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.