FIELDS of more than 1.5 million sunflowers were the reason more than 13,000 people came to Kalbar for this year’s Sunflower Festival.
One of them was Rosewood’s Kathy Mcloed who dressed in sunflower patterned overalls for the occasion.
It was a trend seen throughout the event with lots of festival goers dressed in bright coloured clothing paired with flower themed accessories.
The Warumkarie Road property is more than a place for a festival, it’s a working farm run by Jenny Jenner.
Mrs Jenner’s passion for sunflowers is only surpassed by the love for her late husband Russell.
This was the first time the event was run without him, but he was still very much part of the festivities.
Much needed money for cancer care and research was raised in his name to help provide support, resources and comfort to those affected it.
The three day festival drew crowds upwards of 13,000 from all over South East Queensland.
Some made the trek from as far as Caboolture and even Townsville, to see the sunflowers.
Kate McIntyre took three-year-old Blake and eight-year-old Cashmere on a weekend getaway because ‘it’s a memory making experience’.
“We live in a small unit at Caboolture and I like to plan little weekend adventures for us,” she said.
“I wanted to take them last year but couldn’t find accommodation or get tickets, so this year I planned ahead.”
As Blake stomped in the mud with Cashmere trying to avoid brown splotches on her pretty floral overalls, the young mum said the adventure was well worth the wait.
Tanith and Dalton Bournemouth live in Townsville and planned a weekend getaway around the sunflower festival dates.
Tanith is originally from Canungra, she said she’d seen photos on a friend’s Instagram page and wanted to do the same.
The couple drove from Townsville over two days and spent another three in the Scenic Rim with one at the festival.
Did she get the coveted ‘selfie’?
“She got an amazing one, amazing,” Dalton enthused, “she looks stunning but then she is beautiful even without the sunflowers.”
It wasn’t just selfies and glamour, there was plenty for little ones to do with a sensory garden, art classes, flower crown making and a performer blowing huge bubbles.
The main attraction was the flowers and almost everyone was seen walking around holding bunches of the beautiful blooms.
Sunflower attire was very much in with many dressing up in themed apparel.
There was a wait to get in, but they waited and went on to enter beaming in delight was perhaps a little insight into the anticipation felt for months preceding this event.
On Sunday rain turned the ground to thick mud but still the crowds came.
It seems little dampens the spirit when in the company of the sunniest flower nature has to offer.
