Sunflower Fest gearing up despite drought conditions

LURAY, Va. (WHSV) - Page County is gearing up for its fourth annual sunflower fest. According to its alliance for community action, at least 30 vendors are ready for another year of festivities.

The drought conditions are affecting the area, but organizers are confident that sunflowers will survive because of their resilience.

“There’s a lot of heads on the sunflowers, a lot of buds. We expect them to pop open, we just expect to be a little shorter than in years past. When we check the fields, we check them a couple of times a week. We’re excited — we’re looking forward to September 2,” Page County Alliance for Community Action Program Director Megan Gordon said.

Gardeners in the Valley confirmed that intense heat helps ripen sunflowers to their full beauty.

One of the main differences in the event this year is the cover charge of five dollars for each car. Gordon explained this is set so the Town of Luray can cover the activity expenses and the donations from the sunflower clipping goes to PACA for programs in place like substance misuse.

Attendees are still able to pick as many sunflowers as they want, and organizers are asking for any and all possible donations once in the field.