Chilliwack Sunflower Festival finds new roots in Harrison

A sun-filled festival has put down roots in Harrison Hot Springs.

The inaugural Harrison Sunflower Festival opens Aug. 25 at 5039 Lougheed Hwy.

The festival will span 20 acres and include 45 varieties of sunflowers, other summer flowers and a field of barley. The setting is rife with photo opportunities and backdrops, including the majestic Mt. Cheam, antique tractors and horse carts, raised platforms and more.

There will be a u-pick field of five varieties of sunflowers so guests can create their own bouquet.

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This festival is put on by the same family that brought you the Chilliwack Sunflower and Tulip festivals; it will replace the Chilliwack Sunflower Festival, which enjoyed five years of success.

The inaugural Harrison Sunflower Festival is scheduled to remain open for about four weeks, located on the farm of Kate Onos-Gilbert and her family. The Onos-Gilbert family has been a part of the agritourism scene since 2006, when they launched the Tulips of the Valley in Agassiz, which was the first festival of its kind in the province.

The tulip festival moved to Chilliwack after 10 years in Agassiz, and the Chilliwack Sunflower Festival was founded in 2018.

“My family and I are thrilled to have acquired our own piece of land to host the new festivals and explore other agritourism opportunities, all while returning to our roots where the flower magic first bloomed,” Onos-Gilbert said in a recent statement. “We can’t wait to welcome flower enthusiasts to this stunning new location.”

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Following the closure of the Harrison Sunflower Festival, the Onos-Gilbert family plans to open the first annual Harrison Pumpkin Festival. Details on the fall attraction have not yet been released. The family expects to launch the first annual Harrison Tulip Festival next spring.

The Sunflower Festival will run daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person on weekdays and $20 on weekends.

For more information, visit harrisonsunflowerfest.com.

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