Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

Annual Event Bursts with Blossoms March 3 through May 16, 2010

Last year, an elaborate "Cinderellabration" topiary featuring Cinderella and Prince Charming, Snow White and the seven dwarfs, Sleeping Beauty and Prince Phillip, and Belle and Beast from "Beauty and the Beast" debuted in all the "blooming finery" as the grand front-entrance topiary during the festival. What them will set the stage for the 17th edition of Epcot's International Flower & Garden Festival when it opens March 3?

What ever it brings, you can look forward to the entire park being decked out in dazzling displays of blooms and topiaries. Beyond these dazzling displays, guests are invited to participate in daily seminars focused on gardening, crafts and other topics. Young "green thumbs" have plenty of fun too with a special children's garden and Growing Future Gardeners (which features family gardening projects).

These popular activities are sure to make return appearances:

• The new Garden Town Festival Center in Future World East next to Universe of Energy, where guests can find festival merchandise, attend speaker presentations and demonstrations and ask gardening guestions of the experts. The Garden Town Kid Fun Fair features interactive activities for children.
• Disney Gardening at Home presentations during which Disney horticulturists share gardening tips and lead guests in a hands-on activity for taking home.
• Minnie's Magnificent Butterfly Garden will return with hundreds of butterflies in a screened, walk-through enclosure that will include a live exhibit showing how caterpillars form a chrysalis and emerge as butterflies.
• The popular Great American Gardeners series featuring gardening celebrities and authors from across the country.

And, while themed festival weekends celebrate art, bugs and special events, including Mother's Day, Flower Power concerts will rock the landscape with live entertainment. The lineup* for 2010 will be announced at a later date. The Festival and Flower Power Concerts are included in regular Epcot admission. Seating is limited, so plan on getting in line for the concerts early.

I've been fortunate enough to attend the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival several years. Photo opportunities are absolutely everywhere — the flowers are always so beautiful and it is a great time to pick up tips for your own garden. If you're a fan of 60s and 70s music, you'll also enjoy the Flower Power Concerts!

More information about the 16th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is available by calling 407-824-4321 or by visiting DisneyWorld.com/Flower.