Big Sky Farm Sunflower Days starts Friday

One of the best summer outings in the area is Big Sky Farm Sunflower Days. The farm has approximately 100,000 sunflowers, zinnias and cosmos in full bloom covering more than 12 acres.

The event will take place July 26-28 and August 2-4. Tickets can be purchased online for $9 plus a small fee per person. Walk-up tickets are $12 plus tax. Children under 2 are free.

Guests will receive a souvenir cup, which can be used to hold any flowers they may purchase. Sunflowers are $1 per flower and other flowers are 50 cents per stem.

Guests are provided with scissors to cut their own flowers. Water and flower packaging are complimentary. Pre-made fresh flower arrangements are available for purchase.

The Farm Store Café will be serving fresh lemonade from the farm every day and will have fresh lemon slices. The café will also have other food items. The Farm Store will have local vendors with homemade decorative items and gifts.

Oak Grove Farms has canned goods and Big Poppa Corn has several flavors of popcorn. There are also other items for sale. There is no admission fee to shop at the Farm Store.

There are also activities for the children. There is a wagon ride around the farm, “steering heads” attached to bales of hay for children to try out, rope swings and other farm games. There are also photo opportunities for the children sitting on a tractor, on the wagon and by the flowers.

There will be a flower arranging class on Friday, July 26 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The cost is $25 and includes flowers, a vase, and supplies. Lemonade is also included in the admission price. There is limited space for this event.

Big Sky at Sunset, a special event, will take place on Saturday, July 27 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Guests can enjoy the sunset among the sunflowers, listen to live music from Adam and Amy Pope, take photos, ride in a hayride, and participate in farm games. There is a $5 fee for this event.

There are many more opportunities available at Big Sky Farm. Groups can plan excursions to Sunflower Days, when the farm is not open to the public. Photographers can rent the farm for photo shoots. The farm is also available for weddings and reunions. Information is available on the website.

Big Sky Farm is owned by Justin and Lyn Diel and is a family-owned business. Diel’s daughter, Savannah Hayes, handles marketing and social media. Savannah’s husband, Michael Hayes, and Nolan Wilson, a brother-in-law, help plant the flowers and trees for the holiday season and do some crafts on the farm. Other family members and extended family, along with friends, help with the farm.

“It’s really a layered family business that happens here,” Savanah said. “We’re blessed with a lot of family and extended family that loves the farm and the outdoors. We all have the same heart and heartbeat for God’s creation and we love seeing families enjoy the environment of our farm.”

This is the second year for Big Sky Farm Sunflower Days. The Diels have had a Christmas Tree Adventure for 17 years. That event was in the Hendersonville area and moved to Portland two years ago.

Big Sky Farm is located at 264 North Center Point Road, Portland. Signs are posted on TN Highway 109 to help with directions. Big Sky Farm can also be found on Facebook and Instagram or visit bigskyfarmtn.com