Did you know The Absolutely Best Sunflower Festivals in the World are all right here in the US?
Yup! They sure are!
But why?
The answer lies, as most things do… in forgotten but awesome American history. (Surprise!..but not really. If you subscribe to This Family Blog, you know there are all KINDS of fun stories like this waiting to be rediscovered and shared!)
So we are clear, a late summer frolic in a field of beautiful flowers is a must in life and heading out to one of the many local sunflower festivals is the perfect way to do it.
But let’s take a moment to learn a thing or two…
…so that you are super smart and have something really interesting to share at the next social get together…
Sunflower History
There is a history to sunflowers?
Yes! They are American born and world travelers!
We should all be sunflowers.
Sunflowers are indigenous to North America. Native Americans first first domesticated the plant in the Arizona and New Mexico regions about 3000 BC.
Like all the different kinds of corn and squash, there was quite the variety of seed colors back in the day including black, white, red, and black/white striped.
Sunflowers were used in food, dye, and oil. Colonists dug it for its anti malaria properties. These guys knew a good thing when they saw it! Plus, they are pretty!
Well true to form, Europeans got a hold of it, took it overseas, and the sunflower wowed and amazed everyone it was presented to. The Russians grew them and pretty much cornered the sunflower market for seeds and oil, and just to be cut and admired.
The demand got too high to be met overseas so guess what happened?
Who says you can’t go home again?
Ta da!
Sunflowers have recently made a comeback in popularity right here in the good ol US of A because of its high demand as low cholesterol alternative in cooking. Plus, they are pretty!
And well, they were here first…
A Big Welcome Home Party
As we Americans tend to do, when we have a great thing, we celebrate it to the max. In the last 30 or so years, festivals started popping up across the nation.
What that means is no matter where you live in the US, you are within driving distance of a floral festival of epic proportions!
Here is a bunch to get you started! Grab your camera! It’s time to celebrate!
Sunflower Festivals Across the Nation
Not every state has a Sunflower Festival, and some states have multiple festivals. This is a list of over half the states in the union. Let me know if I missed one and I’ll add it to the list!
Springdale, Arkansas
Dixon, California
Middlefield, Connecticut (This one has a Sunflower maze!!!)
Calhoun, Georgia
Hobart, Indiana
Belleville, Illinois
Lawton, Iowa
Witchita, Kansas
Owensbourough, Kentucky
Dayton, Maine
Newbury, Massachusetts
Mayville, Michigan
Fair Grove, Missouri
Lee, New Hampshire
Mountainair, New Mexico
Penfield, New York
Raleigh, North Carolina
Enderlin, North Dakota
Evendale, Ohio
Pocola, Oklahoma
Tualatin Valley, Oregon
Maple Lawn Farms Pennsylvania
Walhalla, South Carolina
Knoxville, Tennessee
Somerset, Virginia
Bellingham, Washington
Tips to Enjoy Sunflower Festivals
Plan to arrive at sunrise for a beautiful magical moment when the sunflowers all face east and meeting the rising sun.
Stay for the Golden Hour because you know the best photos happen then anyhow. Now imagine it with the warm glow of the sun all around you…in the form of a flower. It’s a golden all encompassing hug from the universe. You’re welcome.
Wear something cute like a big hat. Why? Big hats go well with flower fields. Don’t question it. It just is. Do it for the Gram!
Sunflower Lore
In Greek mythology, the sunflower comes from a fair maiden who fell in love with Apollo and stood in the garden watching him as he crossed the sky. Well, being the guy that Apollo was… he wasn’t impressed with her and so flung a fiery arrow at her and turned her into a sunflower. Lovely. Also I don’t fully understand that because Greece is a long way away from North America…where you know, they originated.. just sayin…
Other cultures associate sunflowers with loyalty and honesty and good fortune!
Some Native American tribes see sunflowers as a representative of harvest and bounty.
Did you know sunflowers are given on 3rd and 4th wedding anniversaries? It’s the whole adoration/loyalty/strength thing. Makes sense.
Over 625 Extended Stay America hotels across the U.S.
Lessons from a Sunflower
So I got to thinking… sunflowers happen to be my fave flower but why? I’ve always loved them (and I’ve always loved sunflower seeds too) but why am I so drawn to them?
And I waxed philosophical and really thought about what sunflowers have meant to me personally.
Live Life in the Sun
Sunflowers know where the sun rises and where it sets. It greets the sun coming up and lives to the fullest in it all the sunshine. So should we.
Tiny Seeds, Planted and Nurtured, Will Grow Higher than the Garden Wall
Every dream, every plan, starts with just a little thought. Planted and nurtured, it can and does grow bigger then any real or perceived wall.
You Must Stick Your Neck Out To Grow
The only way a sunflower grows is by stretching her neck toward the light, day after day, reaching a little further every time. A little risky, yes. Guess what? That’s how we grow too.
Growth Must Be Balanced
Sunflowers grow on one side of the stalk during the day and then at night they grow the other side to match. If a sunflower didn’t grow the other side at night, the weight of the head would pull the flower down to one side, it wouldn’t be able to follow the sun, and it would wither and die, rather quickly I might add. The same can be said for humans. Balance. It’s important.
Stand Tall, Because You Are Beautiful
Funky petals, crooked stem, chewed up leaf. It doesn’t matter. A sunflower unapologetically stands tall and majestic, reflecting the very sun itself. No one sees the flaws. They are too busy basking in the warmth and light and glory of this magnificent being. We should all shine like that.
Ready to road trip it to the nearest Sunflower Festival? Or put on a Sunflower suit?
Shine on my sunny friends!
I want to hear from you! Have you been to a Sunflower Festival? Did you enjoy it? Were you inspired?
PIN IT FOR LATER so you can come back to this article again and again! I will update links to include as many states as I can!
Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows. It’s what the sunflowers do. -Helen Keller
I can imagine that a sunflower festival would be beautiful to attend!! Thanks for sharing ~ may have to try traveling to the one in Georgia one of these years.
I’ve been to the farm you have listed in GA for their corn maze in the fall. I had no idea they have a sunflower farm in the summer. I will have to keep this in mind for next year! Thanks for the info 🙂
This looks so pretty. I haven’t been to a sunflower fest. We have a famous flower field near by that we got to. I’ll have to see if we can get to a sunflower fest some day!
Sunflowers are beautiful! I see that I could go to the festival in Springdale, Arkansas. I’m inspired to go check it out!
I love sunflowers! Thank you so much for listing the festivals I see one is close by to me.
I loved your photos Jen! Sunflowers love to be photographed in my opinion! Looks like a fun festival, too!
I am inspired. We have not attended a Sunflower festival. I can’t wait to go to one. I love Sunflowers.
My husband and I were stationed in Wichita, Kansas for over 3 years and I had NO idea there was a sunflower festival there! We love these beautiful flowers.
What a fun post! I learned so much…I didn’t know the history or that there were actually festivals. Sunflowers make me smile so it shouldn’t surprise me that people want to celebrate them all over the U.S. And I especially loved your philosophical lessons. My favorite flowers are lilacs and tulips…you have inspired me to reflect on the why.
Love your blog post. Very engaging and interesting and fun. I had no idea there were so many festivals in the US. And I love the lessons to be learned from sunflowers!
What a joyful fun post, who knew there was so much to know about sunflowers!?
I love this! I had no idea there were so many sunflower festivals – even one in my state that I’m going to have to check out!
Wow, I didn’t realize how many sunflower festivals there were. We grew sunflowers when I was a kid!
Wow I had no idea there were even sunflower festivals especially all over the world. Lovely pictures and story.
This post made me smile, much like the sunflower does!! ?????
I love this post!! Sunflowers are beautiful. We have a local sunflower festival where I live and I love going every year!
I’m so glad you do! Which one is it?
How fun! There are three festivals close to me. I want to go to one!
Oh YAY! I hope you have a great time!!!
Great list on festivals. Thank you for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed! Hope you make it to one!
I love this post so much! Sunflowers are my favorite! What a happy thing to read today! 🙂
YAY!!!! I know, right?! Sunflowers are the best!
Thank you for sharing! I know of some in Canada: Abbotsford and Chilliwack in British Columbia hold annual sunflower festivals too!
Yes they do indeed!
Yay! Our local festival in Lee NH made your list 🙂 These happy faces bring me such joy in my garden every year and are one of my favorites!
RIGHT?! They are truly a joyful flower!
I love this post! I live in Mass, so planning on the one in Newbury and perhaps the one in Lee, NH as well. I have been wanting to go to a sunflower festival, so very excited to finally make it happen.
Fantastic! I would love to hear how you like them both!
That is so cool. I love sunflowers and have fond memories of the fields of them in Israel. It looks like Montana doesn’t have one 🙁 but you can always see a few on the side of the road.
I know… I was actually surprised because Montana has a couple wild varieties that happen there naturally. Start one! LOL
This is awesome! And, I found one just down the road from us with your list! We may have to try to visit! ?
SUCCESS!!!! Let me know how you like it!
Thanks for educating us about the sunflower history. I didn’t know that. Also, the extensive list of the festival is very informative! And tips about wearing the hat?
It’s super interesting right? oh yes, the hat is a must 😉
Wow! That’s a lot of interesting info! And, there’s a festival right here in my own home state that I didn’t even know about! 🙂
Excellent! I hope you find time to go check it out!
Love this post! This was the first yea I was able to take my kids to a gorgeous Sunflower field near us for some great pictures. You have provided some great information to anyone looking for Sunflowers near them!
Great! Glad it in enhancing your experience!
Beautiful and fun. I didn’t realize there were so many festivals for this and will need to check out Dixon, CA sometime as that is the closest one to me. thanks
Fantastic! You learned something AND you have a new place to visit! SUCCESS!!! LOL
I guess I should have known that there were Sunflower Festivals, but I had never heard of them before! I will have to see if I can go to the one closest to me.
Oh I am so glad!! One of the big goals of this blog is to shed light on all the awesome in this country that is hidden or forgotten or otherwise unexperienced so I am SO GLAD you learned a little something and are inspired to attend one! ENJOY!!!