If you’re looking for a memorable summer escape near Seattle this August, a spectacular sunflower display is blooming just 45 minutes away. Thomas Family Farm in Snohomish currently has 12 acres of vibrant sunflower fields open to the public now through August 13. The farm is also hosting its annual Weekend Sunflower Festival, where visitors can wander through the sunflowers and participate in a butterfly release.
U-cut sunflowers at the farm are available weekdays through August 13 but the festival takes place over two weekends—August 1-2 and August 8-9—with grounds open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $20, while children ages 3 and younger get in free. Every general admission ticket also includes one complimentary sunflower bloom.
There are plenty of activities planned in addition to the sunflower fields. Visitors can explore a sprawling sunflower maze, enjoy creative photo installations scattered throughout the blooms, and stop by the family-friendly beer and wine bar, open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The farm’s Rusty Nail Restaurant will also be serving guests throughout the festival, and kids can enjoy a Fun Park featuring inflatable axe throwing, skee-ball, a Super Mega Tube Slide, ball toss games, a playground, and more.
One of the festival’s biggest highlights is on Saturday, August 8, when the farm hosts a massive butterfly release in the heart of the sunflower fields. The butterfly release is free to watch for anyone with a sunflower festival admission ticket for that day, but if you’d like to participate you must buy a ticket ($29) specifically for reserving your butterfly. Fewer than 300 butterfly release tickets are available, so don’t wait to get yours. The event is designed as a moment of remembrance and gratitude, with participants releasing butterflies together in honor of loved ones while sending wishes, hopes, and dreams across the Snohomish Valley.
The butterfly release begins at 12:30 p.m. on August 8. Event tickets are required to participate in the release and includes both festival admission and one butterfly.
Visitors can also experience the farm’s Butterfly House during the festival weekends of August 1-2 and August 8-9. Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the attraction offers butterfly feeding opportunities and photo ops. Admission is $10 for groups of 10 or fewer (plus taxes and fees), with tickets sold in person only.
Thomas Family Farm is located at 9010 Marsh Rd., Snohomish, WA. It’s only about 45 minutes from Seattle, making it an easy day trip for anyone hoping to soak up one of the region’s most colorful summer displays.
For more information about the festival or the butterfly release, you can visit the farm website.
