The 2016 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival is just around the corner. And today, we’re getting lots of news about how the Festival will take shape this Spring!
Mark you calendars for March 2-May 30, 2016, as the festival celebrating all things that grow expands to a record 90 days!
This year’s event promises to be just as gorgeous as ever. But if you’re anything like us (and I know you are!) you have one question: What about the FOOD?
Once again, the Flower and Garden Festival will have a heavy emphasis on fresh ingredients at Outdoor Kitchens.
Jardin de Fiestas Outdoor Kitchen in the Mexico Pavilion Is Always a Favorite
With a couple of new ones debuting, plus other big news — there’s plenty of new stuff to enjoy!
New For 2016! La Isla Fresca and Cider House Outdoor Kitchens
Outdoor Kitchens debuted at the Flower and Garden Festival around World Showcase a few years ago, and now we don’t know how they ever did the event without them. This year, Epcot will debut 2 brand new Outdoor Kitchens, which will bring the number to 13.
Details are still emerging, but we know that the Kitchens will be called La Isla Fresca and Cider House.
La Isla Fresca will emphasize Caribbean influences, with dishes like Jerk-Spiced Grouper or Chicken with Mango Salsa, and Jamaican Braised Beef with Pigeon-Pea Rice.
Jerk spiced Chicken Drumstick with Mango Salsa, a Previous Food and and Wine Festival Offering
Cider House, on the other hand, will feature a fresh palate of bright fruit flavors paired with cheese. Look for a Field Greens Salad with greens harvested from The Land pavilion, Heirloom Apples, Stilton Cheese, and Dried Blueberries — the perfect dish to complement a Blueberry Hard Cider produced locally in Plant City, Florida.
Blackberry Pear Cider was a Favorite at Last Year’s Festival
Stay tuned as we cover lots of other new food and beverage offerings from the remainder of the Outdoor Kitchens! Once again, the lineup includes the following:
- Urban Farm Eats
- Pineapple Promenade
- Fleur de Lys
- Florida Fresh
- Taste of Marrakesh
- Hanami
- THE SMOKEHOUSE: Barbecue and Brews
- Primavera
- Lotus House
- Bauernmarkt
- Jardin de Fiestas
Other Festival Food Highlights
In addition to Outdoor Kitchens, the Festival will also spotlight other edible gardening endeavors. A new Edible Flower Garden will be located near The Land Pavilion, and promises to offer lots of inspiration for brightening up your plates with flowers. And once again in 2016, Fun Fresh Weekends will take place over the course of the Festival, and will highlight a new theme each week. While the themes include a diverse offering, we’re especially looking forward to April 29-May 1, and the celebration of Florida Fresh Weekend, celebrating all of the fabulous food that Florida has to offer!
We Look Forward to All the Flavors of This Year’s Event!
We’ll be bringing you all the news about this exciting event as it unfolds. Stay tuned to the 2016 Disney Food Blog Flower and Garden Page for the latest!
Now let’s hear from you. What are you most looking forward to trying at the 2016 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival? Leave a comment and share with us!
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Just made reservations at Old Key West for April. Nothing more beautiful than the Flowrr and Garden Show!! These new kiosks sound fantastic. Can’t wait for more updates!!!
Judy — We’re excited too! We’ll share more information as soon as we have it!
Do you have dates for when Food and Wine Festival will be starting. Thanks
Jack — The dates haven’t been released yet. Stay tuned — we’ll share them as soon as we have them!
Do you know the concert series line up for the Epcot flower and garden festival?
Lois — We don’t know the full lineup yet, but Disney has confirmed The Orchestra starring former members of ELO and will appear the first weekend, and new acts will include Bad Company. Stay tuned for more details!
Will be there 2/27-3/4 can’t wait to be there opening day!!
The concerts are great. Love them. Both for FLower & Garden, and Food & Wine.
I think Disney changed the names of the concerts. I kinda liked Flower Power and Eat to the Beat!!!
Frank
The Cider House sounds awesome! I think most women (myself included) can’t stand beer but enjoy hard cider. I think this’ll be a great addition to the festival 🙂
I’m so excited for this! I’ll be down in May and honestly Flower and Garden is my favorite time of year. I like it better than Food and Wine!
Hey AJ,
Do you know if they opened a day early last year? Our last day at Disney is March 1st so I am hoping that they will be doing food previews the day before.
Thanks!
Rachel — They haven’t opened a day early for Flower and Garden in the past, but you never know. 🙂
Will we be able to use our snack allotment from our disney deluxe dining plan for the food at the outdoor food vendors?
Eric — That’s been the case in the past. We should be able to confirm it for you this week when the Festival opens. Stay tuned — we’ll be covering the Outdoor Kitchens on Wednesday!
1st time to a festival will be this year…we will be there apr 29-may2…cant wait…i am also anxious to hear how many of the offerings will be available for our ddp snacks!!
Amy — Normally, all of the food items are available for snack credits. We’ll have full coverage with pictures of each menu board later this week, however, to confirm.
Any word if the use of ddp snack credits was confirmed for the Outdoor Kitchens? Thanks!