Epcot's Flower & Garden Festival 2009

Finally, Spring is upon us! For some of us - the poor folks who live north of the border, this has been a long and cold winter. Thankfully, Walt Disney World seems to recognize that so many of us are in need of a little sunshine and are looking forward to getting back into our gardens as they have brought back Epcot's International Flower & Garden Festival for its 16^th year, with the festival taking place from March 18^th - May 31^st.

The theme this year is Celebrate Springtime and Disney Characters will be featured in over 70 incredible topiaries. The grand entrance topiary will feature Cinderella and Prince Charming, Snow White and the seven dwarfs, Sleeping Beauty and Prince Phillip and Belle and her Beast.

There will be a Green Garden section, an area where everyone can come and create and learn how to use and build environmentally friendly gardens, gardens that use low water, gardens that integrate native flowers and plants and how to recycle your old garden into your new one.

To celebrate the release of Tinker Bell, which debuted in the Fall of 2008, there will be topiaries to introduce Tinker Bell and her friends from Pixie Hollow. This garden is across from Mouse Gear in Future World, and has been designed for the children. The garden features interactive actives for the children, daily Fairy & Princess Processional at 2p.m. where children are encouraged to arrive in costume, and a place where the children can have their faces painted with a favourite insect, flower or fairy. Also for the children there will be a Pirates Adventure Zone, which will be located across from the Germany Pavilion in the World Showcase; Minnie's Magnificent Butterfly Garden¸ which can be found across from Mouse Gear in Future World and Earth Station, located on the Test Track Walkway.

The festival will also feature a Flower Power Concert Series, that will highlight 11 artists from the 1960s and 70's. The Flower Power concerts take place at the American Gardens Theatre at 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45p.m. each Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the festival.

The line up for the festival is:

Davy Jones - Daydream Believer - March 20-22

Paul Revere & The Raiders - Good Thing - March 27-29

The Turtles ft Flo & Eddie - Happy Together - April 3-5

Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone - I'm Henry the VIII, I Am - April 10-12

The Ventures - Hawaii Five-O - April 17-19

Harold Melvin's Blue Notes - If You Don't Know Me By Now - April 24-26

Chubby Checker & the Wildcats - The Twist - May 1-3

Ricky Nelson - (Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection - May 8-10

Jose Feliciano - Light My Fire - May 15-17

The 5^th Dimension - Up, Up and Away - May 22-24

Tony Orlando - Tie A Yellow Ribbon - May 29-31