Evendale's Gorman Heritage Farm is making some changes to its annual Sunflower Festival this year in light of COVID.
The 23rd-annual fest itself has been canceled, but they are still offering visitors the opportunity to visit their sunflower field Oct. 3, 4, 10 and 11. Advance $5 tickets are required (children under 3 and members are free, but registration is still necessary); there will be no tickets for sale at the door.
In addition to opportunities to explore the sunflower field and snap some photos, entry includes access to the farm and the ability to cut your own sunflowers, buy some pumpkins, walk through corn and sunflower "mazes" and visit the farm animals.
The event, which will be held rain or shine, offers staggered timed admission from 10 a.m.-noon, 12:30-2:30 p.m. and 3-5 p.m. each day, except for on Saturday, Oct. 10, which only has one admission time: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. You are allowed on the farm during your allotted time slot and have to leave by the end to allow for the next round of visitors. If you arrive early, wait in your car. If you arrive after your timed ticket allows, you can't go. If you try to stay past your time, you'll be asked to leave (Gorman is using a color-coded wristband system).
In addition to those capacity and time limits to allow for social distancing, the farm is also requiring masks for anyone over the age of 3, enforcing one-way pathways, making purchases cash only and offering hand sanitizer stations. There will be food trucks and craft vendors available during the event, but you must be seated to eat. A MadTree Beer Garden will pop-up the weekend of Oct. 3 and 4 only; it will not be there Oct. 10 and 11.
To reserve tickets and get more details, visit gormanfarm.org or eventbrite.com.