Sunflowers are destined to bloom each weekend providing freshness for all three weeks at the Hockinson Sunflower Festival at O’Keefe Farms.
The sound of live music is heard among an easily accessible sunflower field that features a variety of 69 sunflowers at O’Keefe Farms in Hockinson. The farm is host to the fifth annual Sunflower Festival, which features numerous vendors, food options and live music next to the sunflower farm. A pair of goats can be found near the hayride, adding to the farm feel during the festival.
The festival is open for two more weekends, Aug. 9 through Aug. 11 and Aug. 16 through Aug. 18. The festival runs 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Pat O’Keefe said there’s never a shortage of blooms, which makes any of the three weekends a great time to visit if the weather is right. O’Keefe is a fourth-generation family member farming the land in Hockinson.
From dark red to classic yellow sunflowers, to sunflowers that will make one feel small in the field as they tower 12-plus feet overhead, O’Keefe made sure there is a sunflower for everybody.
“When we planted them, there were some that we planted at the beginning, and then we also planted the same variety again a couple of weeks later, called succession planting,” O’Keefe said of his April prep work. “That really helps keep that bloom factor going.”
This year, O’Keefe received a lot of inquiries to be a part of the festival, which can be seen with an increased number of vendors. The opening weekend was his biggest to date. Despite competing with bigger events in the county, O’Keefe expects the second and third weekends to be buzzing with more than just pollinators, but a lot of sunflower festivalgoers.
“The first weekend we’re competing with the fair and some stuff going on in downtown Vancouver and things like that. This year has been our best opening weekend yet, which is great,” O’Keefe said. “The following weekend though, it’s going to be huge.”
The sunflower field is flat and easily accessible for those with mobility problems, and O’Keefe received positive feedback regarding his farm’s easy accessibility.
O’Keefe and his helpers can be found in blue shirts around the festival. He is joined by his daughter, Savannah, and his wife, Kelly, along with Hockinson High School students Sam, Ares, Leah, Paisley, Romy and Kate. O’Keefe said they’re all a huge help to make the sunflower festival a success.
O’Keefe Farms is located at 17604 NE 182nd Ave., Brush Prairie.
To follow O’Keefe Farms and to plan a visit and check the band schedule for the remaining two weekends of the Sunflower Festival, visit okeefeflowerfarm.com. It is also on Facebook under O’Keefe Farms. For more information, contact O’Keefe Farms at 360-901-0926 or by emailing okeef esfarm@gmail.com.
