“I didn’t like sunflowers,” said Sunflower Festival founder and Hydeout Bed and Breakfast owner Beth Simonson. “Then I moved to central South Dakota and fell in love with them.”
Simonson’s husband grows sunflowers, and after falling for them, she wanted to share the beauty not only with the rest of South Dakota, but tourists from all over.
The Sunflower Festival, hosted by the Highmore Area Council of the Arts and the Highmore Civic and Commerce, started out as a weekend photography workshop where photographers could come and capturethe flowers in full bloom.
Simonson and the Hideout Bed and Breakfast became known as a resource for seeing and learning about the sunflowers of South Dakota.
“The South Dakota Department of Tourism mentions us to people looking for flowers saying, ‘If you want to see sunflowers, you should contact Beth. She’ll get you to the sunflowers,’” said Simonson. “‘Go stay at the Hideout and they’ll show you.’”
The workshop eventually evolved into the festival it is today, taking place in Highmore’s South Park on August 16 of this year. Even though there isn’t a photography workshop, photographers are still encouraged to go.
“We set up the festival in our park as the central location where people can come and get maps to where the fields are,” said Simonson. “Prior to that day, we scout out which fields are blooming, because some flower fields bloom at different times.”
Since the fields aren’t along a highway, nor bloom all at the same time, Simonson says guidance is needed to help direct folks to the right locations. Self-guided and producer-guided tours will be available.
Just because the festival is one day doesn’t mean folks can’t come and request times before and after to see the flowers, Simonson says.
“My husband and another producer will be available to take people out to the field and give them a guided tour so they can learn more about sunflowers if they want,” added Simonson.
DID YOU KNOW…
SOUTH DAKOTA IS THE LARGEST SUNFLOWER SEED PRODUCER IN THE NATION, SECOND ONLY TO NORTH DAKOTA. IN 2024, SOUTH DAKOTA PRODUCED 466.3 MILLION POUNDS OF SUNFLOWERS.
This year marks the second annual festival. Attendees will be able to respectfully explore the edges of designated Hyde County sunflower fields and participate in sunflower-related activities at the event.
Along with sunflowers, hayrack rides, live music, local food trucks, retail and art vendors, arts and crafts, a kids talent show, and more will define the festival, Simonson adds. Highmore’s South Park has a brand new swimming pool where folks will be able to swim if they’d like.
“The first year I think the community realized, ‘Oh, sunflowers can be kind of a big deal for us,’” said Simonson. “We had people from all over the country come see the sunflowers.”
“I love going out to the fields at sunset and seeing them. If you get the right lighting, the right clouds, the sunset, with the sunflowers is so beautiful and my favorite part.”
-Beth Simonson
SAVE THE DATE
2025 Sunflower Festival
August 16
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Highmore’s South Park
In the case of inclement weather, the event will be moved to Hyde County Memorial Auditorium.
Along with the beauty and benefits of agritourism the sunflowers provide, there are health and economic benefits to reap, Simonson adds. The festival in part aims to educate the public on how sunflowers affect us.
“Sunflower oil is one of the healthier oils you can get,” said Simonson. “Agriculture’s role in the U.S. and global economy is huge.”
While highlighting the intellectual, fact-based benefits, the festival also aims to celebrate the artistic side sunflowers often inspire, Simonson adds.
“I just love the sunflowers,” said Simonson. “I want people to be able to enjoy the beauty of sunflowers, which are so amazing. Some of those fields are so huge, you feel like they’re endless.”
For more information, visit HYDEOUTBNB.COM+
