10 Things To Know Before Visting Summers Farm Sunflower Festival

This year we went to opening day for Summers Farm Sunflower Festival at their new location in Middletown, Maryland.

Visiting Summers Farm has been on our Maryland Bucket list for years so this year we decided to visit for the Sunflower Festival to see what it’s like and if it would be worth visiting again for the fall festival.

Summers Farm

Summers Farm first opened to the public in 1996 in Frederick Maryland off Butterfly Lane. In 2022 after 26 years in the Frederick location, Summers Farm moved to a new location (about 10 minutes from the original location) in Middletown.

The Farm’s new location is in a beautiful area with beautiful views of the Middletown area.

As with any new location, there are some growing pains that will be felt and I’m sure that the longer Summers Farm is at the new location the better it will be.

Summers Farm Sunflower Festival

The Summers Farm Sunflower Festival started just a few years ago. The 2022 season is the 3rd sunflower festival.

At the festival, you can enjoy 8 acres of sunflower fields and other fun farm activities.

The Sunflower Festival at Summers Farm is only 3 weekends at the end of August and the beginning of September. Be sure to check the Summers Farm website for dates and hours. (the fall festival is open for a lot longer time period.)

10 Things To Know Before You Go to Summers Farm Sunflower Festival

Here are a few tips to help make your trip to Summers Farm a little less stressful and more fun (especially if you’re bringing kids!).

#1 Limited Days and Hours

The Sunflower Festival is limited to 3 weekends the last weekend of August and the beginning of September. The festival is from 10 am to 8 pm each day.

While the sunflower festival doesn’t have very many dates, the farm is open for the fall season with a fall festival.

#2 Save Buy Purchasing Tickets Online

Purchasing tickets online will not only save you money, but it will also guarantee you can get into the farm.

Tickets are limited for each day and time to allow plenty of time to get pictures in the sunflower fields.

#3 Farm Activities are Included in Admission

One of my main questions was what was included in the admission price. For the Sunflower festival, you can enjoy the sunflower field as well as the other attractions at the farm.

Admission includes a wagon ride to the sunflower field (it’s about a 5-minute ride), 1 sunflower bloom of your choice, and 45+ farm activities.

There are so many fun farm activities I won’t list them all but some of our favorites were the ropes course, zipline, slides, and jumping pillows.

It was really hot the day we visited or we would have done the corn maze, which I’m sure would have been a lot of fun. But we will plan another trip to the farm this fall to do the corn maze and visit the pumpkin patch.

#4 Not A Lot of Shade

There isn’t a lot of shade on the farm, but there is an area shaded by trees with picnic tables and benches. We also saw a tent with tables to eat or rest in the shade. But other than that there wasn’t much shade. Be prepared for a lot of sunshine, which can make it feel really hot on a warm day.

#5 Don’t Forget Sunscreen and Bug Spray

As I mentioned above there isn’t a lot of shade so sunscreen is a great idea. Hats would also be a great way to protect yourself (and kiddos) from the sun.

Bug spray is also a good option for keeping away the various bugs that are so plentiful in Maryland.

#6 Don’t Forget Water

Staying hydrated is always important when spending time outside. Be sure to bring water and drink it frequently, especially on hot days. We brought a few ThermoFlask water bottles and they did a great job keeping our water cold.

#7 You Can Bring in Food and Drinks

I mentioned above to make sure you bring water to the farm, but you can also bring snacks.

As a parent being able to bring food and snacks you know your kids will eat is so nice. We all know it’s so much more fun doing anything with happy kids instead of hangry ones.

#8 Bring a Stroller for Little Ones

Summers farm is a working farm so the ground is rough so it can be hard to navigate a stroller around the farm, but if you have little kids bring one.

The farm is big and if you want to do everything there is going to be a lot of walking, a stroller will save you from packing little ones.

We took our double stroller when we visited and while it was still a lot of work pushing the kids around the farm, the stroller did great.

If it’s hot these clip-on fans for the stroller are a great way to keep little ones cool while you enjoy the Summers Farm Sunflower Festival.

#9 Wear Good Shoes

Like I said the farm is a working farm so good shoes are a must. For kids (and adults) I would recommend closed-toe shoes that are comfortable to walk in.

#10 Bring Something to Hold the Sunflowers on Your Way Home

When you check out, after visiting the sunflower field and cutting your flowers, they will put your flowers in a bag of water. This is awesome and a great way to keep your flowers alive while at the farm.

For your drive home, you might want to bring a vase or something to put the bagged sunflower in to keep the water from running out of the bag.

A Few More Good Things to Know About Summers Farm Sunflower Festival

Don’t Miss the Cute Photo Ops

There are cute photo ops all over the farm including throughout the sunflower field. The swing in the sunflower fields is a favorite, but there are other hidden photo ops as you search for your sunflowers. We found a cute purple bike while cutting our flowers.

The Slides

There are two different slides, a flat slide, and a tube slide both on the hill at the far side of the farm. So be prepared to climb to get to them.

I recommend staying higher and doing activities on your way to the slides and then working your way back down. Believe me, you don’t want to have to climb that hill multiple times.

Not Everything Is Open for the Sunflower Festival

Apple blasters, pig races, & cow milking demonstrations are not open during the sunflower festival.

As it’s the first year for Summers farm’s new location not everything is open. When we visited they said more and more of the attractions are opening each week.

Depending on when you visit the new location there might be more open. I’m sure after the first year at the new location more attractions will open during the sunflower festival.

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