Gorman Heritage Farm in Evendale hosts its annual Sunflower Festival on Saturday, Oct. 3, and Sunday, Oct. 4. The two-day event brings live music, hayrides, food trucks and fields of pick-your-own blooms to the 122-acre nonprofit farm.
Gates open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, according to the farm's event page. Advance tickets cost $12 for adults and $8 for children ages 2–17 and seniors 60 and older. Children under 2 get in free. Presale pricing ends at midnight on Saturday, Oct. 3. After that, prices jump to $15 and $10 at the gate. No cash or ATMs are available on site.
Each ticket covers one day only. Visitors who want both days need two separate admissions. Current farm members get in free but must register online in advance.
On the farm
Sunflower fields will be open for cutting at $1 per stem or 12 for $10. Hayrides run throughout the day, with the last ride departing at 4:30 p.m. A crop maze, Story Walk, farmyard animal visits, a children's Playscape and hands-on education stations in the Bank Barn round out the activities. Dino Buddies, a reptile encounter, will be on site both days from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Seven live acts are scheduled across the weekend. Saturday's lineup includes Debi Mays, Doug Mays and Whistlestop Sunday. Sunday features Ceol Mohr and Pineridge Partners earlier in the day, with The Inturns and The Cartel sharing the 3–5 p.m. closing slot. All performances are included with admission.
Food and shopping
Food trucks lined up for the weekend include Tweedles Donuts, Jenn's Hot Tamale, Nomad, Off The Hook, The Dawghouse, Happy Day Ice Cream Bike, Wildflower Soda Company, Britt's Bakery, Travelin' Tom's Coffee and Mingles Soft Serve. A Sunflower Market will feature more than 20 local makers selling handmade goods, art, plants and locally made products.
Getting there
Parking is available across the street at Formica and at several lots along Reading Road, including Silco, Footworks, Cincy State Workforce Development Center, Raffles and Magnified Giving. A shuttle will run between the Formica lot and the admissions entrance. Accessible parking is in the Boy Scouts lot. Only ADA service dogs are permitted.
The festival runs rain or shine. Visitors should dress for the weather.
The event has drawn large crowds in past years. A 2016 Village of Evendale committee report noted 6,106 paid attendees and $58,000 in gross revenue that year. The nonprofit farm, led by Director Ryan Mooney-Bullock, is affiliated with the Village of Evendale.
Advance tickets are available at gormanfarm.org.
Upcoming corridor events
- Saturday, Oct. 3: Great Pumpkin Fest at Keehner Park in West Chester, as first reported by Cincy Magazine
- Saturday, Oct. 3: Forest Park Harvest Festival at Central Park
- Tuesday, Oct. 6: Ohio's new drone warrant law takes effect for local police departments
