South-Carolina
Festival has 75,000 sunflowers on 6 acres at Denver Downs’ 140-acre farm, what to know
A festival with 75,000 sunflowers spread across six acres within an expansive 140-acre farm will be the featured attraction at the seventh annual South Carolina Sunflower Festival in Anderson County.
Visitors to the Denver Downs Farm, located at 1515 Denver Road, during the festival can take home sunflowers, enjoy live music, capture photos, visit local vendors, and experience special attractions, according to Catherine Garrison Davis, co-owner of Denver Downs.
“Sunflowers just make people happy, and we love sharing that happiness with our guests from all over the region who come to celebrate the beautiful flowers throughout the summer,” Davis said. “We can’t wait to see all the smiles and share our love for sunflowers during the festival.”
Festival dates are June 13-15 and June 20-22.
Sunflower festival tickets: What to know?
Here is what you should know about sunflower festival ticket prices.
- Admission tickets are available online.
- Purchase your tickets online for $21.55, saving 35% off the gate price of $33.95.
- Dogs on leashes are permitted to attend; however, they must be admitted separately for a $10 fee.
Visitors can also participate in the U-Pick experience, where they can gather a large bucket of sunflowers for $28.95.
Sunflower Festival attractions
Sunflower festival activities run from Friday to Sunday, while the sunflower fields are open daily.
Monday through Thursday, the sunflower fields are open for photos and picking from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Time slots for Sunflower Festival activities are listed below.
- Fridays, 4 to 9 p.m., barnyard activities, 4 to 9 p.m.
- Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., barnyard activities, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Sundays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., barnyard activities, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Attendees can enjoy the Jumbo Jumping Pillow, ride the Barnyard Express Zipline, or challenge themselves on the Rope Course, human football, tricycle races, the climbing wall, sunflower fields, the mountain slide, paintball gallery, jumping pillow, ball zone, dodgeball, the gaga pit, and the Double D Gem Mine.
Additionally, there will also be farm animals including goats, mini horses, chickens, and our new Jersey calf.
Along with the bright yellow and black sunflowers, attendees will be treated to a few surprises, such as exotic sunflower varieties they may have never seen before, Davis said.
Denver Downs Farm is showcasing a diverse range of sunflower varieties, including the Firecracker, the Teddy Bear, and the Sunrich Lime. Visitors will also encounter Vincent’s Choice, Sunbright Supreme, Double Quick Orange, Pro-Cut Gold Lite, and Pro-Cut Red.
Sunflower Festival vendors
Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy a taste of South Carolina with a variety of local vendors offering a range of food options, including hamburgers, hot dogs, and chicken fingers.
Festivalgoers can indulge their sweet tooth with funnel cakes and snow cones, or quench their thirst with Denver Downs lemonade. They can also try Silo Sangrias or Flower Frose from the Vine and Barrel Beer Garden.
Travis Rose covers Anderson County for the Independent Mail. Reach him via email at trose@gannett.com.
South-Carolina
Can South Carolina football, LaNorris Sellers outscore Alabama, Ty Simpson? Our prediction
COLUMBIA — South Carolina football has lost four of its last five games and now faces its toughest test yet.
No. 4 Alabama comes to Williams-Brice Stadium on Oct. 25 (3:30 p.m., ABC) riding a six-game win streak. The Crimson Tide (6-1, 4-0 SEC) have taken down four consecutive ranked opponents. The Gamecocks (3-4, 1-4) need three more wins to become bowl eligible.
The last time these two teams met, LaNorris Sellers threw for 238 yards (74.2%) but a failed two-point conversion gave Alabama the 27-25 win. It was the last loss of the 2024 regular season for coach Shane Beamer, who then saw his team finish on a six-game win streak.
South Carolina vs. Alabama prediction
Oklahoma ran the ball through South Carolina’s defense and stopped the Gamecocks in the red zone, but Beamer’s squad only trailed by seven at halftime.
The Gamecocks can’t afford empty trips or leaky defense against Alabama so it’s not a matter of punching first, but remaining consistent with discipline through four quarters.
Last year South Carolina’s talent kept it in the game but what’s on tape for the Gamecocks so far doesn’t mirror the situation in 2024. If South Carolina capitalizes on any Alabama mistakes, it might be closer than expected.
It’s more likely that Alabama pulls away in the second half.
South Carolina vs. Alabama scouting report
Why South Carolina has an advantage: Only 21 FBS teams have more interceptions than South Carolina, and 10 of those have just one more (Gamecocks have eight). Turnovers have been a staple, and against LSU, two came in the red zone, one a fumble forced on the goal line and the other an interception at the 1-yard line.
Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson has 18 touchdowns to just one interception (tied for second best in nation) but has been sacked 12 times. South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart has 3.5 sacks and Brian Thomas Jr has four.
South Carolina is tied for the third-most defensive touchdowns in the FBS, which doesn’t include its three special teams scores. While the offense is struggling, that’s an advantage the Gamecocks might have to lean into.
Why Alabama has an advantage: The Crimson Tide are performing better in most major categories.
They are averaging 422.7 total yards compared to South Carolina’s 297.7 (last in SEC), more passing yards (297.1 to 191.1) and more rushing yards (125.6 to 106.6) per game. Alabama is averaging 35.1 points and South Carolina is averaging 20.1.
Alabama allows 309.1 yards per game, while South Carolina is allowing 336.6.
Simpson is one of the most prolific passers in the nation. Beamer recruited him to South Carolina but didn’t get him. Beamer texted Simpson’s father while watching Alabama tape a few nights ago, he revealed on the SEC teleconference Oct. 22, saying Simpson’s throws are some of the best he’s seen in a long time.
South Carolina’s secondary has to deal with Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard, who both have over 400 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Williams averages 7.5 yards after the catch.
Bernard averages 14.3 yards per reception and has caught a pass over 25 yards in five games.
South Carolina football injury report vs Alabama
South Carolina
- OL Cason Henry: Out
- OL Jatavius Shivers: Questionable
- OL Nolan Hay: Probable
- DL Monkell Goodwine: Probable
Alabama
- LB Qua Russaw: Out
- LB Jah-Marien Latham: Out
- LB Cayden Jones: Out
- DL Jeremiah Beaman: Out
South Carolina vs. Alabama score prediction
Alabama 31, South Carolina 14
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky@bylulukesin.bsky.social
South-Carolina
Greg McElroy makes prediction for Alabama at South Carolina
The Alabama Crimson Tide is on the road this week at Williams-Brice Stadium to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks. Former UA quarterback Greg McElroy made his prediction on who he thinks will win this matchup.
The Tide have been rolling since their opening loss to Florida State. Since then, the Tide are 6-0 and have rattled off 4 consecutive ranked wins. Alabama is clicking and will be looking to keep that going against a struggling South Carolina team. The Gamecocks are coming off back-to-back losses to LSU and Oklahoma. The offense put up a combined 17 points in the 2 losses, and quarterback LaNorris Sellers threw for only 124 yards in both games.
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McElroy is sticking with the Tide in this matchup and expects Alabama to keep its win streak going.
“I’m taking Alabama, but I would not be surprised if this is a low-scoring, close, competitive football game for 3-plus quarters,” McElroy said. “Probably lean towards taking the points in this one. I think it’s going to be a close game, but I do think Alabama prevails in what will be a gutsy win on the road at Willy-Brice.”
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.
South-Carolina
City leaders consider South Carolina Aquarium site for city workforce housing
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – City of Charleston leaders are considering rezoning a lot near the South Carolina Aquarium as part of a future affordable housing plan.
Various downtown sites are under consideration for new housing including a city-owned property on the eastern end of the South Carolina Aquarium parking deck.
Sites under consideration stem from an outlined plan to add 3,500 affordable housing units by 2032. The plan falls in line with the city’s Department of Housing and Community Development’s 2025 to 2029 Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan for 2026.
A 2019 to 2023 American Community Survey in the plan’s housing needs assessment records nearly more than 22,000 households are cost burdened. The survey finds that 14,600 renters and more than 8,000 homeowners paid more than 30% of their income on housing costs.
District Two City Councilman Kevin Shealy says creating housing opportunities is needed for the city’s essential workers.
“We have firefighters, police officers, young teachers, essential business people, hospitality workers,” Shealy says. “We need to make sure they can afford to live in the Charleston area and live where they work. It’s essential for our business, it’s essential for how our city operates.”
Aquarium visitors and people walking nearby may view the area as a potential spot for extra parking. A successful rezoning would be step one to adding units.
City Planning Commission leaders are considering rezoning the lot at the corner of Calhoun and Concord Streets from general business zoning to mixed-use workforce housing.
City planning manager Christopher Morgan says the city has been eyeing the lot for around the last 10 years. He says the city’s recent housing initiative is an opportunity to move forward on adding affordable housing options in the space.
“That will allow for a mix of housing types and, or also commercial aspects,” Morgan says. “It could be that there would be ground floor commercial uses and then ground floor residential uses.”
City leaders say potential housing designs in the city’s 2032 plan will ensure homes will keep the city’s aesthetic. Draft images include designs for spaces such as Charleston singles and cottages.
“We need to protect the way our character of our city is. We need to protect that character,” Shealy says. “These are going to be very attractive homes. Some of them are going to be your Charleston single homes that will be split up into triplexes, but it’s going to be a beautiful type of home that these people are going to be living and businesses will be operating in as well.”
The rezoning would go to the City Council for a public hearing on November 18 if commission leaders recommend approval. A final reading would take place in December if council leaders approve the change.
Morgan says design plans would be the next step if all goes well.
Copyright 2025 WCSC. All rights reserved.
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