Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival Presented by HGTV

Discover dazzling gardens, high-energy entertainment and family fun at this spectacular springtime event. Sprouting once again in March, the 2014 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival will be brimming with special experiences for every age and interest.

A few of this year’s festival highlights include:

• Topiary Displays
• Outdoor Kitchens
• HGTV Designer Presentations
• The Flower Power Concert Series
• Interactive Play Areas for Kids

With so much to see and do, you can return to the festival again and again… and find something new every time!

Harvest a series of events at the Festival Center, and pick up a Garden Passport too!

Whether you’re looking to get your most difficult gardening questions answered, or you just want to gather a few new design ideas and planting secrets, there are dozens of exciting reasons to familiarize yourself with the Festival Center, including:

• Intermissions Café – For a special way to dig into the day, or perhaps turn over your evening, stop by Intermissions Café, which features a fine selection of wine, cheese, wraps and salads.
• Festival Center Shop – Bring home a piece of the event with a variety of Epcot Flower & Garden Festival-themed merchandise, unique gifts and more—open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
• HGTV Theater – Hear tips from the experts at HGTV and see how Disney Horticulture goes about growing the magic in “The Making of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.”
• Planting Pointers – Each day at 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM, join the experts from Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida as they present a daily assortment of topics and ideas to help your technique grow.
• Ask an Expert – From 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, collect answers for your deeply rooted gardening questions, courtesy of the “Master Gardeners” from IFAS at the University of Florida.
• Greenhouse Stage – Drop by daily at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM to meet with gardening specialists as they share their knowledge and help you plant their expertise in your garden back home.
• Designers’ Stage Presented by HGTV – Pollinate your passions with a duo of different experiences! Monday through Thursday, hydrate your thirst for knowledge during entertaining seminars led by nationally recognized garden VIPs. Then, Friday through Sunday, seed your interests at informative events presented by HGTV personalities—taking place at 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM.

And while you’re there, be sure to pick up a Garden Passport to get stamped at your stops along the way! Passports can be found at the Festival Welcome Center, at any Disney Vacation Club Information Center throughout the Park, at all Outdoor Kitchens and at several merchandise locations too.

Remember: Each Outdoor Kitchen has its own stamp, complete with a unique design. Let the journey begin!

Illuminate your day in the park with an enlightening series of experiences scattered all around Epcot! You won’t want to miss out on a single tour, garden, exhibit or special happening throughout the festival, including:

Tours

• Epcot Gardens of the World Tour
  Gift the garden enthusiast, or even yourself, with a guided tour led by a Disney horticulturist. Follow along as your host takes you on a 3-hour tour of special displays and award-winning international gardens—taking place Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, from 9:00 AM to noon. $64.00, plus tax. Guests must be at least 16 years of age to be admitted. To register, please visit Guest Relations, or call (407) WDW-TOUR or (407) 939-8687.
• English Tea Garden – Presented by Twinings of London® Tea
  Enjoy the history and art of tea blending during a guided 20-minute tour of an elegant English Tea Garden, featuring some of Twinings finest tea blends. To register, please sign-up in The Tea Caddy at the United Kingdom Pavilion. 

Gardens

• Garden Retreat – Presented by HGTV
  Test Track Walkway
• Water Wise Herbs & Vegetables – Presented by Rain Bird Corporation
  Imagination Walkway
• Festival Blooms
  Future World East and West Lake
• Florida Fresh Garden
  Adjacent to the Germany Pavilion
• Everglades Garden – Presented by Nature Conservancy
  Imagination Walkway
• Italy Container Garden – Italy Pavilion

Exhibits

• Gardener's Palette – Presented by Transitions® Adaptive Lenses™
  Future World East, near Universe of Energy
• Hummingbirds at Home
  Presented by the National Audubon Society
• Tinker Bell’s Butterfly House – Presented by HGTV
  Imagination Walkway
• Backyard Habitat – Presented by National Wildlife Federation
  Imagination Walkway
• Bonsai Collection
  Japan Pavilion
• Orchids
  Mexico Pavilion
• Bears Sand Sculpture – Presented by Disneynature Bears™
  Near Test Track Walkway

Special Happenings

• Art in the Garden Weekend – March 28 to March 30, 2014
  From 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, visualize nature through the eyes of “plein Air” artists and one-of-a-kind works around World Showcase.
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Specialists – April 4 to April 5, 2014
  Uncover incredible indigenous creatures from the team at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park.
• Florida Fresh Weekend – April 25 to April 27, 2014
  Behold the bounty of the Sunshine State, from Apalachicola to Zellwood!
• Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. – May 9 to May 11, 2014
  Unearth amazing flora designs, each of which defies description.

Sample some of the spring aromas the festival has to offer with this recipe for a flavorful Watermelon Salad. Whether you bring a watermelon home or grow your own, enjoy a totally fresh take on one of Florida’s most popular fruits!

Watermelon Salad
Serves 6

Balsamic Vinaigrette

• 1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar
• 3 tablespoons finely diced shallots
• 2 tablespoons roasted garlic*
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
• Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper

Step 1: Combine white balsamic vinegar, shallots, garlic, honey and lemon juice in a blender. Blend until well combined.

Step 2: With blender running, slowly drizzle in olive oil. Blend until thickened. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Pickled Onions

• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons grenadine syrup
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1/4 pound red onions, sliced into 1/4-inch-thick rings

Step 1: If using frozen raspberries, thaw first. Purée raspberries in a food processor before pouring the purée through a fine-mesh sieve. Then, discard the seeds and set the purée aside.

Step 2: Combine raspberry purée, water, sugar, grenadine and salt in a medium saucepan placed over medium-high heat. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring throughout the duration to dissolve the salt and sugar.

Step 3: Add onions. Stir to coat and then remove from heat. Set aside for 20 minutes.

Watermelon Salad

• 4 cups cubed, seedless watermelon
• 3 cups baby arugula
• 1/4 cup white balsamic vinaigrette
• Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup pickled onion
• 1/4 cup balsamic glaze*
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

Step 1: Divide watermelon among plates. Toss arugula with white balsamic vinaigrette in a medium bowl and lightly season with salt and pepper.

Step 2: Top each portion of watermelon with arugula. Then, top each serving with 2 to 3 picked onion rings before sprinkling with feta. Drizzle with balsamic glaze.

Cook’s Note: Balsamic glaze can be found in most supermarkets on the oil and vinegar aisle. To prepare your own, place 2 cups balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat and simmer for about 40 minutes until reduced to 1/4 cup.

Top off your festival experience by picking out the perfect piece of flower and garden merchandise. There are several stops and shops to discover, each one offering something a bit different than the next!

Garden Emporium

• Located near the Canada Pavilion inside World Showcase
• Open from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
• Featuring merchandise from RINSE and Eye Catchers

Garden Treasures

• Located near the Mexico Pavilion inside World Showcase
• Open from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
• Featuring merchandise from HAF2 Paint

Garden Oasis

• Located near the Mexico Pavilion inside World Showcase
• Open from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
• Featuring Merchandise from Just Plumerias

Garden Boutique

• Located near the Germany Pavilion inside World Showcase
• Open from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
• Featuring merchandise from Elemental Nursery and Swaying in the Breeze

Port of Entry

• Located near the entrance to World Showcase
• Open from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Mouse Gear

• Located inside Future World
• Open during all park operating hours

Admission to Epcot is required. While most Epcot Flower & Garden Festival events are included with your theme park ticket, many experiences require a separate purchase or a separate admission fee. Availability is limited for some experiences. Events may be rescheduled or cancelled at any time.