IT’S TIME. Are you ready to hang with Orange Bird and Spike the Bee? We’re heading into Disney World for the start of EPCOT’s 2023 International Flower and Garden Festival!

We might have JUST finished the 2023 Festival of the Arts, but we’re ready to take on the next festival today. Let’s head in to see the gorgeous topiaries, listen to some music from local bands, and of course, taste our way around the outdoor kitchens. 

We’ll be updating this post ALL DAY as we explore everything there is to see from the festival. 

Festival Dates

The Flower and Garden Festival lasts from March 1st through July 5th, 2023.

We spend the first day of the festival trying out ALL the new eats and drinks around the park so that you know which items you should try during your visit. But you’ll have plenty of time to take in this festival since it lasts over 4 months!

Getting Started and Crowds

When we first arrived at EPCOT this morning, we spotted a good number of people headed in!

We’re HERE and ready to rope drop EPCOT’s Flower & Garden Festival! Follow along with us today! pic.twitter.com/rhNED6dnet

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) March 1, 2023

There were plenty of people waiting to rope drop the event, even though most booths don’t open right when the park does!

Maps and Festival Booklet

When you get to the festival, you can grab a map to see where all the entertainment and outdoor kitchens are located. You can use it to make your plan for how you want to tackle the festival (and don’t forget to grab our free DFB printable guide to help you navigate the festival as well).

There’s also a special Festival Passport booklet, which has the menus for each outdoor kitchen as well as information about merchandise, entertainment, and activities.

This is your one-stop guide to EVERYTHING you need to know about the festival! You can even check off the eats you’ve tried.

Signs and Decor

Around EPCOT, you’ll see lots of decorations announcing the Flower and Garden Festival.

But, our favorite decorations aren’t signs at all!

Topiaries

Of course, it’s not the Flower and Garden Festival without elaborate topiaries depicting Disney characters! We saw a ton of these amazing creations around EPCOT. For 2023, a new Princess Tiana topiary appears in The American Adventure pavilion…

…and NEW Encanto topiaries feature Mirabel, Antonio, Isabela, and Luisa near the park’s main entrance!

There are so many other gorgeous topiaries at the festival, too — like Buzz Lightyear…

…Timon and Pumbaa…

…Kermit…

…and Lion King characters too!

Of course, Mickey and Minnie are here, along with Pluto and Chip ‘n’ Dale!

But, wait — there’s more!

Additional Activities

There are a LOT of activities to experience at the fest too.

Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration

If you’re looking for this festival’s scavenger hunt (these hunts are practically an EPCOT festival staple), you’ll find it in the form of Spike’s Pollen Nation Exploration. Spike the honeybee has been pollinating his way around the festival, so you can follow his trail in this activity.

You’ll purchase a map and stickers and then match the stickers to the correct spot on the map when you find Spike in the park.

You can return your completed map for a prize! This year’s prize is a cup and plate set, and you can choose from four different options — Snow White, Figment, Orange Bird, and Spike the Bee!

Be sure to stay tuned for our FULL Spike’s Pollen Nation Exploration experience this year.

Outdoor Kitchens

Our favorite part about this festival (and every festival in EPCOT if we’re honest) is the food! The food booths for this fest are called Outdoor Kitchens. We’re visiting ALL of these spots to try out any new items as well as some returning favorites.

Garden Graze

You can also take part in the Garden Graze, which is a plant-based food stroll around EPCOT. You’ll try five specific foods (out of qualifying eligible dishes) at the festival and get your Festival Passport stamped at each location.

If you return your fully stamped passport to the Pineapple Promenade kitchen, you’ll get a free prize!

The options for the 2023 Garden Graze are:

• Avocado Toast with marinated toybox tomatoes on toasted ciabatta at Brunchcot
• Grilled Street Corn on the Cob with savory garlic spread and spicy corn chips (New) at Florida Fresh
• Grilled Street Corn on the Cob with savory garlic spread and plant-based cotija cheese (Plant-based) at Florida Fresh
• Pineapple Skewer with Tajin seasoning (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly) (Plant-based) at Refreshment Outpost
• Potato Pancakes with house-made apple sauce (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly) (Plant-based) at Bauernmarkt: Farmer’s Market
• Hummus Trio: Traditional hummus, red beet and black garlic hummus, and avocado-herb hummus with Moroccan bread and crispy papadam (New) (Plant-based) at Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina
• Coconut Tres Leches: Vanilla cake soaked in oat milk, almond milk, and coconut milk with toasted coconut (Plant-based) at La Isla Fresca
• Boneless IMPOSSIBLE Korean Short Rib with cilantro-lime rice, Danmuji slaw, and kimchee mayonnaise (Plant-based) at Trowel & Trellis Hosted by IMPOSSIBLE
• IMPOSSIBLE Lumpia with Thai sweet chili sauce (New) (Plant-based) at Trowel & Trellis Hosted by IMPOSSIBLE
• Chocolate Cake with black currant ganache, mixed berry compote, and chocolate ice cream (New) (Plant-based) at Trowel & Trellis Hosted by IMPOSSIBLE
• Cookies ‘n “Cream” Chocolate Mousse Cup (Plant-based) at The Land Cart hosted by AdventHealth

Remember, you only have to purchase five of these snacks (not all eleven) in order to complete the hunt and get the prize!

Click here for everything you need to know about the Garden Graze this year!

Festival Merchandise

There are all kinds of unique merchandise at this year’s festival. We’re stopping by several gift shops to find all of the goods, but first, check out this adorable Orange Bird sipper! You can find it at various spots throughout the fest.

First thing today? The Orange Bird Sipper! #EPCOT pic.twitter.com/XBBC67dZN8

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) March 1, 2023

In fact, there’s a TON of Orange Bird merch, like a Loungefly backpack…

I. Want. It. All. pic.twitter.com/mMBZxo2cLt

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) March 1, 2023

…Minnie Ears…

…a mug…

…and a Corkcicle! There are also Figment and Snow White collections too, so stay tuned for more on those!

There are some Annual Passholder exclusive items too, like this shirt…

…and this water bottle!

Well, we’ll apologize to our wallets in advance.

Want to see more of the fest merchandise? Click here!

Live Entertainment

There’s a new Beacons of Magic performance on Spaceship Earth in honor of the festival.

The Garden Rocks Concert Series is back at this year’s festival! These concerts are free with EPCOT admission, and they take place at the America Gardens Theater, Friday through Monday. Local bands will rock the house Tuesday through Thursday.

You can purchase a dining package if you want to reserve your seats in advance and have a meal right before the show.

Check out the full list of artists performing at the 2023 Flower and Garden Festival here.

Additional Activities

There are also all kinds of gardens around EPCOT for this festival, including a Tropical Rainforest Garden in the Mexico pavilion of the World Showcase, Floating Gardens in World Nature, and more.

If you can’t tell by the name of the festival, the gardens are a HUGE part of EPCOT during this time!

Remember, we’ll be updating this post LIVE as we explore the festival today so keep checking back! We’ll be bringing you full reviews of ALL the Outdoor Kitchens at this festival, as well as more details about the entertainment, merchandise, and more.

And, if you’re looking for some exclusive festival merchandise you won’t find anywhere else, check out our DFB Flower & Garden shirts! You can shop these and more in our DFB Merch Store.

Stay tuned with DFB for more of the latest news from Disney World!

Learn more about the EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival here!