faires - presenting April 6 – 8
Brandon Johnson - presenting April 13 – 15
Meg Caswell - April 20 – 22
Monica Pedersen - April 27 – 29
Antonio Ballatore - May 4 – 6
Carter Oosterhouse - May 11 – 13
Genevieve Gorder - May 18 – 20

Dates

The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival starts around the first of March each year and lasts until the middle of May. In 2012 the dates are March 7 to May 20.

Gardening Programs

All during the show, there are special tours, lectures, tips, pointers and behind the scenes looks at how gardening works. Most of the shows happen on the weekends and tours are available from select days during the week.

Flower Power Concert Series

Every weekend during the show, a different musical group comes to the American Gardens Theater and brings back memories of happier times ... or at least memories of long ago. Here is a list of the performers and dates for 2012 -

March 9 - 11 Jose Feliciano
March 16 - 18 Starship starring Mickey Thomas
March 23 - 25 The Guess Who
March 30 - April 1 - The Spinners
April 6 - 8 - Chubby Checker and the Wildcats
April 13 - 15 - Paul Revere and the Raiders
April 20 - 22 - The Turtles featuring Flow & Eddie
April 27 - 29- Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night
May 4 -6 - The Orchestra starring former members of ELO
May 11 to 13 - Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone
May 18 - 20 - Mickey Dolenz

Unlike the International Food and Wine Festival, these are the actual groups, not "tribute" groups. These old rockers still know how to put on a show.

There are 3 shows each night at 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45.

Crowds

March, April and May are big crowd months at Disney World. Dad's Disney World crowds page will give you all the information you need to avoid the throngs.

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Dad's Bottom Line

If you visit Epcot in the spring, you won't be able to miss the Flower and Garden Show. While you don't have to listen to the speeches, you might learn something. PS. The music is really, really good.