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Each September, thousands of visitors make their way to Botetourt County in Virginia's Blue Ridge, to a small family-owned farm just outside of Buchanan. Their goal? To glimpse a sea of 700,000 sunflowers as they burst into brilliant gold blooms.
For ten days (2025 dates: September 5-14), visitors clamor onto hayrides, pose for professional photographers, and visit with 130 vendors of handmade crafts and fresh food. This is the iconic Beaver Dam Farm Sunflower Festival – now known as the largest sunflower festival and vendor fair on the East Coast.
The event’s local roots run deep. Beaver Dam Farm was purchased in 1900 and became a tomato cannery in 1916, then a dairy in 1927. The farm – still owned and operated by the same family today – now focuses on beef cattle, hay and straw sales. But the sunflowers? The family first planted them almost on a whim.
“Back in 2015, we had an open field, and my father said out of the blue, ‘We need to plant sunflowers,’” remembers Candace Monaghan, the festival’s founder. “There was no other reason than he thought they were pretty.” The following year, Monaghan suggested opening the field to sightseers, with a goal of 300 attendees. Instead, the event saw 1,600 in a single day.
Since then, the festival has steadily expanded, attracting 20,000+ visitors each year, and in 2023, the family opened Gracely Hill, a wedding and event venue with panoramic mountain views.
Celebrating 10 Years of Sunflowers!
The 2025 event will mark the 10-year anniversary of the Beaver Dam Farm Sunflower Festival. Over the past decade, the Sunflower Festival has grown to become a signature annual event for Botetourt County and Virginia's Blue Ridge, drawing in locals and out-of-town visitors for an opportunity to experience the stunning scene of hundreds of thousands of sunflowers in bloom.
Beaver Dam Farm Sunflower Festival Details
2025 Beaver Dam Farm Sunflower Festival
Date: September 5-14
Location: Beaver Dam Farm
13561 Lee Highway
Buchanan, VA 24066
Beaver Dam Farm Website
Facebook | Instagram
What to Expect
Beaver Dam Farm will host the Sunflower Festival from September 5-14 with a variety of activities and special events, with September 6-7 & 13-14 being the days to enjoy the standard festival experience.
People come from hundreds of miles around to mingle with these beauties, but there are also special events and activities during the non-festival days (the weekdays) to better accommodate some folks.
Take a look at the schedule below and check out the links for information about each event and the opportunity to purchase tickets.
2025 Beaver Dam Farm Sunflower Festival Schedule
- Sneak Peek Opening Night - Friday, September 5 | 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. | Price - Cash: $15 | Credit: $16
- Sunflower Festival - Saturday, September 6 | 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | Price - Cash: $10 | Credit: $11
- Sunflower Festival - Sunday, September 7 | 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | Price - Cash: $10 | Credit: $11
- Preschool Day - Tuesday, September 9 | 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. | Price: $5 | Note: This event is for groups or individual families with preschoolers.
- Tuesday Sunset Dinner - Tuesday, September 9 | 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. | Price: $80 per couple (Advance reservations required)
- Senior Citizen Day - Wednesday, September 10 | 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. | Price: $5 | Note: This event is for groups or individual families with seniors.
- Sunflower Festival Evening Hours - Wednesday, September 10 | 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. | Price - Cash: $7 | Credit: $8
- Sunset Yoga - Wednesday, September 10 | 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. | Price: $25
- Special Needs Day - Thursday, September 11 | 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. | Price: $5 | This event is for groups or families with individuals with special needs.
- Sunflower Festival Evening Hours - Thursday, September 11 | 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. | Price - Cash: $7 | Credit: $8
- Goat Yoga - Thursday, September 11 | 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. | Price: $40.25 (Advance reservations are required)
- Friday Sunset Dinner - Friday, September 12 | 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. | Price: $80 per couple (Advance reservations required)
- Sunflower Festival - Saturday, September 13 | 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | Price - Cash: $10 | Credit: $11
- Sunflower Festival - Sunday, September 14 | 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | Price - Cash: $10 | Credit: $11
There are no refunds for the festival. Only leashed service dogs with a distinguished vest or card may enter.
Please be respectful of the property owners and only visit the farm during designated festival hours. If you go past the gates during non-festival hours, you are trespassing.
130 arts, crafts, and food vendors bring their wares to the field each year, including many from all over Virginia and some from states like West Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia! You’ll find so many sunflower themed items and artisan wares available for purchase, from jewelry and paintings to handmade wooden toys and furniture.
You'll also love the options provided by the food vendors in attendance, featuring delicious options like kettle corn, shaved ice, donuts, and more.
Plant Your Own Sunflowers
You can plant your own plot of Beaver Dam Farm sunflowers or buy a bag of Beaver Dam Farm sunflower seeds, which can be found at nearby Northwest Hardware locations, Ikenberry Orchards & Country Store, and The Best Place Antique Store.
Photography & Photo Shoots
As mentioned above, sunflowers beg to be photographed and many people want to be photographed among them. However, spending too much time or setting up a styled shoot may detract from the experiences of others who attend the festival. Photographers who would like to host a photo shoot in the sunflower field should email Candace Monaghan at BeaverDamSunflowers@gmail.com for additional details and to book a spot.
Also, don’t forget to take a photo with the #Lovework and share it via your preferred social media platform. Tagging @visitvbr is also highly encouraged. :)
Start planning your visit to be part of this year's festival!
The Instagram reel below was captured at the 2024 event.
Quick Tips
- Tickets are required to enter. Tickets are available for purchase at the gate with cash or card, and tickets will be for sale online for sunset dinners, sunset yoga, and goat yoga. Tickets are required for all visitors ages 3 and up.
- Leashed service dogs are permitted; all others are not.
- The farm is forced to close if there is heavy rain. It will remain open with light showers. There are no refunds.
- This is a working farm. There is no natural shade and the paths are gravel, dirt, or grass. There will be bugs so insect repellent is strongly recommended.
- Parking is free; a limited number of handicap spaces are available so let the attendant know if one is needed.
- Port-a-johns are available around the festival area and parking lot.
- While most vendors will accept credit cards, technology isn't always dependable and cash is always accepted. There is an ATM on-site.
- Please do not pick your own sunflowers. Flowers stems are available to cut from a selected patch for purchase as you leave the event.
- Check out the FAQs page on the Beaver Dam Farm website to learn more >
Nearby Things to Do
Located in the nearby Town of Buchanan is an adorable main street, with a classic soda fountain (Buchanan Fountain & Grille), craft brewery (A Few Old Goats), charming Buchanan Theatre, Twin River Outfitters to help you get on the Upper James River Water Trail, great local shops, and its iconic Swinging Bridge. You can also enjoy a great meal at the nearby Foot of the Mountain Cafe.
Planning an overnight visit? Here is a list of Places to Stay in Botetourt County >
Check out our Botetourt County section to learn more about ways you can enjoy this unique part of Virginia's Blue Ridge.
