Gardening
Sunflower Festivals and Farms
Family-friendly atmospheres meet beautiful venues as attendees cut their own flowers, snaps selfies, participate in games and crafts and listen to live music nightly at these sunflower festivals.
By Michelle Lewis, MJ Montgomery, Kali Salazar
Aug 28 2023 at 8 a.m.
Photo by Brandon Alms
Sunflower Hill Farm
245 Terry Road, Augusta, 314-461-5131
Located in the heart of Missouri wine country, Sunflower Hill Farm is a beautiful, family-owned event venue that creates a memorable visit for all of its visitors. While it operates as a venue for weddings and events, the farm still hosts fresh produce, honey made from the flower garden and, of course, sunflowers. Explore the area while you view sunflowers and visit the cafe that features dishes centered around the production of the farm.
Grinter’s Sunflower Farm
24154 Stillwell Road, Lawrence, Kansas
The sunflower fields at Grinter’s Sunflower Farm are worth the three hour drive. During peak season, you'll find blooming fields of yellow that seem to go on forever. Admission to the field is free, but visitors are welcome to leave a donation to the Grinter family. Visitors can take photos or simply stroll among the flowers. For the best photos, the owners recommend visiting in the first couple of hours after sunrise or before sunset. Visit the farm’s Facebook page to check in on the flowers’ progress and to find out when peak season is expected to arrive this year.
Country Roads Family Fun Farm
15144 Hwy 97, Stotts City, 417-768-9959
Say hello to the fall season at Country Roads Family Fun Farm’s annual Sunflower Festival. Surround yourself with 14 acres of sunflowers in every color and variety. Take a relaxing hayride to the sunflowers or take a walk through the sunflower maze to find an open meadow set up with picnic tables, a tent for shade and photography. The Sunflower Festival holds several events celebrating all things sunflower and begins August 6.
7C’s Winery
502 E 560th Road, Walnut Grove, 417-536-8827
The Sunflower Experience at 7C’s winery allows you to take a stroll through a flowering field of sunflowers located on the property of the winery. As you make your way through the path there are several clearings and props that encourage pictures. Later in the season, the winery also offers a U-Pick session that allows you to take home your own sunflowers and seeds. The experience is expected to begin in August but could change depending on weather and the growth of the flowers. Tickets for both events can be purchased online.
Brookdale Farms
8004 Twin Rivers Road, Eureka, 636-938-1005
Get lost in the rows of sunflowers at Brookdale Farms’ Sunflower Maze. Navigate your way through paths and take pictures in the one-of-a-kind area. The blooms are expected to reach their peak at the end of August and will last for two weeks. Don’t end your adventure at the end of the maze. While visiting, explore nearly 300 acres that provide visitors with plenty of activities that are sure to make this sunflower experience exciting and memorable.
Columbia Bottom Conservation Area
801 Strodtman Rd, St. Louis, MO, 636-441-4554
Bright sunflower fields are an annual tradition at the Columbia Bottom Conservation Area. The flowers are planted to manage and feed the local population of mourning doves. Each year, the Department of Conservation plants extra sunflowers alongside those intended for the doves. The extra flowers are specifically intended for viewing. The planting of these flowers is staggered so the blooms will last to mid-August, depending on weather conditions. This gives visitors plenty of time to take pictures and take in the explosive display of golden color.
Golden Grove Farms
4950 E. State Highway KK, Fair Grove, 417-631-2407
A local farm run by a husband-and-wife duo, Golden Grove Farms offers the sunflower field experience a stone’s throw from Springfield. The farm’s golden groves aren’t the only blooms available – the farm recently started offering dahlias, also grown on-site. Some of your flowers will go to a good cause by supporting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Visit the farm’s Facebook page for immediate updates on sunflower season, opening day, and purchasing sites in the off-season.
Fassnight Creek Farm
1366 S. Fort Ave., Springfield, MO, United States, 65807, 417-866-5011
See beautiful sunflowers and stay close to home while visiting Fassnight Creek Farm located in Springfield. In addition to their regular sunflowers, this farm also has a unique variety of sunflowers called the Van Gogh Fantasy Mix. Their current sunflower patch will be at its peak starting the last week of August.
Pa’s Posey Patch
21501 Farm Road 1120, Cassville
Pa’s Posey Patch is known for its beautiful floral arrangements, but it also has smaller 500 square foot patches of beautiful sunflowers available from August to October. They offer photography sessions in the sunflowers that can be reserved in advance. Visit their Facebook page for hours, sunflower season updates and additional information.
Downtown Springfield Sunflower Patch
Corner of McDaniel and South Street; Corner of College and Market Street
The Downtown Springfield Sunflower Patches may have caught your eye earlier this summer as they paint two corners of downtown with pops of yellow color. These patches are a part of a goodwill, donation–based community project aiming to beautify downtown Springfield. The sunflowers are still in the blooming stage, so follow sgfsunflowerpatch on Instagram or Downtown Sunflower Project on Facebook to receive immediate updates.
