Overview
Traditionally, autumn is a season filled with orange, red, brown and yellowing leaves, as spring and summer's greenery makes way for winter. Come mid-March, just over an hour outside of Brisbane, it'll also be a time for golden stems — all as part of the Scenic Rim's returning, much-loved and obviously stunning-to-look-at Kalbar Sunflower Festival.
Expect to spot sunflowers as far as the eye can see at the Jenner family farm in Kalbar. In past years, there have been more than 200,000 of the vibrant blooms reaching up to the sky, which is a hefty number. For 2023, however, over a million sunflowers have been planted across 24 acres. And, all those golden petals will help the fest play host to a highlight to get lost in, literally: a four-acre sunflower maze.
The 2023 festival will take place across Friday, March 10–Sunday, March 12, and will also feature a painting class — yes, you'll be channelling your inner Vincent van Gogh and painting sunflowers — plus helicopter rides over the field, sunflower crafting, cooking demonstrations and classes, photography classes and photo sessions.
The fest's popular sunset gala dinner with a golden backdrop won't be taking place this year, but there will be a sunset soirée instead, with Laura Frank performing. And, chef Richard Ousby will be serving up a lunch over champagne.
Food trucks will help line your stomach, too, and provide bites for picnics among the blooms, serving up pizza, ice cream, coffee and more. Also, for sunflower goodies to take home, there'll be a sunflower shop onsite.
Tickets to this event always get snapped up fast, even in just the two short years since it launched back in 2021, so note the on-sale date of Sunday, February 19 — at 12pm — in your diary now.
The Kalbar Sunflower Festival came about after Russell and Jenny Jenner changed direction during Queensland's ongoing drought conditions. Usually, they farm lucerne but, with water levels low, they opted to switch to a crop that doesn't require as much H2O. And, with all those sunflowers then looking rather striking, the couple was keen to let everyone else enjoy their golden petals.
The Kalbar Sunflower Festival 2023 takes place from Friday, March 10–Sunday, March 12 at Kalbar in Queensland's Scenic Rim. For further information, and to book tickets from 12pm on Sunday, February 19, head to the event's website.