The 20th International Flower and Garden Festival is almost upon us. As February comes to a close, many Disney fans are looking forward to the start off of Spring! What better way to kick off the season, then to check out Epcot’s yearly festival? There is so much to see and do, including many activities lined up for Disney Guests to enjoy! Whether you attend the Festival yearly, or have never gone, it’s still nice to learn what it’s all about. Here are some Fun Facts regarding the Flower and Garden Festival that you may or may not have known! Have fun reading!
*The festival’s front-entrance Party with Mickey & Friends topiary scene comprises six topiaries – Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto and Goofy –and more than 15 varieties of flowers, plants, and other garden materials.
*30 million blooms blanket the park throughout the festival, which runs 75 colorful days.
* New this year! One dozen brand-new garden marketplaces surround the World Showcase Lagoon offering festival taste treats ranging from shrimp and grits with fresh Florida veggies to barbecue and brew. Each marketplace will feature a produce and herb garden to represent the more than 50 marketplace beverage choices and more than 30 food items featured at the marketplaces.
* Also New! The Land of Oz Garden is the largest festival garden ever created for the festival at nearly one-third acre. The garden’s own “yellow brick road” is 160 feet long and includes 40 feet of “yellow brick” decal, 40 feet of ForeverLawn yellow turf and an 80-foot-long floral path planted with 1,200 yellow viola plants, to be replaced by tropical duranta plants when the weather heats up later in April.
* 700 container gardens of flowers, herbs, plants and vegetables in clay pots, barrels and urns enhance the landscape throughout Epcot.
* More than 500,000 plants, trees and shrubs are planted for the festival; 250,000 of those are annual blossoms installed for the festival.
* 150 hands-on gardening demonstrations and seminars will be presented.
* 30 “flower towers” of of several varieties of blooms and plants line Innoventions Plaza
* 400 Walt Disney World horticulturists are needed to install the festival landscape, topiaries and many exhibits; 100 Epcot horticulturists maintain topiaries and other festival displays.
It takes more than one full year and about 24,000 cast member hours to prepare for the annual festival.
* The festival’s weekend Flower Power concert series includes 11 artists and groups known for their Top 40 hits. This year’s musical hit-makers from the 1960s and ’70s include The Monkees Lead Singer Micky Dolenz, The Village People (new!), Tommy Roe (new!), Starship starring Mickey Thomas, The Guess Who, Chubby Checker & The Wildcats, Paul Revere & The Raiders, Nelson, The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie, The Orchestra starring former members of ELO, Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone.
The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival seems to have a little bit of something for anyone who attends! I’m sure it’s a beautiful sight to see. If you go, and want to share photos with us, please do! We’d love to see them!
Facts taken directly from WDW news releases
Michele also contributes theme park news for Fox 35 Orlando 11pm news and on the radio on WDBO.
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