Sunflower Farm Festival

When you tire of city living and need an escape, point your car toward the perimeter and start driving. Keep going until you see some good road kill. Squirrels don’t count — you see those in the city. I’m talking about possums, armadillos and porcupines. Chances are you’ll bump into some kind of festival in a nearby small town. And that’s how I discovered the Sunflower Farm Festival in Rutledge, GA over the 4^th of July weekend. Barely 45 minutes away from my condo in downtown Atlanta, but a world apart, it’s billed as a «Good Old Fashioned Family Fun Time In The Country!» And despite my lack of family, I did have fun.
I arrived early enough on Sunday morning to catch some of the Sunday Morning Jubilee, featuring fine bluegrass gospel tunes by the Rocky Creek Band. I didn’t feel so guilty about skipping church as the sweet sounds of «Just A Closer Walk With Thee» wafted through nature’s own cathedral of tall pines.
With barely 6,000 people in attendance over three days it’s more relaxed and less crowded than the massive festivals held in the city. There’s a real charm to the artists and crafters market, unlike the slick juried shows at big city festivals. I delighted in choosing between buying corn cob jelly or banana nut bread jam. The bird feeder I purchased, made from a vintage cup and saucer, will make a unique gift.
Like any good festival, there are food vendors, including the requisite junk food purveyors selling funnel cakes, and get this, fried Oreos, Twinkies and Snickers. I did my cholesterol a favor and took a pass. Activities for kids included pony rides, a petting zoo and a hay ride. And instead of sand, the kids play box was filled with corn kernels. Isn’t that cute? The signature event allows you to wander through 15 acres of sunflowers and cut as many as you can stuff into a bucket for $ 15. That’s a lot of smiles and sunshine to carry home.
The thing about small town festivals is that you hear about other festivals too, like the Cotton Gin Festival and the Christmas In The Country Weekend and even the Loachapoka Syrup Sopping Festival in Loachapoka, AL. If the Sunflower Farm Festival is any indication, I see more small-​town festivals in my future.