sunflower festival at southern palmetto farms
July at Southern Palmetto Farms means sunflower season! They just had their first weekend festival and we’d love to tell you what to expect.
the details
Southern Palmetto Farms | 2601 Garner Road in Aynor, SC
Festival Dates for 2023 | July 7–9 from 5:30–8:30pm. A second crop will come to maturity for later July dates. Be sure to check their FB page for more details.
Admission Price | $12 for adults and kids over age 2. Kids 2 and under are free. This includes the opportunity to pick 2 stems per person
what is there, besides the sunflowers?
There is plenty to do aside from picking sunflowers and taking pictures in the sunflowers.
Petting Zoo | There is a small petting zoo with goats, donkeys, cows, chickens, and bunnies. You can buy feed and pet to your hearts content.
Slides, Sandbox, Play Structure | The farm has cleverly up-cycled old farm machinery into slides and play structures.
Tricycle Races | There are two small “pedal paths” for tricycle rides and races.
Bounce Pad | There is a giant inflatable bounce pad that kids seem to never tire of.
Barrel Train Ride | That thing is speedy! And I saw plenty of adults take a turn in there (with and without kids in their lap).
Wagon Ride | The wagon takes you out to the sunflower farm, if you don’t want to walk. And it’s also just a nice little ride.
Photo Opportunities | There are photo opportunities at every turn. There is a nice red barn backdrop by the main entrance. The others are at the sunflower field.
the sunflower fields
The fields are huge and the flowers get tall! It’s beautiful from all angles.
Cutting Your Sunflowers | There is an attendant at the field offering clippers and a plastic baggie of water. It’s a makeshift vase so the flowers don’t wilt too much before you can get them home.
Photo Opportunities | There is the giant white frame, the wooden swing, and an old red Farmall tractor. It never seemed to get too crowded at any one of them during our visit.
Make photos at Southern Palmetto Farms a family tradition!
what to know before you go
1. Save your sunflower picking to the end of your visit. Otherwise you’ll be walking around holding it the rest of the evening.
2. Bring your own vase if you plan to get a lot. Our family of 4 was entitled to 8 flowers (2 each) but they were so big that we didn’t want to juggle them in those baggies of water so we only left with 4.
3. The fields are dusty and it can be very hot. But this time of year can also product quick thunderstorms and if that happens and lightening is nearby the farm will shut down. If that happens then they’ll update on FB so be sure to look there before going or while in route, if you live far away.
