A selfie-lover’s paradise is about to bloom in picturesque Elora.
Sunflowers of Elora is a festival celebrating one of the most photographed plants on social media kicks off Friday and will run through September, offering opportunities for visitors to get colourful close-ups and for families to enjoy outdoor activities surrounded by beautiful scenery.
After hosting an inaugural event last summer, The Fieldstone Barn has expanded the sunflower festival’s line-up to add more activities, more photo ops and an even bigger crop of dazzling sunflowers in more than two dozen eye-catching varieties.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming visitors to our farm to see the different kinds of sunflowers we grow, while they enjoy the day outside with friends and family,” says festival organizer and Fieldstone Barn owner Melinda Croft.
The festival will feature plenty of traditional bright yellow sunflowers which have captured millions of clicks on social media for their camera appeal, but there are also many other Insta-worthy varieties that come in all colours and sizes – including Russian Mammoths that grow up to five metres tall.
Paths allow visitors to stroll through the sunflower fields and explore the scenic property, just a short walk from downtown Elora. Organizers have also placed several photo-opp stations in natural settings around the farm featuring different props, including a two-metre tall LOVE sign, a giant swing, a 1930s orange velvet couch, a vintage blue velvet couch, This is Us sign, large picture frame, an old Farmall red tractor and two vintage kids’ wagons.
While sunflowers take the spotlight, the festival also features numerous family-friendly activities to entertain visitors. On weekends, visitors will be able to see special guests from other nearby farms, like miniature donkeys, alpacas and baby alpacas. Several artisans will be at the farm the weekend of August 7-8 to help open the festival and food trucks will serve up a variety of snacks and refreshments. The farm has also added four corn mazes for visitors to explore and test their directional skills.
During Sunflowers of Elora, the farm is open to the public on the weekends, Friday-Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission fees to the farm are $5 for kids and $10 for adults for sunflowers and $5 per person to add on the corn maze.
Private bookings for tours and photography are available during the festival from Monday to Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
