Discovering the Magic of Garden Rocks Concert at Epcot

As many times as I’ve been to Epcot, I never knew they had concerts—free concerts, no less! During the International Flower and Garden Festival, they host a fantastic lineup of performances known as the Garden Rocks Concert Series.

I happened to be at Epcot during the 2024 Springtime Surprise Race Weekend, and the featured performers were none other than Plain White T’s. The concerts take place at the America Gardens Theatre, located right in front of The American Adventure attraction. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. However, I opted for the Garden Rocks Concert Dining Package, which offers preferred seating when you dine at one of the participating restaurants in Epcot. The cost is just under $100 and you have many restaurants to choose from.

My concert time was 6:45 PM, and my dinner reservation was at 4:10 PM, giving me plenty of time to enjoy my meal at Rose & Crown in the United Kingdom pavilion. The package included an appetizer, entrée, dessert, and a non-alcoholic beverage. Of course, I also indulged in a Cider & Blackcurrant Imperial Pint, and it was absolutely delicious!

Here’s what I ordered:

• Appetizer: Scotch Egg – A golden-fried, hard-boiled cage-free egg wrapped in sausage with mustard sauce. Since I’ve had it before and loved it, this was an easy choice!

• Entrée: Bangers and Mash – English sausage with colcannon potatoes, mushrooms, onions, and red wine demi. I usually go for the Shepherd’s Pie, but this was a great alternative. I’d order it again and again!

• Dessert: Sticky Toffee Pudding – Steamed pudding 'cake' served with warm vanilla custard and hot butter-rum sauce. No hesitation here—this was a must!

After dinner, I headed over to the theater, where I received a wristband for my dining package. This wristband granted me early entry—a full 30 minutes before general admission. For the first time ever, I had front-row seating at a concert, and it was incredible!

The 30-minute performance flew by, but it was beyond enjoyable. To my surprise, I found myself thinking that Tim Lopez was the standout vocalist of the night. Sorry, Tom Higgenson, you’re still great, but Tim’s performance, especially a song he wrote during a tough time in his life, gave me goosebumps. Of course, they ended the night with their iconic hit, “Hey There Delilah”, which had the entire audience singing along.   

If you’ve never attended one of these concerts, you absolutely should! It’s included with your theme park admission, unless you opt for the dining package. The best part? These aren’t just local, unknown artists—they bring in top-tier bands and vocalists. While there are no bad seats in the house, seating is limited, making the dining package well worth it for priority access.

Next year, when I return for the races in April, I’ll definitely be booking the Garden Rocks Dining Package again.

Want to see my concert experience? Click here to watch it on YouTube!