Disney Releases Dates and Info for Flower and Garden Festival

Last week, The Walt Disney Company did something unprecedented. Park officials announced the dates for every major event coming to Disneyland in 2025. At the time, Walt Disney World fans joked that they were jealous because Disney never does that for its Orlando theme parks.

Well, the times may be changing, as Walt Disney World just did something unexpected. Disney has released the dates and details for the 2025 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival. Here’s what you need to know.

What Is the Flower & Garden Festival?

While fans consider the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival the most iconic EPCOT exhibition, it’s not the original. No, that honor belongs to the Flower & Garden Festival, which EPCOT hosted for the first time in 1994. It was a modest affair at the time, which has grown in scope and stature, especially during the 21st century.

Nowadays, fans know what to expect at this event. You’ll find shrubberies that Imagineers have somehow crafted into recreations of memorable Disney characters and scenes. For example, one Flower & Garden setting shows characters from Fantasia dancing in tandem. 

Another duplicates Lightning McQueen as a stunningly lifelike bush. It’s a car made out of a tree, something that should only be possible when Groot is involved. And yes, Groot exists in tree-form at this festival, too. Each year, Disney adds new horticultural wonders that defy our belief in what’s possible with a pair of hedge clippers. 

As a reminder, EPCOT festivals aren’t just about the seasonal theme, though. They also offer exclusive merchandise, food, and beverages that have become arguably the most important part of the events. 

In recent years, we’ve watched fans stand in line for eight hours for a Figment popcorn bucket. More recently, fans mobbed Creations Shop to buy Figment Lug Bags. So, you should probably expect to purchase something Figment-related at this year’s festival. The beloved EPCOT character has become the de facto mascot of all the annual exhibitions.

When Is the 2025 Festival?

In 2025, EPCOT will celebrate the springtime bloom once again, as the Flower & Garden Festival will return for its 30th anniversary. According to the Disney Parks Blog, this year’s event will run from March 5th through June 2nd. Presuming I’ve counted correctly, that gives us 89 days to enjoy this year’s festival. 

Disney also went ahead and revealed details about the Garden Rocks Concert Series, too. This year’s March schedule includes the following acts:

• March 7, 8 – Tommy DeCarlo, former lead singer of Boston 
• March 9, 10 – Air Supply – 50th Anniversary Celebration 
• March 14, 15 – Blue October 
• March 16, 17 – Rick Springfield 
• March 21, 22 – Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone 
• March 23, 24 – 38 Special 
• March 28, 29 – Jason Scheff, Longtime singer of Chicago 

Please remember that performers are always subject to change based on availability and scheduling conflicts. As an example, the Bacon Brothers had to cancel a planned performance last year due to the Hollywood strikes. Still, the overwhelming majority of musicians play as listed. So, if Chicago and Air Supply are your thing, 2025 is going to be your year!

What Disney Hasn’t Announced Yet

Courtesy of Disney Tourist Blog

Disney chose not to mention the Garden Rocks Concert Series dinner packages, but I presume they’ll return as well. As we’ve seen in late 2024, these packages are the safest way to guarantee you can watch a concert. Some acts like Yellowcard had guests lining up six hours before the show. It’s a terrible use of your time during a park visit when you can just buy a dining package instead. I know you really want to hear Ocean Avenue, but still. 

To a larger point, Disney will reveal more about the Flower & Garden Festival as March approaches. The bigger question is whether we’ll get early intel about the dates for the 2025 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. If so, that would help DVC members plan festival vacations at the seven-month window. Given what just happened with Disneyland, I definitely think it’s possible.