Get lost in a field of sunshine at Coshocton KOA’s second annual sunflower festival
COSHOCTON – Walk through fields of sunshine during Coshocton KOA’s second annual Coshocton Sunflower Festival beginning Friday, Aug. 16 through Sunday, Aug. 18. This festival is unique to the Coshocton area and features four acres of 44 different varieties of sunflowers. Sunflowers range in height, texture, and color. Stroll through the rows of sunflowers towering above you at 12 feet tall or pick tiny two feet tall teddy bear sunflowers, which get their name due to their fuzzy stems and leaves. Choose a traditional yellow sunflower to take home with you or consider a red, purple, or bright orange one for a variety.
This is the second year for the festival. Last year, when Coshocton KOA introduced the sunflower festival to the community, people loved it and it was very popular, despite the fact that it rained during one day of the festival.
“The festival has massively increased this year,” said Hannah Shriver, assistant manager at Coshocton KOA. “It’s much bigger this year with more sunflowers.”
Sunflower seeds were planted the last part of June and after 70 days, began to bloom. Ryan McPeak, co-owner of Coshocton KOA, and his mother Shelly McPeak planted the seeds in anticipation for the festival. Those seeds have now grown to thousands of sunflowers which covers four acres.
Upon arrival, ticket holders will park in the M Event Centre parking lot and be chauffeured to the sunflower fields by a wagon pulled by a tractor. Event tickets are $15 which includes your choice of one sunflower. However, other bundles are available and can be purchased on their website at koa.com. You can purchase bundles of six or 12 sunflowers of your choice. One of the popular bundles is the “Bucket of Sunshine” which includes a galvanized bucket that can be filled with as many sunflowers of your choice.
Other than picking sunflowers, participants can enjoy live music, food trucks, a beer garden featuring Wooly Pig beers, ice cream, lemonade, and activities for kids including a free sunflower painting activity by the Johnson Humrickhouse Museum.
As you stroll through the sunflowers, feel free to take pictures with the antique props that Coshocton KOA has set up along the rows of flowers.
“We’ve made the field space bigger so that there is more room for people to spread out, so you’re not crowded by other people and you’re having your own individual experience,” said Shriver.
There are a few new features this year other than the size of the fields of sunflowers. Last year, Shriver said that crafters were spread out throughout the festival, but this year, they will be conveniently located under one tent so that people can shop all in one place. Coshocton KOA will also sell sunflower merchandise this year including t-shirts so that you can experience the sunflower festival all year long.
“The community really seemed to enjoy it and we see it as a way to give back to the community for all of their support,” said Shriver. “We want to give them something different they don’t experience in Coshocton. If you didn’t come last year, come and see us this year. We promise you’ll have a fun time.”
Category: Arts & Entertainment
