Sunflower Festival at Cross E Ranch

I have always really loved sunflowers because they were grown on the farm I grew up on in southern Ontario.  I loved them because the stalks were always so much taller than me (they still are) and the flowers seemed so happy as they followed the sunlight.

When I found out about the Sunflower Festival at the Cross E Ranch I immediately booked a ticket and I went yesterday afternoon.  Leave it to me to pick a day that was rainy to see sunflowers (there wan't rain in the forecast when I booked the ticket).

The sunflowers are located on a 14-acre patch and there are over 20 different varieties to explore.  There are rows and rows of sunflowers and, even though there were lots of people there, I always felt completely isolated and hardly saw anyone else.

You must book a specific entry time online (go here) because the entries are staggered to help with social distancing.  You will be given a one hour window to enter and then you may stay as long as you want.  The Cross E Ranch is open Monday-Friday from 4:00 pm to 9:30 pm and Saturday from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm (it is closed in the afternoon) and 4:00 pm to 9:30 pm.

The price for tickets is $9.95 per person 3 years old and up (0-2 years old are free) Monday-Friday, $12.95 per person during the daytime on Saturday, and $14.95 per person after 7:00 pm on Saturday (for sunset viewing).  Professional photography is allowed as long as your photographer has purchased an admission.  This would be a great place for family photographs.

The price of admission includes a free bloom that you can cut yourself.  When you enter you are given a pair of cutters and a pail of water to keep your blooms in as you wander around.  It was a lot of fun trying to decide which bloom I wanted to cut.  When you exit they will trim the leaves and wrap it up for you.  You can purchase additional blooms (a single bloom for $2.00, a half dozen for $11.00, and a dozen for $20.00) and you can also purchase really cute galvanized containers for your blooms.

The address of Cross E Ranch is 3500 N. 2200 W. in SLC.  It took me about ten minutes to get there from my house in Bountiful.  There are lots of signs and you will be directed to drive on a dirt road to a large parking lot.  I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Sunflower Festival and I highly recommend it.  Go here for more information.