LAKE BUENA
VISTA, Fla. -- Beekeepers, plein air artists, dolls, teddy bears and beloved
Disney characters make special appearances on different themed weekends
during the 15th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
March 19 through June 1. Each of the 11 festival weekends features a special
theme with events and activities that add to the daily festivities.
Premiere
-- March 21-23
The
festival opens with 30 million blooms, special Easter activities,
topiary magic, gardening activities and new exhibits.
Easter
Brunch is served Sunday, March 23, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at World ShowPlace.
Guests can call 407/WDW-DINE for reservations.
The
Guess Who launches the weekend Flower Power concert series (3/19-22)
at America Gardens Theatre; Petula Clark appears March 23. Shows at
5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m.
Joe
Lamp'l (aka joe gardener) entertains guests
with practical tips to help homeowners "go green" when revamping
home landscapes as part of the Great American Gardeners series presented
by the American Horticultural Society. 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. in Garden
Town at Future World East next to Universe of Energy.
Characters in Bloom -- March 28-30
Dozens
of Disney characters pop up throughout the park for a character
extravaganza.
Paul
Revere and the Raiders (3/28-29) and The 5th Dimension (3/30) make
Flower Power concerts sing each weekend day. Shows at 5:45, 7 and 8:15
p.m. at America Gardens Theatre.
Great
American Gardener Ellen Zachos tackles "Prehistoric Planting"
and explains how to grow a dinosaur garden. 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. in Garden
Town.
Peter
Pan's Never Land Garden showcases Peter Pan and Captain Hook topiaries,
providing fun for everyone, especially younger children. The new Pluto's
Play Zone features climbing fun for kids 6 and up.
Art in
the Garden -- April 4-6
Guests
get a first-hand look at nature through the eyes of more than 25
plein air artists who will paint at several locations throughout
World Showcase.
New
Flower Power musician Jay Black ("This Magic Moment")
entertains guests (4/4-5); Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone (4/6)
return by popular demand. Shows at 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m. at America
Gardens Theatre.
TV garden
host Shirley Bovshow offers "out of the box" ideas to give
gardens artistic edge. Great American Gardener series 12:30 and
3:30 p.m. in Garden Town.
The renowned Highwaymen Artists appear with their legendary Florida
landscape paintings.
Children
can enjoy the Kids Paint Out experience (11 a.m.-5 p.m.) in the Sculpture
Garden at Future World East. Easels and special paint bottles are
set out for kids to paint freehand (or any other style) with the assistance
of a professional artist nearby.
Wellness
-- April 11-13
Field
Day activities designed to enhance well-being include aerobic fun
in the Sculpture Garden and at Garden Town.
The
Grass Roots featuring Rob Grill in concert (4/11-13) belt out nostalgic
tunes during the Flower Power concert series. Shows at 5:45, 7 and 8:15
p.m. at America Gardens Theatre.
Author
of Get Fit Through Gardening, Jeffrey Restuccio offers a game plan
for turning gardening into a lifelong wellness program. Great American
Gardener series 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. in Garden Town.
Green -- April 18-20
The
Department of Agriculture hosts special activities for children.
Guests
learn that it is easy being "green" at the new Green Garden
and at the Lush Xeriscapes exhibit.
Peter
& Gordon flex their Flower Power with hits like "A World Without
Love" (4/18); Starship starring Mickey Thomas draws crowds
for "We Built This City" (4/19-20). Shows at 5:45, 7 and 8:15
p.m. at America Gardens Theatre.
Tovah
Martin, TV guest on PBS's "Cultivating Life," serves up tips
for going "green" in home gardens and landscapes. Great
American Gardener series 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. in Garden Town.
I Dig Bugs -- April 25-27
Guests
discover that bugs are fun and keep gardens healthy.
Beekeepers
meet guests and share the buzz on bees with displays and free honey
samples.
Disney's
Animal Kingdom bug specialists appear to give guests a close-up
look at caterpillars, spiders and other creatures.
The
Ventures bring "Hawaii Five-O" sizzle to the Flower Power
concert stage (4/25-26) and B.J. Thomas keeps raindrops from fallin'
on your head (4/27). Shows at 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m. at America Gardens
Theatre.
Author
of award-winning Passalong Plants, Felder Rushing shares secrets to
year-long garden beauty with herbs, flowers and even "designer"
veggies. Great American Gardener series 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. at Garden
Town.
Jiminy
Cricket and friends make special appearances in Future World throughout
the weekend at various times.
Ladybugs
will be released more frequently throughout the I Dig Bugs Weekend
at Green Garden and Growing Future Gardeners.
Florida
Farmer's Market -- May 2-4
Visit
the ultimate Florida Farmer's Market at Garden Town. From Zellwood
to Apalachicola, the bounty is vast.
Arlo
Guthrie strikes a nostalgic note for music fans (5/2-3) and The
Searchers (5/4) make their Flower Power concert debut. Shows at 5:45,
7 and 8:15 p.m. at America Gardens Theatre.
Central
Florida gardening celebrity Tom MacCubbin piques interest with talks
on edible landscapes. Great American Gardener series 12:30 and 3:30
p.m. at Garden Town.
Coming
Up Roses -- May 9-11
Members
of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs exhibit a spectacular
display of floral arrangements at the Garden Town festival center.
Families
can celebrate mom at the Mother's Day Brunch on Sunday, May 11,
at World ShowPlace (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.). Guests can make reservations
at 407/WDW-DINE (939-3463).
The
Tokens rev up concert audiences with "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"
(5/9-10); Flower Power great Davy Jones makes moms swoon during
Mother's Day concerts (5/11). Shows at 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m. at America
Gardens Theatre.
Guerlain
perfume specialist Raymond Western talks about the intimate relationship
between perfumes and plants like those displayed at the France pavilion's
Fragrance Garden. Great American Gardener series 12:30 and 3:30 p.m.
at Garden Town.
Children
can craft a dried-rose-petal "dream pillow."
Garden Party -- May 16-18
Beloved
Disney characters host a series of whimsical garden parties.
The
20th Teddy Bear & Doll event is open to all festival guests
Saturday, May 17, 1-5 p.m. and Sunday, May 18, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at World
ShowPlace. Meet more than 30 artisans showcasing their handcrafted dolls
and teddy bears.
Jose
Feliciano (5/16-17) and Felix Cavaliere's Rascals (5/18) rock the
concert series audience. Shows at 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m. at America Gardens
Theatre.
Robert
Bowden, director of lush Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando, showcases
plants with unusual textures, habits and colors for weekend landscaping
fun. Great American Gardener series 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. at Garden Town.
Outdoor
Living -- May 23-25
Children
can take part in Fun in the Sun activities in Future World East
with beanbag tosses, relay races and other outdoor fun.
Fans
dig Gary Puckett (5/23-24) and see The Cowsills (5/25) in their
concert debut. Shows at 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m. at America Gardens Theatre.
TV host
and gardening expert Melinda Myers shares creative ideas for maximizing
a small garden space or creating an intimate garden in a large lot.
Great American Gardener series 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. at Garden Town.
Festival
Farewell -- May 31-June 1
Jon
Carloftis, author of First a Garden and Beyond the Windowsill, offers
ideas for integrating plants and nature in every aspect of life, from
interior spaces to urbanscapes. Great American Gardener series 12:30
and 3:30 p.m. at Garden Town.
Tony
Orlando "ties a yellow ribbon" to wrap the Flower Power concert
series. Shows at 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m. at America Gardens Theatre.
Surprise
craft activities let kids enjoy end-of-festival fun.
The Epcot
International Flower & Garden Festival is included with regular Epcot
admission.
|
Subscribe to AllEars®.Net's RSS feed
